[CQ-Contest] Contesting Extinction

[Charles Gallo]

Originally sent this direct instead of to list

On 10/6/2006 Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:

<snip>
> Why make the category "Deed restricted?"  There has been a lot 
> of complaining that it is impossible for new contesters to 
> compete with the "big boys" for many reasons ... big antennas, 
> SO2R, etc., etc.,  Why not simply make the classes "basic" and 
> "unlimited"?  

<snip>

OK - this is a take from a "city boy" - in this case, NYC.  We don't
have antenna restrictions, except for a big one - LAND.  I love
reading about "small" lots of 120x60.  In the outer boroughs, if you
have 800K or so, you might be able to buy a lot that big

Thing is, I know a BUNCH of hams - guys who are good DXers, who won't
play in the contests.  Why?  I'll quote one, but it pretty much sums
up most of them

"Why should I play in a contest - I have absolutely NO chance of
winning anything, or even placing top 10, even in the section.  I have
a small vertical, and a space limited 80m antenna.  There is no way
for a guy like me to even 'show up'"

Now, I have (had) an even worse antenna setup than he did - I could
figure out no way to put up an 80m antenna (I eventually did BTW - and
my beam should go on my roof this winter)

Thing is, we look at stations that we call "little pistols" and most
of us say "WOW, I wish I could fit an antenna stack like that" The
TA-33 "Tig-array" I'm putting in will clear the property lines by less
than 5 ft on a side

The reality is that even a "tribander + wires" class is getting up
there in todays Co-op, Condo, and CC&R world, and people don't like to
play when they have no chance of even coming in top 50% in their area

I try to tell the folks - "operate, have fun, and see if you can do
BETTER next year", but frankly, that takes a certain level of
discipline that most don't have







--  
73 de KG2V

For the Children - RKBA!

Clones are people two.