[CQ-Contest] ARRL Contest Participation Statistics

[Bob Naumann - N5NJ]

Interesting.

It would be more valuable if it was broken out by mode also- i.e. SS_CW vs. SS_SSB.  I'd also like to see some demographics on who these operators are that are boosting the #'s.

I suspect that both VHF and RTTY are now being frequented more by former HF types.  I am one of those, and enjoy the lack of QRM from SSTVers, Net operations and anti-contesters.  I'm just not into the hassle of fone contests any more.  I would suspect that I'm not alone.

The article cites the ease of getting on RTTY with computers, but misses the ease of getting on VHF will all of these new rigs that include 1 or more VHF bands along with HF capabilities.

RTTY is fun - and really great in multi-op as the operators can talk to each other while operating.  (We can't all operate CW and talk at the same time like W2RQ!)

73,
Bob N5NJ


============================================================
From: Bill Tippett <btippett at alum.mit.edu>
Date: 2004/02/19 Thu AM 07:43:02 CST
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] ARRL Contest Participation Statistics

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/02/18/2/?nc=1

         Interesting statistics at the bottom of the article.  With the
exception of the IARU, categories showing significant  growth
are either digital modes or VHF.

                                 73,  Bill W4ZV 

============================================================