[CQ-Contest] CC&R Category

[n6tr at teleport.com]

Interesting comments.  Reminds me of some contests I entered while 
living in a Townhouse - which not only didn't allow antennas - they
actually had a restriction against transmitting!

I did enter one of those 2 hour special contests on 160 meters back
about 20 years ago.  After it got dark - I strung a wire across the
driveway and another thrown over the roof.  It was really fun to 
see what I could work.  

Would it have been more fun if I was competiting somehow?  Maybe, but
that isn't why I did it.  

If I have a marginal setup - 100 watts with a inefficient antenna
system - I am going to welcome any chance to work stations regardless
of the circumstances.  What better time than a contest to work a 
bunch of people who can actually pull your weak signal out of the 
noise and give you a new state?  

I think there is an important distinction between the casual operator
and the one trying to compete.  The biggest numbers of people we work
in the contest are the casual opeartors.  They don't even send in a
log and they are just working guys for the fun of it.  They haven't
arranged their life to be able to spend the whole weekend in the
event - which is what would be required for a competitive effort
regardless of the antenna/power levels.  

In other words - while the description of the station applies to a
lot of people - how many of those are really trying to win a contest?

A more basic question is - who is it we need to attract to assure
contesting has a future.  Do we need more competitors or do we need
more non-competitors who get on for a few hours of fun and hand out
QSOs.  

I would argue that the non-competitiors are the ones that we need 
to foster, and that creating a new category for them to compete in
isn't going to attract them.

What will attract them is the opportunity to do something with their
hidden wire that they can't do at any other time.

If you really wanted to create a category for the what I will call
"non-serious" person - then probably limiting the time investment
is required.  Anyone who is wanting to win enough to free up a whole
weekend can easily find a competitive station to use.

73 Tree N6TR
n6tr at contesting.com



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