"The fact of the matter is that the shorter the contest, the more it favors
a
big gun station.... If we all hear a rare multiplier on 40 meters the first
night, the
fever of the pileup may be reduced by the fact, knowledge, or hope, that it
might still be around the next day, and perhaps even again before the
contest closes. In a shorter period, the average's station's chances are
less, the work is harder, and small guys get crushed beneath the wheels of
the Contesting Deserving...."
and
"To shorten a contest, or to offer shorter operating periods within an
existing contest, seems to me to be implying that the only fun one has in a
contest is winning. Which ought not to be so. Contesting is, or at least
should be, fun for everyone. How else can we make that happen?"
I agree with the statements in the first paragraph. I have given up in a
pileup with that exact though, "the crowd will be thinner tomorrow and I'll
try for a contact then."
I disagree with both parts of the second paragraph, specifically "To shorten
a contest". There is NO talk about shortening a contest. There should be no
rule changes. CQWW and ARRL DX remain a 48-hour event.
"...or to offer shorter operating periods... seems to imply the only fun is
winning."
I disagree with this too. Here's a scenario I believe shows how time-based
categories can stimulate participation:
I had suggested a "best of X hours" category. The contest sponsor can
specify "X", or "X", "2X", "3X", etc categories. Here's how I think this
would encourage more participation. Let's say the sponsor makes X equal
to 3 hours. Let's also say I'm a newbie or I have always been a band/country
hunter during a few contests. I might be consider the casual contester.
I look (hear/see) there's a new "Best of 3-hour" category and I have
Saturday
evening available for some radio time after the kids are in bed. I decide to
get
into the contest. I work 30 stations the first hour, 35 the next hour, and
45
the third hour. I can shut my radio off, go to bed, and submit my log the
next
day. My results will be judged with all the other 3-hour participants.
Or, this might happen... I am confident (cocky?) I can make more than 30
contacts in the 4th hour if I stay on the air. I got over the initial
jitters and
that last hour was FUN. It's like a video game: "Here's your score. Game
over, Wanna play again?" This can be self fueling, maybe addicting, and I
don't have to invest 48 hours. I am no threat to that level of contesting
and my extended 4th or 5th hour of participation should help seed more
logs with my callsign.
I don't see this as a "Trophy Class". I see it as an economical way to bring
new contesters into the events, or extend the operating period of the
existing
casual contesters.
73 de Bob - KØRC in MN
----- Original Message -----
From: "Warren C. Stankiewicz" <nf1j@earthlink.net>
To: <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 10:51 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Categories, Participation and Competition
> It was written:
>
> "By the way, the number of entries is not a meaningful number."
>
> Some folks may feel that way, but, unfortunately, that is not going to
> make
> it so. The measure of a contest's success has, long through the ages, been
> the number of people who actually get on the air, make contact(s), and
> send
> in a log to the sponsor. You may not like that, but it's the way it is.
>
> I realize I've tried to bring up this other point a few times before, and
> while not strictly germane, perhaps, to this specific discussion, I feel
> it
> still has merit and is worth consideration.
>
> The fact of the matter is that the shorter the contest, the more it favors
> a
> big gun station. As the time of a contest is reduce, operators in a given
> area have much fewer chances at a given set of band, propagation, and
> areas
> to work. If we all hear a rare multiplier on 40 meters the first night,
> the
> fever of the pileup may be reduced by the fact, knowledge, or hope, that
> it
> might still be around the next day, and perhaps even again before the
> contest closes. In a shorter period, the average's station's chances are
> less, the work is harder, and small guys get crushed beneath the wheels of
> the Contesting Devserving. It's a question of percentages and averages
> tending towards a certain point.
>
> To shorten a contest, or to offer shorter operating periods within an
> existing contest, seems to me to be implying that the only fun one has in
> a
> contest is winning. Which ought not to be so. Contesting is, or at least
> should be, fun for everyone. How else can we make that happen?
>
> With malice towards none,
>
> Warren, NF1J/K6KFC
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
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