An interesting way to look at it Ulli.
Probably the most valuable component of any station is the location! You
could spend much less money in EA8 or P40 and make big scores than doing the
same in OH4 or JA9.
There is also the concept of time. My coworkers always ask how much money
it costs to have a big station. I tell them my station cost $2000 per year,
but done over 20 years time!
Once you have a good location, then it is a matter of having a plan and
doing a new piece of the plan each year. So it doesn't always have to be
about spending big amounts of money (although it is faster and easier that
way).
And, as we all know, the station doesn't make the QSOs. That requires an
operator with some skills.
Unfortunately, contesting is not fair. We are all operating from our own
part of the world with our own location/equipment. There are many ways to
try and create categories for comparison. $$$ (or Euros) per point may not
be the optimum way to make the maximum score, but it does make for some fun
conversations and may give ideas of new ways to do things with the money we
have.
73,
Randy, K5ZD
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Ulli Grunow
> Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 12:45 PM
> To: cq-contest@contesting.com
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Dollars/qso score
>
> Dear contesters,
>
> Contest organizers.
>
> This is just something I was thinking about when looking
> through the scores of last CQWW CW 2008..
>
>
>
> I am ON5KQ, (op Ulli) operating a very limited contest
> station here in Belgium..
>
> Have just published my claimed scores (SOSB 40m) at 3830 reflector.
>
>
>
> Seeing all the great score of great people it came to my
> mind, that there might be one factor for great contest
> results we never talk about.
>
> I just want to name it here once: the factor of money spent
> to achieve the result.
>
>
>
> I am not at all saying, that it is the most important factor
> - but I have never seen a below $3000 total cost station
> winning a contest !
>
> You may say it is trivial - with more input there is more
> output - yes, partly this is true and that's a way you can see it.
>
>
>
> >From a sports standpoint of view, I personally feel as if I try to
> >become
> successful with an old Volkswagen in a Formule 1 race. should
> I buy a new expensive car te get in pool position next time ?!
>
> I certainly enjoy the many impressive websites of the major
> contest winner's
> - great to see ! Great technology and thank you for
> documenting and share your experience with dream equipment
> for almost everyone else.
>
> Sometimes there are Single OP's operating a super station
> build in many many years from Multi/Multi teams. Is that real
> Single Operator contesting ?!?
>
> Also the Multi/Multi teams spend many thousands of dollars
> into the hobby..their neighbor ham's might be never be able
> to do anything close to that, simply due to their very
> limited of even tight budget.
>
>
>
> So in what aspect we talk about winning the contest ? Biggest
> station, richest people ? Biggest equipment ?!?
>
>
>
> I am happy to find the Triband/wires only category in some contests.
>
> How about a total below $3000 dollar category ?!
>
> Single band entries half.
>
>
>
> My station is below $1500 incl. TRX !
>
> I am proud of my efficiency ..
>
> Want to hear/read about small stations with good results -
> stand up guy's !
>
>
>
> Ulli, ON5KQ
>
> www.on5kq.be
>
>
>
> P.S.: I am not against spending lots of money into our great
> hobby - just wanted to tell a different story.
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
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