I like Randy's idea a lot, but particularly in low sunspot times, wouldn't it
make sense to have an off-time regime that is a little more flexible, so that
any additional activity that is generated doesn't tend to concentrate in the
first 12 or 24 hours? I'm thinking of no more than X off times, each at least
Y minutes long. That way, for example, part-timers in Europe could operate
both main 20M openings to the US, and not have to choose one or the other.
73, Pete N4ZR
At 10:55 AM 2/24/2007, Randy Thompson wrote:
> It has been interesting to watch how the debate has progressed on this
>issue. In any 48 hour DX contest, there are may be 20 people world wide who
>operate more than 44 hours. I had no idea there were so many others who
>feel that unlimited operating time is such an important part of contesting.
>
>I am a guy who can do 48 hours in a weekend. It is hard, but in some cases
>it is the only way to play if you want to win. I.e., I personally never
>want to finish second in a contest only because I didn't operate the extra
>hour or two!
>
>Let's attack the problem from a different direction...
>
>Contests are funny things. Competitors (the hard core contesters) think the
>contest is run for them so they can test and prove their skill. However,
>contest sponsors provide contests to create as much fun for as many people
>as possible (the masses).
>
>I think we all can agree that 48 hours is in the best interest of the
>masses. It is fun to get on the air at various times over the weekend and
>find activity. It is also nice for the guys who travel to DX locations to
>have 48 hours of fun for their investment.
>
>The problem for me is that the current approach only offers one level of
>competition. You are either trying to win the whole thing or you are "just
>playing around." If you are a competitive person (and most contesters are),
>you want to compete. But, if your life on a given weekend is crowded with
>other priorities, you are designated into the playing around group.
>
>Why not create some sub classes that provide more fun for more people.
>These classes should not change any of the existing classes. They should
>just be there to give people more races to run (kind of like having a
>quarter or half marathon run on the same course as a full marathon). They
>should also not incent people to operate less (the goal should always be to
>increase overall activity!).
>
>My suggestion:
>
>- Create 12 hour and 24 hour races
>- The 12 or 24 hours consist of a continuous period beginning with your
>first QSO (i.e., the clock starts with your first QSO)
>- There are no off times
>- You can operate the contest as much as you want. Your score is calculated
>by the log checker based on the first 12 and 24 hour marks
>- No preregistration or special marking of your log. ALL LOGS are included
>in the scoring/results
>
>Advantages:
>- Easy to administer
>- Everyone can play
>- A guy trying for a 12/24 hour win still has to compete with the full time
>competitors
>- Entrants may chose to stop operating when they reach their time limit, but
>they are not required to do so
>
>Disadvantages
>- Extra log checker burden
>- Extra page or two of results
>- Requires change of thinking (apparently difficult for many of us!)
>
>This would also make a simple contest within a contest to run if the main
>contest sponsor was not interested.
>
>Look forward to discussion on a "new" idea.
>
>Randy, K5ZD
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
>> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Eric Hilding
>> Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 8:46 PM
>> To: cq-contest@contesting.com
>> Cc: nccc@contesting.com
>> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Annual Suggestion
>>
>> <annual suggestion>
>>
>> After reading many "I couldn't operate more than 30, 35 or 40
>> hours" type comments in 3830 posts, it's that time again for
>> my Annual Suggestion to add a "36 out of 48 Hours" category
>> (or something like that) to the ARRL DX Contest for those of
>> us in the Geriatric Generation.
>>
>> I appreciated the past supportive comments of AL, D4B/4L5A,
>> and others who also believe that such a Category might
>> actually increase activity. OF's who aren't willing to make
>> a serious effort or sacrifice their health knowing they can't
>> (or won't) be able to do the entire 48 hours are more likely
>> to go like proverbial bats-out-of-h*ll for 36 hours in the
>> chance to competitively win something.
>>
>> </annual suggestion>
>>
>> 73...
>>
>> Rick, K6VVA
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>>
>
>_______________________________________________
>CQ-Contest mailing list
>CQ-Contest@contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
_______________________________________________
CQ-Contest mailing list
CQ-Contest@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
|