[CQ-Contest] [NCCC] Annual Suggestion

[K1AR at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/19/2007 9:09:41 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
vhfplus at bmg50.com writes:

A quick  look at the 3830 reflector reported scores show that few SO 
entries  operate anywhere near 48 hours. Some did not report times but of 
those who  did the Iron Man (person?) was LZ4AX at K3CR with 44 hours, 
then W3EF at  43, W6QU (W8QZA op) at 42, N4PN at 41 and AA3B and N3BB at 
40. A vast  majority of the top-scoring SO's, reported so far, were in 
the mid to  upper 30's for time spent on-air.

This maybe an indication that the  contest community is graying but it is 
also a strong indication that few  of us, even the most dedicated contest 
operators, are interested in a  48-hour marathon. That would lend 
credence to Rick's annual suggestion  that 36 hours out of 48 would be a 
sensible change. It seems to work in  the WPX contest and adds an element 
of skill/luck in selecting off times  which makes things interesting.

73,

Jack,  NA7RF



This has as much to do with solar conditions as anything. When the sun  wakes 
up, there will be plenty to do for 48 hours. That's just not the case  now.
 
Frankly, and no pun intended, this debate is tiring. We don't need more  
categories. There are already too many. Just ask anyone who is on the admin side  
of the table. As it stands now for the CQ WW contest, nearly 2% of all entries 
 receive a plaque and over 1/3 win a certificate for their operating  
category.
 
If we introduced a 36-hour group, a subset of those operators who  continue 
to "lose" in their newly created category would want to parse  it further. It's 
an endless downward spiral.
 
My two cents.
 
73 John, K1AR