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Re: [CQ-Contest] Interesting Youth In Ham Radio (was Digest)

To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Interesting Youth In Ham Radio (was Digest)
From: MARK BAILEY <kd4d@comcast.net>
Reply-to: MARK BAILEY <kd4d@comcast.net>
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2017 13:12:16 -0500 (EST)
List-post: <mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
Hi Mike:

Treating QSOs from "unconnected" stations differently would penalize the 
unconnected stations who were in the single operator category.  I still don't 
see why rules for the new "internet-connected" events can't be crafted to allow 
for single operator categories.  Also, I did not get the impression Ward was 
proposing a separate "contest within a contest" - he appeared to be proposing 
changing the CQWW rules.

     "If a QSO isn't validated because the station isn't online, give it one 
point or something."

Mark


> On November 15, 2017 at 12:18 PM W0MU Mike Fatchett <w0mu@w0mu.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Nobody says you have to play to connected game.  Not all contests are 
> for everyone.  This idea has been brought up before but doesn't seem to 
> get much traction.  If you want to play in the N0AX World Wide these are 
> the rules.  Just like every other contest.  It would probably start out 
> as a niche contest and grow exponentially or fall flat.  Why do we have 
> to placate those that don't want to abide by these special rules.  
> Either get on the net or not.  If you don't use the net then this one is 
> not for you. Just like many other contests.  Pick the ones you like.
> 
> W0MU
> 
> 
> On 11/15/2017 8:26 AM, MARK BAILEY wrote:
> > Hi Ward:
> >
> >
> > Clearly, our game is going to become more connected and real-time.  I see 
> > no reason, however, that this new world cannot co-exist with the 
> > traditional single operator categories (WRTC-like for instance).  What I 
> > would like to see considered is making sure that the new world doesn't 
> > require everyone to be connected and integrated - interoperate with a game 
> > where the "radio" people can play.
> >
> >
> > I was particularly struck by, and disagree with, the following:
> >
> >
> > "So everybody has to be
> > connected - so what - make a new CWAC overlay to CQ WW called the
> > Internet WW and run everybody's totals there.  If a QSO isn't validated
> > because the station isn't online, give it one point or something."
> >
> >
> > I think this new game, which is very rapidly taking over the Assisted and 
> > Multi-operator categories, can easily coexist with the traditional single 
> > operator game that some of us still enjoy playing!  :-)
> >
> >
> > 73,
> >
> >
> > Mark, KD4D
> >
> >
> >> On November 15, 2017 at 12:31 AM Ward Silver wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>      I like where this thread has gone and picked out a few of the bits I
> >>      thought most thought-provoking. N3BB's earlier comments were of
> >>      interest, as well. Perhaps I could add a couple of thoughts and maybe
> >>      RM2D will re-appear with some thoughts about younger contesters, as 
> >> well.
> >>
> >>      My "sales pitch" is usually some variation on "you can hear the world
> >>      turning" on HF. This immediately provokes questions and starts any
> >>      number of stories. Most people are completely unaware of the
> >>      ionosphere, solar weather beyond the occasional sensationalized news
> >>      item about how we're all going to die from a solar flare, and the idea
> >>      that things change every day and every hour. This at least starts a
> >>      conversation which can lead anywhere the interest goes.
> >>
> >>      Radiosport is also missing two crucial elements to hold the interest 
> >> of
> >>      anyone accustomed to being online: visualization and real-time
> >>      interaction. At the moment, contesting is like submarine racing -
> >>      awfully interesting to whoever is in the submarines but not of much
> >>      interest to anyone else. All the amazing stuff we imagine during the
> >>      contest - openings, pileups, grey line, angle of arrival, rate, 
> >> strategy
> >>          * they're all between our ears and very little is displayed 
> >> visually.
> >>
> >>      Some progress is being made - like with the waterfall display - but
> >>      there is so much data we could overlay onto various presentations.
> >>      People are visual today and we need to make what we do a little more
> >>      visual. I'm not saying turn it into a video game - just think up ways
> >>      to make the core functions of what we find so exciting something to 
> >> see
> >>      as well as hear and imagine.
> >>
> >>      Real-time interaction (meaning scoring) is the other part. The
> >>      real-time scoreboards are a step or two in the right direction - more 
> >> of
> >>      us need to be using them and we need more tools for comparing, 
> >> tracking,
> >>      ranking, analyzing scores and the breakdown data. The underlying
> >>      mechanism of reporting score data to a common processor seems to be
> >>      solved. Why not send QSO data along with the score? Collect the QSOs
> >>      and send them to a cross-checking validation engine that runs until 
> >> the
> >>      contest is over. (gross oversimplification) Then the final scores are
> >>      published in minutes, not weeks or months. So everybody has to be
> >>      connected - so what - make a new CWAC overlay to CQ WW called the
> >>      Internet WW and run everybody's totals there. If a QSO isn't validated
> >>      because the station isn't online, give it one point or something. Or
> >>      make a new contest with everybody online - that's where our target
> >>      audience is anyway. We can't wait until the last non-online holdout
> >>      gives in.
> >>
> >>      Those are tonight's ideas.
> >>
> >>      73, Ward N0AX
> >>
> >>      >
> >>      >> But if the sales pitch for amateur radio is "hey look how 
> >> fascinating
> >>      >> ionospheric HF propagation is compared to big budget VHF/UHF line 
> >> of sight
> >>      >> communications" I think it's a very easy pitch to make.
> >>      >>
> >>      >> = = =
> >>      >>
> >>      >> For the young person who has $100 and is
> >>      >> looking to invest in something with a high probability of fun, how 
> >> does
> >>      >> amateur radio stack up? How much fun would it be for any of us 
> >> with a $100
> >>      >> station budget?
> >>      >>
> >>      >> = = =
> >>      >>
> >>      >> I've found contesters to be among the most young-at-heart people 
> >> I've ever
> >>      >> met. I've been shocked a few times to discover that a contester I 
> >> had
> >>      >> operated with was 10+ years older than I'd realized. Contesting 
> >> truly may
> >>      >> be the fountain of youth. Maybe it's the combination of a spirit 
> >> that does
> >>      >> not decline with age and the strategic insight that only gets 
> >> stronger with
> >>      >> experience.
> >>      >>
> >>      >> = = =
> >>      >>
> >>      >> ...they are interested in integrated stations (computer &
> >>      >> radio) with automation coming quickly as the world that they are 
> >> used to,
> >>      >> this is a bit of a challenge for some of our mentors, who want to 
> >> start
> >>      >> from the theory of discrete components and work toward crystal 
> >> radios, then
> >>      >> onto discrete components, then ...
> >>      >>
> >>      >> = = =
> >>      >>
> >>      >> I believe that both approaches will appeal to different 
> >> constituencies;
> >>      >> however, the former approach of starting with the integrated 
> >> station and
> >>      >> then dealing into the theory, seems to be more effective on a 
> >> broader base.
> >>      >>
> >>      >> My take away is that there is no one single bullet and that we 
> >> will need
> >>      >> multiple approaches; however, from my observation, if not a 
> >> statistically
> >>      >> significant sample, is that this approach in getting them online 
> >> then work
> >>      >> to fill out operational and theoretical competence has offered an 
> >> appeal to
> >>      >> a broader set of students that we have the privilege to interact 
> >> and offer
> >>      >> a road to hamdom....
> >>      >>
> >>      >> = = =
> >>      >>
> >>      >> Amateurs have spent decades building the foundations of radio, 
> >> it's time to
> >>      >> help the new crowd take those foundations and build something of 
> >> their own
> >>      >> on top of it.
> >>
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