[CQ-Contest] Line Scores

Craig Cook n7or at yahoo.com
Thu Dec 2 17:48:08 EST 2004 

--- Rick Stoneking <w2rds at arrl.net> wrote:

> There is no doubt about it - contestors are not only
> not THE big group, they 
> are not even A big group.  I downloaded the scores
> from the 2002 ARRL DX SSB 
> and CW contests (back before line scores were
> removed).  There were 
> basically 2300 scores submitted. I think it is safe
> to argue that everybody 
> who cared about seeing their score in print
> submitted a log.  So if we take 
> that AND say another 25% care about line scores but
> were unable to operate 
> then you get ~3600 contestors.  The current "average
> paid circulation" for 
> QST according to the ARRL web site is 141,861.  So
> 2.54% of the people who 
> receive QST are what N7MAL is calling "the largest
> group of QST 
> subscribers".  Clearly 2.5% can not be the largest
> group.  At double the 
> contest log submission rate it is only 5%, and at
> 10x it is only 25%.
> 
> I HATED seeing the loss of the line scores in QST. 
> It was a great feeling 
> when you got on the 2m repeater in the morning for
> the commute to work and 
> somebody comes on and congratulates you on your
> score in the contest - which 
> they saw in QST.  And there is 'just something
> special' about seeing your 
> callsign in print - regardless of the score.  But
> Ward (and N7MAL) were both 
> correct it pointing out that the ARRL is a business,
> QST is a business, and 
> as Ward said, it is simply not financially possible
> to publish pages of line 
> scores.  People will argue - "CQ still does it",
> which is true - but I ask 
> you to look at how many pages per year does CQ have
> to commit to cover its 
> contests, vs. the number of pages QST committed each
> year to list all of its 
> sponsored contests?  As Ward said, the ARRL is the
> largest sponsor of 
> contests. There are 15 ARRL contests for 2004
> (exlcuding Straight Key 
> Night).  CQ magazine has about 6 or 7.  The ARRL has
> also put together the 
> database which is a great tool, and they have .pdf
> files with the complete 
> writeup and lines scores available for download.  CQ
> has  system of results 
> files available on the web for the last couple of
> years - with the 2003 
> scores not yet available on line, even though the
> 2004 contests are already 
> over!
> 
> N7MAL - What exactly is it that you think IS behind
> removal of the contest 
> line scores?  Pray tell what great conspiracy has
> been wrought upon us, and 
> kept so skillfully secret!  Instead of festering
> over some half baked plan 
> to boycott the ARRL and/or its advertisers, why
> don't you "Suck it up!" and 
> spend the energy in making a better score - the top
> 10 is still printed in 
> QST...
> 
> 
> Rick
> W2RDS
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "George Harlem W1EBI" <w1ebi at lightband.com>
> To: "N7MAL" <N7MAL at CITLINK.NET>; "Ward Silver"
> <hwardsil at centurytel.net>; 
> "CQ-Contest Reflector" <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 2:12 PM
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Line Scores
> 
> 
> Statistically I seriously doubt that contesters
> could possibly be the
> largest QST subscriber group.  And before "taking
> action", you might keep in
> mind that ARRL also publishes a separate periodical
> aimed directly at the
> contesting community--NCJ.  Do a sprint, see your
> call in print...
> 
> George W1EBI
> 
> ---------- Original Message -----------
> From: "N7MAL" <N7MAL at CITLINK.NET>
> To: "Ward Silver" <hwardsil at centurytel.net>,
> "CQ-Contest Reflector" <cq-
> contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Thu, 2 Dec 2004 19:03:31 -0000
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Line Scores
> 
> > Congratulations Ward any politician would be proud
> of you for being
> > able to speak out of both sides of your mouth at
> the same time
> > without blinking your eyes. I, still, believe
> there is more to the
> > contest line scores being removed than we are led
> to believe.
> > Contesters, as a demographic group, I suspect make
> up the largest
> > group of QST subscribers. If the contest community
> seriously wants
> > line scores back in print then there a very simple
> solution.
> > Organize a petition saying we will take some
> action against QST. and
> > in particular the advertisers. Then make sure AES,
> HRO, Kenwood,
> > Icom, and Yaesu all get copies of the petition.
> Remember first and
> > foremost QST/ARRL is a business controlled by the
> 'bottom-line'. If
> > we really want those line scores back, and I for
> one do, then hit
> > QST/ARRL right where they live, in their
> pocketbook.
> >
> > MAL               N7MAL
> > BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
> > http://www.ctaz.com/~suzyq/N7mal.htm
> >   ----- Original Message ----- 
> >   From: Ward Silver
> >   To: CQ-Contest Reflector
> >   Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 5:32 PM
> >   Subject: [CQ-Contest] Line Scores
> >
> >   > I concur totally-- I used to wait eagerly to
> see "k5ucv" even
> > with very  few Qs.  It was exciting-- recognition
> that I belonged.
> >  I hate it that they  do not publish  > the scores
> any more.
> >
> >   Not picking on Rusty in particular...
> >
> >   Lets be clear - the ARRL *also* hates that they
> can't publish line
> > scores in  QST any more.  Those pages were lost
> because there aren't
> > enough members and  advertising dollars to support
> them, the reasons
> > for which are well beyond  the scope of this
> discussion. Despite the
> > modern tendency to find a  conspiracy behind every
> grassy knoll,
> > this was not an anti-contester act.  The ARRL has
> been and remains
> > the world's largest sponsor of contests by a 
> large factor.  They
> > get an imperial ton of complaints about it, too...
> >
> >   While many of us greybeards - some with entirely
> more salt than
> > pepper - may  cherish the printed page, for
> technically savvy
> > individuals under the age of  40 (i.e. - the new
> blood we all claim
> > to seek) the printed page is a lot  less
> important.  They have a
> > different set of expectations and waiting for 
> months and months to
> > see lines of 6-point type is a lot lower on their
> totem  pole.  We
> > grew up with it and it is our standard.  They did
> not and it is  not.
> >
> >   At the time of the original announcement, a
> group of folks got
> > together and  took a look at contest-related
> information.  We wrote
> > a paper about where we  thought the information
> should go.
> >  
>
(http://www.designet.com/k1ir/Downloads/ContestProposal_071702.pdf)
> >   This  tried to take into account the reality of
> publishing media
> > today.  Some  things are good in print.  Stuff
> that is really data -
> > like line scores -  costs too much for physical
> distribution in the
> > publishing environment of  today.  If you think
> you know so ding-
> > dong much about it, go start your own  magazine
> and show us :-)
> >
> >   Bud's comment about "feeder activities" and
> other's 
=== message truncated ===



		
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