Distance scoring is nice, but grid multipliers should be included to encourage
rover, portable, mountain top, and fixed activity from unusual places. I think
the 222 and Up contest would be much more popular if multipliers are included.
Distance scoring in the Stew Perry 160m contest is extremely dull and has very
limited activity compared to ARRL 160 and CQ160 contests that have a multiplier
factor included in the scoring.
Peter WW2Y
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Thu, Sep 18, 2025 at 8:29 PM, Mark Wasserbauer<mwasserb@rochester.rr.com>
wrote: I have been contesting for a long time and have a great deal investing
in this activity as many of you have as well. I don't want to see the
activity slowly die. However I believe that if things don't change, it
will die a slow and dragged out death. Many decent ideas out
there...however many are more of the same sort of thing that sounds
good, but do not change anything...or worse, change things in a negative
direction. Someone said we need to reach a consensus on contest
changes. Really consensus....does anyone honestly think there is a
solution where all of us contest operators will agree? I think you are
wildly optimistic...and then to divert the course of....my opinion...the
stogy antiquated ARRL Contest Committee! Now I'd say you are in
dreamland! I call them stogy and antiquated but I am secretly hoping
they will prove me wrong.....I've been waiting a long time.
As Dave, N2OA, pointed out, VHF+ contesting used to be very exciting
busy. It seemed there was hardly a dull moment. Now VHF+ contesting is
boring. Operating FT-8 is boring....now that it has sapped the lions
share of activity from analog....analog is boring as well. We will not
interest young new contesters when activity is so dull and lifeless.
In my opinion two things have happened that have dramatically change VHF
contesting. First...adding yet another mode to VHF contesting, this
time FT-8 and other digital modes. The second....allowing skeds to be
made on non-amateur systems....the Internet. Both have pulled activity
away from analog and made is almost futile to call CQ and any band.
This weekend I hear someone question how contesting was done prior to
all the wonderful technical systems? We called CQ... we made noise...we
worked the bands....we worked! And when we made that long Q on 432,
then 903, then 1296 it felt great.
Ask yourself this....what HF contest(s) included SSB, CW, FM, FT-8,
FT-4, and other digital modes? Not too many, and most even separate CW
and SSB! So why has VHF contesting all modes? I have been asking this
question for at least 30years. I can remember some very big name
Microwave guys here is WNY who used to scorn the idea of using
commercial means to make skeds. Now they all seem to be happily soaking
in it. I'm quite sure I know what caused the change, but Ill leave it
at that.
My opinions is that we need more contests...not try to resuscitate the
contest situation with the ARRL. It's a battle I am tired of waging
with feeble, meaningless, results. CQ has the progressive and correct
idea. Separate Digital and analog into separate contests. I think it
is the only way both digital and analog stations will be satisfied. My
only complaint with CQ is....what about the bands above 144MHz???
Let me give some credit to the ARRL Contest Committee for adding the
10GHz contest and modifying the UHF contest to a distance scoring.
However I think they fell short by not making all contests distance
scoring! And I can hear it now....what about the Rovers?!?!? What about
them? Grids where here before Rovers....and distance scoring does not
preclude them from operating. Any way you look at it...distance scoring
make sense. Working a station on a longer path is what we are all trying
to do...shouldn't they count as such? Eliminating grids also eliminates
the geographical advantage of residing near a grid corner.
We need to start thinking about what is possible. With enough
contesters I think it would be possible to side step the ARRL and
create, sponsor, contests without them. Crazy right! Think about the
possibilities. We could have every kind of contest you could
imagine...even a contest where all the Qs where made digitally using
contest bots! If you are into that sort of thing.
Personally I have lost any hope that the ARRL will make meaningful
changes to contesting. I thinks its time we created our own Contest
Committee. I would be the first one on board!
Mark N2YB FN12DT
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