[CQ-Contest] Dollars/qso score

[Ulli Grunow]

Dear contesters,

Contest organizers.

This is just something I was thinking about when looking through the scores
of last CQWW CW 2008..

 

I am ON5KQ, (op Ulli) operating a very limited contest station here in
Belgium..

Have just published my claimed scores (SOSB 40m) at 3830 reflector.

 

Seeing all the great score of great people it came to my mind, that there
might be one factor for great contest results we never talk about.

I just want to name it here once: the factor of money spent to achieve the
result.

 

I am not at all saying, that it is the most important factor - but I have
never seen a below $3000 total cost station winning a contest !

You may say it is trivial - with more input there is more output - yes,
partly this is true and that's a way you can see it.

 

>From a sports standpoint of view, I personally feel as if I try to become
successful with an old Volkswagen in a Formule 1 race. should I buy a new
expensive car te get in pool position next time ?!

I certainly enjoy the many impressive websites of the major contest winner's
- great to see ! Great technology and thank you for documenting and share
your experience with dream equipment for almost everyone else.

Sometimes there are Single OP's operating a super station build in many many
years from Multi/Multi teams. Is that real Single Operator contesting ?!?

Also the Multi/Multi teams spend many thousands of dollars into the
hobby..their neighbor ham's might be never be able to do anything close to
that, simply due to their very limited of even tight budget.

 

So in what aspect we talk about winning the contest ? Biggest station,
richest people ? Biggest equipment ?!?

 

I am happy to find the Triband/wires only category in some contests.

How about a total below $3000 dollar category ?!

Single band entries half.

 

My station is below $1500 incl. TRX !

I am proud of my efficiency .. 

Want to hear/read about small stations with good results - stand up guy's !

 

Ulli, ON5KQ

www.on5kq.be

 

P.S.: I am not against spending lots of money into our great hobby - just
wanted to tell a different story.