More on Regional Reporting

Wed Mar 23 19:08:21 EST 1994

My previous message on regional reporting was a general statement written
with the assumption that this format will spread to ALL  ARRL contests, not
just the 160 test. 

73
Jeff Steinman, KR0Y

jsteinman at aol.com 

>From dcurtis at mipos2.intel.com (Dave Curtis)  Thu Mar 24 00:44:36 1994
From: dcurtis at mipos2.intel.com (Dave Curtis) (Dave Curtis)
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 94 16:44:36 PST
Subject: Misc.
Message-ID: <9403240044.AA04910 at climax.intel.com>

Bill KM9P says:
> 
> 2)  Now that I'm in the process of building a new station, I am full of
> questions about antennas and towers.  Before it didn't really interest me. 
> Every time I want to ask a question regarding antennas, I don't because I
> don't want to use up bandwidth on the reflector, since it isn't exactly a
> contesting issue.  Do you think it would make sense to set up a reflector for
> antenna and propagation issues?  If so, how do we do it?
> 

Not exactly a contest issue?  If aluminum in the sky ain't a contest
issue, I don't know what is!  The main reason I find this reflector
useful is the discussion of "highly effective" antenna farms.
My current backyard may be 24 feet by 13 feet -- but that won't be
forever -- *please* keep the antenna farm related material coming!
It seems to me that "contest station" antenna issues are sufficiently
different to warrent keeping their discussion on this reflector --
stacking/multiple-towers/multiple-feedline-options/interactions/etc
-- this reflector is very educational.

73, Dave NG0X
dcurtis at mipos2.intel.com

>From Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com>  Thu Mar 24 04:40:15 1994
From: Randy A Thompson <K5ZD at world.std.com> (Randy A Thompson)
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 1994 23:40:15 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Regional Reporting Part I
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9403232335.A26934-0100000 at world.std.com>

In response to KR0Y's comments about regional top ten boxes in the ARRL 
160 contest, I must disagree with his opinion that they are not valuable.

It is true that this year (the first year, unnanounced) that the regional 
competition was thin in places.  No one even knew they were competing for 
any boxes other than top ten!

However, over time I expect that it will become a worthy goal to make the 
box for your region.  This will stimulate activity in all parts of the 
country and improve the contest.

I do agree that it was a bit extreme to drop the Top Ten box completely 
in favor of the regional boxes.  The Sweepstakes write-up will not 
subject you to this level of cold turkey!

Randy, K5ZD

>From gswanson at arrl.org (Glenn Swanson)  Thu Mar 24 12:45:47 1994
From: gswanson at arrl.org (Glenn Swanson) (Glenn Swanson)
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 94 08:45:47 edt
Subject: Regional / Top 10
Message-ID: <2150 at gs>

Hi, I have to agree that the Regional listing boxes were great, BUT, I too
    thought (as I looked over the results) that just one more box was needed.
    The top 10 box!.  Why not keep what we have but add the top 10 box too?
    Whats it take? 2x4" box and (admittedly) some additional work here at HQ
    in the Contest Branch.  It should be the best of both worlds however.
                            My $0.02 worth.  73, Glenn KB1GW

>From David C. Patton" <mudcp3 at uxa.ecn.bgu.edu  Thu Mar 24 14:49:18 1994
From: David C. Patton" <mudcp3 at uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (David C. Patton)
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 1994 08:49:18 -0600 (CST)
Subject: Regional Reporting/ARRL160
Message-ID: <199403241449.AA20028 at uxa.ecn.bgu.edu>

1.  I agree with both Jeff and Randy.  I found myself looking at the
top scores in each region and wondering "gee, that's a good score--is
it a TOP-TEN score??"    Keep the top ten.

2.  Eventually the expanded coverage will draw more activity and
corresponding scores that are worthy of such recognition.

3. I suggest moving AK and HI out of the regional boxes and into the
DX entry category.  KL7FAP cannot compete within the Northwest or
West Coast divisions/regions.

4.  In response to Bill, KM9P's question on the need for a separate
reflector for aluminum/propagation--keep antennas and propagation
here.  Contests wouldn't be much fun without either.  And many of us
will be building stations soon.  This type of info I find to be the
most useful on the reflector.

5.  Still haven't received my NCJ.  Wish I could figure out what Trey
and Jose are talking about.  I didn't see Jose's message either.  My
network crashed and burned at the same time as the NCJ hit Macomb
apparently.

6.  UNRELATED but important comment:  as I type this out with
considerable pain I must remind all you computer contesters to the
danger of carpal tunnel syndrome.  48 hour (or any length) contests
in front of a keyboard can result in severe pain in wrists, arms, and
shoulders if you do not keep your wrists supported/in correct
position.  I didn't realize this until a few months ago.  NOBODY does
any data-entry or typing tasks that can be more damaging than what a
contester does sitting at the radio/computer for 48 hours--as I have
done many, many times (on top of years of data entry damage).  I
strongly recommend buying wrist supports and using them in contests.
I will remember this when the surgeon rips my wrist into shreds.

