It might do me some good! Frankly, I don't plan on ever using internet
when I'm on a hilltop 10 miles from the nearest town (I can't even do
that right now), but if some people spot me and some others locally
point their beams my way, I might get a few more QSO's.
:-)
73, Zack W9SZ
On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 4:32 PM, James Duffey <jamesduffey@comcast.net> wrote:
> All of ARRL sponsored UHF/VHF contests have the same format, and with a few
> tweaks, the same rules, scoring, and categories. There is no obvious reason
> to me for these all to be the same, except I assume that over the years we
> have migrated to this uniformity by implementing a contest structure that the
> causes the least amount of complaints.
>
> I propose that for one of the ARRL contests assistance be allowed in all
> categories. Then we can see for ourselves if the VHF/UHF contesting world
> comes to an end. I suspect that it will not. One would hope it might grow a
> bit.
>
> One subtle problem of adding categories to a contest, such as single op
> assisted, or unlimited in the SS parlance, is that categories can have
> unintended consequences. The introduction of the limited mult-op category
> appears to have reduced microwave operation by many traditional multi
> entrants and with fewer good microwave signals on the band, there appears to
> have been less overall microwave activity. I fear that the same is happening
> with the limited rover category, although it is too soon to tell for sure,
> rather than encouraging activity from rover newbies, it is siphoning activity
> away from conventional rovers and giving us fewer band/grid combinations to
> work. There are others as well.
>
> I think that for at least one VHF/UHF ARRL contest we should concentrate on
> devising rules that encourage activity rather than concentrating on
> implementing rules that level the playing field. These rules should still be
> fair, whatever ethical meaning that has in a ham radio contest context, but
> the proliferation of categories to make it fair should be avoided if possible.
>
> Internet assistance, spotting clusters as it were, would be advantageous to
> this end and would be allowed. Prearranged skeds before the contest increase
> activity, are allowed now, and would continue to be allowed. Allowing ops and
> stations to submit more than a single log would help as well, particularly in
> areas where VHF activity is low. Entering and awarding certificates on a grid
> basis rather than a section basis would generate more certificates and likely
> more participation. Allow a station be located anywhere in the grid to submit
> a log from that grid, not just within a 500M circle. Awarding a certificate
> to the highest score in each club entry would increase club competition and
> overall participation. All this before we start looking at how to score the
> contest.
>
> Perhaps there are other rule changes to encourage activity in contests? -
> Duffey
> --
> KK6MC
> James Duffey
> Cedar Crest NM
>
>
>
>
>
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