[CQ-Contest] CQ160 Rule Changes in 2003 - Multi-Op Time Limit - Summary and Recommendation

[John Crovelli]

Greetings and Happy New Year to all Top Band contest enthusiasts.

Last September, when the new CQ 160 contest rules were announced for 2003, 
this topic was discussed on the Top Band reflector.  The responses are 
summarized below.


The overwhelming majority of multi-ops felt daytime operation was a burden 
and "not much fun" aspect of the event.  Most have been operating during 
daylight hours only because to not operate would give  a competitive 
advantage to other serious entrants.

Virtually all respondents seemed to agree that putting a limit on multi-op 
entrant operating time was a reasonable idea, especially in light of the 
time limit now imposed upon single op entrants (30 hours max.).  It is 
anticipated there will be even fewer stations for multi-op stations to 
contact during daylight hours under the new single op time limits.

Several respondents felt the multi-op limit should be 30 hours, some 32 and 
still others 36 hours.

Unfortunately the contest rules were already published and could not be 
changed for the 2003 event.

We propose multi-op entrants worldwide subscribe to a VOLUNTARY limit of 36 
hours or less of operating time during the 2003 contest period.

The W2GD Team has decided to operate the following schedule during the CQ 
160 CW weekend:

00:00 - 14:00  14 hours
20:00 - 14:00  18 hours
20:00 - 23:59   4 hours
Total          36 hours

At our North American location in NJ this schedule includes about 3 hours of 
after sunrise and and 3 hours of before sunset operation.  We want to see 
how productive these daylight hours of operation will be before making a 
recommendation to the CQ 160 Contest Committee this spring regarding a rules 
change in 2004 that would set a limit for multi-ops.

As always your comments and discussion of this proposal are most welcomed.  
Our Team (K2TW, KU2C, KB2JAQ, K8NZ, N2OO, W1GD, W2CG, W2GD, W2NO, and W2RQ) 
hopes that other Multi-0p entrants will agree and voluntarily limit their 
hours of operation.

Best of luck to everyone.

73, John W2GD


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