73, Dave Patton

WX3N/9

>From Steven.M.London at att.com (Steven M London +1 303 538 4763)  Thu Mar 24 14:52:00 1994
From: Steven.M.London at att.com (Steven M London +1 303 538 4763) (Steven M London +1 303 538 4763)
Date: 24 Mar 94 14:52:00 GMT
Subject: KM9P-Yes...KR0Y-NO
Message-ID: <9403241447.AA09685 at bighorn.dr.att.com>

I think Bill is right on in commending the league for its regional reporting
of the 160 contest.  A USA top-ten is totally meaningless in this, and virtually
every other contest (including SS, where I admit to being geographically favored).

Jeff, you are wrong to imply that the top-5 boxes will always remain 
uncompetitive.  More people will be encouraged to put in a serious effort
in future years, if they think they may get some credit in the writeup.

The only complaint I have about the 160 contest writeup is the ordering
of the top-5 boxes.  I would prefer to see the high power, single-op boxes
listed first.  Yes, this represents my own personal prejudice (life is too
short for QRP).

Still waiting for my NCJ out here in the US mail black hole.  Anyone else
in the USA still waiting, or is it time for a phone call to Newington ?

Steve, N2IC/0

>From Jim Hollenback <jholly at hposl42.cup.hp.com>  Thu Mar 24 16:18:51 1994
From: Jim Hollenback <jholly at hposl42.cup.hp.com> (Jim Hollenback)
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 94 8:18:51 PST
Subject: KM9P-Yes...KR0Y-NO
Message-ID: <9403241618.AA25465 at hposl42.cup.hp.com>

> 
> Still waiting for my NCJ out here in the US mail black hole.  Anyone else
> in the USA still waiting, or is it time for a phone call to Newington ?
> 
> Steve, N2IC/0
> 

Still waiting for the NCJ and QST out here on the postally challenged 
left coast .... jeez, the discussions are over and dead before I get 
to read what we were talking about.

And for KR0Y .... don't fret about the 'empty' boxes and your showing
in your box. I bet that unless you mount a real effort you won't be
in a box next year. 

Jim, WA6SDM
jholly at cup.hp.com

>From mwilson at arrl.org (Mark Wilson)  Thu Mar 24 16:49:59 1994
From: mwilson at arrl.org (Mark Wilson) (Mark Wilson)
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 94 11:49:59 EST
Subject: Regional reporting
Message-ID: <1412 at mw>

Don't worry -- as Randy noted, the Top Ten boxes are in the SS
results and will appear in future results as well. 

Yep, some regions have a big spread between the 1st and 5th highest
score. But this happens in the traditional Top Ten boxes, too.

Example: ARRL DX Contest results, October 1993 QST.
DX Phone: #1, HC8A 10,114,020 ----- #10, 5U7M 2,269,938
W/VE QRP phone: #1, AA2U 702,684 ----- #10, WA4FHQ 44,520
20-m single band (W/VE, CW): #1, KT3Y 495,405 ----- #10, K6XO/7 83,424

Anyway, you get the idea.

Please send any other comments or suggestions for improvement
to Billy Lunt (contest at arrl.org). As you know, comments and
suggestions on this reflector played a big part in the reporting 
changes in April QST. We appreciate the input.

73, 
Mark Wilson, AA2Z
Editor, QST
mwilson at arrl.org

>From j.p. kleinhaus" <kleinhaj at mary.iia.org  Thu Mar 24 17:37:25 1994
From: j.p. kleinhaus" <kleinhaj at mary.iia.org (j.p. kleinhaus)
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 1994 12:37:25 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Misc.
Message-ID: <199403241737.AA17336 at mary.iia.org>

 <stuff deleted>
> 
> 2)  Now that I'm in the process of building a new station, I am full of
> questions about antennas and towers.  Before it didn't really interest me. 
> Every time I want to ask a question regarding antennas, I don't because I
> don't want to use up bandwidth on the reflector, since it isn't exactly a
> contesting issue.  Do you think it would make sense to set up a reflector for
> antenna and propagation issues?  If so, how do we do it?
> 
> <stuff deleted>
> 
> 73
> 
> Bill, KM9P at AOL.COM

I am also in the process of building a new station and like to see the
various antenna related discussions right here.  How many lists do we
need to subscribe to? There is already a separate CT reflector etc.
I think antenna discussions DO belong here and would like to see them stay
right where they are.

73, J.P. AA2DU
kleinhaj at IIA.ORG

>From Smith, Pete" <PSmith at codei.hq.nasa.gov  Thu Mar 24 21:08:00 1994
From: Smith, Pete" <PSmith at codei.hq.nasa.gov (Smith, Pete)
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 94 13:08:00 PST
Subject: Regional reporting
Message-ID: <2D9201D6 at ms.hq.nasa.gov>

 ----------
Mark Wilson wrote:

>Don't worry -- as Randy noted, the Top Ten boxes are in the SS
>results and will appear in future results as well.

>Please send any other comments or suggestions for improvement
>to Billy Lunt (contest at arrl.org). As you know, comments and
>suggestions on this reflector played a big part in the reporting
>changes in April QST. We appreciate the input.

Darn good!  I'm really impressed with the impact the reflector had, and even 
more with the openness of the ARRL to input.  If this is a harbinger of the 
electronic town meetings of the future, then bring 'em on!

Now if I could just get my NCJ electronically (or QST for that matter!)

Pete N4ZR  (psmith at codei.hq.nasa.gov)