[CQ-Contest] Time Limits

[Bill Coleman AA4LR]

On 7/21/97 8:37, Dave Lemm at n2dldave at juno.com wrote:

>Can anyone tell me why the Single OP has time limits in a contest.

Because that is what the contest sponsers thought would be best. (I'll 
elaborate)

>If a contest runs for 48 hours then everyone should be allowed to use
>that time.  Not just 30 or 36 hours.
>I do not understand the reasoning behind this.

Depending on the contest, there are a number of reasons to have a time 
limit.

Fundamentally, contest rules are designed to encourage participation. The 
subdivision of entrants into different categories is a good example. No 
one wants to compete in a category where he'll be judged amoung those who 
stand a much better chance of winning. If you improve the odds of doing 
well (not necessarily winning -- but that is important to some) for an 
entrant, then you'll get more participation.

There are a very few people with the constitutional fortitude to operate 
a radio continuously for 48 hours straight. If the single ops were 
permitted to do so, then some would. But others, realising their 
limitations, would figure they couldn't compete, and would not operate.

Further, many locales don't have useful propagation for all 48 hours. 
These folks would realise they couldn't compete, and would not operate.

By limiting the number of hours, a new strategic element is introduced. 
You must anticipate when your worst hours will occur in order to maximize 
your score. 

>I am glad to see the CQWW RTTY Contest has NO time limitations
>I think it is time for a change.

CQWW doesn't have time limitations for single operators. (At least, I 
couldn't find any in the rules)

CQ WPX has a 36 hour limit, and this used to be 30 hours. There is some 
dissent over the change. Some feel that the 30 hour limit was better.

Perhaps a compromise would be to allow operators to operate as much as 
they like, but only have the first 30 or 36 hours count towards their 
score. That way, those that are truely affected with the radio bug can 
operate as much as they please.




Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at radio.org
Quote: "Not in a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901


 -
 ---
CQ-Contest on WWW:        http://www.contesting.com/_cq-contest/
Administrative requests:  cq-contest-REQUEST at contesting.com