[CQ-Contest] the 7% solution to zero pointers

kr2q@optonline.net kr2q at optonline.net
Wed Nov 30 08:56:45 EST 2005


Dear Contest Fixers....

DISCLAIMER: This posting is my personal suggestion and shall not be construed to be in any way associated with or endorsed by any contest committee with which I may be associated.

Rick is complaining that he wasted too much time working zero pointers.  Well, if Rick had worked just 6 zero pointers during contest (country credit per band...he can work the zones with point credit), he would not be complaining (at least I don't think so).

So the issue at hand is not so much zero pointers as it is the "time wasted" - in theory, time he could have been working "real" DX (pointers).  

Additionally, some guys (correctly) point out that "one half of the qso gets credit (mults) while the other half gets zilch."

Using ONE POINT per same country QSO's will clearly change the nature, logic, and processes for contesting in CQWW....not a good thing.

So....the answer is "the 7% solution"  (if you don't know why that is in quotes, you can Google it...and shame on you).  I'll up the stakes to 10% to make it easier.

Each "same country" qso will count for Ø.1 points.  That way, you get "something" for your effort.  If you're like Rick and accumulate LOTS of same country qso's, at least you get something.  If you make 300 (currently) zero pointers, you would get 30 points TIMES your total number of all band mults (that is real number!).  So for guys who makes less than 10 "same country" qso's, you get nothing (unless you want to round up...I don't care).  But if you make "lots" of same country qso's, you "get something" for your effort AND the nature/logic/process of the contest remains in tact.  You are no longer "wasting your time" working them..and...you have some incentive (albeit small) to continue to work "same country" qso's if they call you.

Unlike some other suggestions, the contest software can EASILY handle this point structure change.  And again, the most important feature is that it does not change the nature or spirit of the contest.

de Doug KR2Q




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