[CQ-Contest] 0 points and "Leveling the playing field"

[Jimk8mr at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/9/2007 10:20:45 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
btippett at alum.mit.edu writes:

For what purpose?  To supposedly "level the playing  
field"...which it will actually not do.  The latter is a myth that  
has yet to be achieved, even in WRTC.  Isn't it time to stop using  
the term and deluding ourselves?
 
 
---------------------------------------------------- 


 
In the DX contest world, a level playing field is a relative term for  
something that will never really be very level.
 
If you really want to compete in a "level playing field" contest, get  
yourself some mobile antennas and head out in one of the better state qso  parties.
 
There you will encounter no more antennas than will fit onto about 50  square 
feet of real estate, with antennas no taller than what will fit under a  
bridge. You will have nobody using packet spotting (though that may not  be true 
for long). Propagation differences between you and your competitors  will be 
minor compared to differences in other contests. Local factors like  terrain and 
power line noise will average out over the course of the contest.  And the 
ability to function with severe sleep deprivation is not an  issue.
 
The next major state QSO party is Ohio, on Saturday, August 25. There's  lots 
of level land to cover out here, although there are parts down in the  
southeast that are anything but (which is where I usually end up  covering).  Come 
on out, or at least be on the air from home to chase us  mobiles around the 
level fields of Ohio.
 
Full stuff at:      www.oqp.us
 
 
 
73  -  Jim   K8MR
 









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