[CQ-Contest] off times

[Bruce Lifter]

Having to take an Off-times is just one more factor to be considered in
a contest. The fact that you can't work the entire contest says you have
to plan out your contest. If you take time off poorly, you may miss an
opening
and lose some critical multipliers. I think by having to take Off-times,
some of the brute force is taken out of a contest and some strategy or
the use of some brain cells is added in.

The participation of a contest is affected by the off-times of a contest.
I personally will rarely competitively chase a no Off-time 48 hour contest
as a single operator. A contest like CQ WW encourages participation in
a multi-operator effort. On the other hand, a contest like the WPX
contest gets pretty slow for a multi-op at times. All the single-ops
are sleeping while the multi-ops are begging for contacts.

Don't look at Off-times as a single operator penalty but just as one more
of the dynamics that makes a contest unique.

73, Bruce

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-cq-contest at contesting.com
> [mailto:owner-cq-contest at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Rick Bullon
> Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2000 7:49 PM
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] off times
>
>
>
> Hello All
> I have asked this question before but I have never received an acceptable
> answer on this.
>
>
> Why is there an off time for single ops in contests????
>
>
> Multi op stations have no off times. I have been told that it is so you
> don't get so tired during a contest. Well if I get too tired to
> operate in a
> contest I will take a break but if I am not that tired and can go
> the entire
> contest then why shouldn't I be able too? I have heard answers like " It
> takes more skill when you have to take breaks. You have to learn the
> propagation and then you know when to take a break" or " When the
> rate drops
> then you take a break" These aren't answers they tell me when to
> take breaks
> not why. If the rate drops then you change bands not say " Oh well guess
> I'll go watch TV for 30 min"
> THere is nothing in the rules to keep 2 or 3 ops at a multi transmitter
> station from running the whole contest with out a break.
>
>   There are even 12 hour contests that limit the single op to 10
> hours(NAQP)! Come now I am capable of working a contest for 12 hours!
> Maybe we need to have the multi op stations have off times for
> the ops and
> list the off times for every op there or just do away with the required
> breaks
> I noticed that the ARRL 10 meter contest requires ALL station to only
> operate 36 out of 48 hours. Another rule that needs to be
> changed. When is
> the last time you heard 10 meters opened for 48 continuous hours?
> You can't
> work 48 hours on 10 meters maybe 20 or 30 if conditions are excellent!!!!
> Can some one tell me the reason for this silly rule??????
> 73
> Rick
> KC5AJX
>
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