I agree with KM9P that the 24-hour single-op should be a contiguous
24-hour period, for a number of reasons. First of all, it forces
activity at the slow times (low bands). It eliminates the possibility
of listening and lining up stations during off-times. Ask Billy Lunt
how many VE8's just happen to be worked following an off-time in SS.
Just imagine in a DX contest the potential advantage of someone filling
up their 99 memories with juicy multipliers during their off-time and
then knocking them off real quick once they start their on-time. No off
times forces you to make operating decisions when things start getting
slow, instead of succumbing to an off-time. With off-times, the strategy
would be to pick high-rate periods, ignoring those difficult times when
you have to bang your head with others in looking for multipliers.
The only question in my mind is when that 24-hour period should start.
Although 12Z seems logical, that's 4 AM on the West Coast (ugh!). On
the East Coast, it's during a busy run period. Imagine a flock of
East Coasters flooding the bands at 12Z, all "QRL?ing" trying to find
a clear frequency? Perhaps 18Z Saturday until 18Z Sunday? That makes
it more reasonable for the West Coast and still gives Saturday morning
for last-minute chores or obligations.
I still worry about the guy who's going to "line-up" stations to work
before the start of the contest...
-- Rich K1CC
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