[CQ-Contest] CQ WW zero Point Qs

[Ed Sawyer]

I can certainly appreciate the concern of working 100s and 100s of Qs that
are of no point or mult value for stations.  It IS a question that deserves
discussion.  To me however, the 80% solution is so simple really and doesn't
change in ANY WAY the contest as we know it.

Just give everyone the automatic mult of their own country and zone on any
band that they have a QSO on.  We are all working that anyway, so no scores
or records are affected.

What happens?  Well, I can speak for myself.

I don't work Rick on any band for a "K 05" double mult...especially 10M
where I have often worked Rick in the last few years from here (thanks
Rick).

I very likely don't work any zone 4 US station sice I will quickly work a
zone 4 VE3 on all bands.

That leaves zone 3 where I may still end up working NK7U or some other
beacon station from out there on a couple of bands if needed.

In my opinion, this would cut out 50 - 75% of the "need it for a mult" Qs at
strong M/M and SOAB stations and not effect anything else.

I personally do not buy the "most guys think they are just helping out"
argument.  Why?  The same guys would be "helping out" in ARRL DX but the
fraction of zero pointers there is way way less.  Since the "helper outers"
don't know the rules in either of the contests...they should be just as
helpful in both.  No...the vast vast majority of the zero point Qs in CQ WW
are people chasing the mult (like me).  Eliminate the need...and the problem
is basically gone.

Let the rest of the contest breath on...for those of you who like the "work
everybody format", please join me in the IARU where there are no zero point
Qs.

73

Ed  N1UR