The WPX contest is an odd creature. It originally was indeed a DX contest,
in which prefixes gave an interesting twist by providing a couple dozen
multipliers from very active countries like the USA and Germany, somewhat
offsetting the importance (though not the thrill) of working a VQ9 or the
like.
For many years there were no QSO points for working the same country. That
certainly indicated that it was a DX contest. I did have fun for several
years back then trying for the "biggest" zero point score. But the scoring
system changed and now there is a very modest incentive to make QSOs within
your country..
But when countries, including the USA, went to a callsign system with
hundreds of possible prefixes, and set very few impediments to an individual
acquiring or borrowing a nearly (or totally) unique prefix, the relation
between multipliers and DX countries largely disappeared. The extra points for
working DX remains as the sole indication of it still being a DX contest.
So the WPX is still a DX contest, though very watered down. Being open to
everyone in the world, It does sound like a good candidate for CWAC, Contest
Within A Contest, treatment. Perhaps the new administration can take a
look at some additional, alternative algorithms for scoring, one of which
could be what you propose.
73 - Jim K8MR
In a message dated 5/6/2013 11:02:42 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
rick@nq4i.com writes:
I have been holding this back now for a few weeks...but it is time to bring
it out...first and foremost, I am not a casual participant in the
WPXcontests...and I have won my share of them in the past 20 years or
more...3 times M-M CW and 6 time M-M SSB...along with various and sundry
single band efforts...
The stated purpose of the WPX contest as per their web site states:
“The WPX contest is based on an award offered by CQ Magazine for
*w*orkingall
*p*refi*x*es. Held on the last weekend of March (SSB) and May (CW), the
contest draws thousands of entries from around the world.”
No mention is made that what is really hiding behind is an actual
dxcontest.
I offer the following (with apologies to K1LZ) as material to consider:
2013 Claimed scores WPX SSB
K1LZ M-S 4726 qso's 1436 prefixes for 21.577 Mil points
NQ4I M-M 7077 qso's 1456 prefixes for 22,326 Mil points
Obvious from the get go:
1. The NQ4I team made 2351 MORE qso's than K1LZ.
2. K1LZ had 3.17 points per qso and NQ4I had 2.16 points per qso
Using the most basic analysis it is very apparent that K1LZ had a
HUGE advantage due to geography than NQ4I.
It is also apparent that the rewards associated by making a large number of
qso's and prefix mults is not afforded to the NQ4I team.
In order to level the playing field and make the contest as it appears to
have been designed, a prefix contest and not a dx contest, I offer the
following change to the WPX rules:
The WPX contest will consist of 3 points per qso, regardless of the
frequency or band used. All contacts will receive 3 points per qso, and the
multiplier used will be determined by the total number of different
prefixes worked.
If we reconsider K1LZ's score and NQ4I's score the following scores would
be resulted:
K1LZ 4726 qso's 1436 prefixes and 20.359 MIL points
NQ4I 7077 qso's 1456 prefixes and 30.912 MIL points
Now these score are much more representative of the efforts of EACH team
and reward both teams accordingly and fairly. By allowing 3 points per qso,
you eliminate the geographical advantages and make the contest playing
field level for all.
Respectfully submitted,
Rick NQ4I
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