[CQ-Contest] ARRL Rookie Contest

[Ward Silver]

> If we want to get rookies into contesting, we need to keep it as simple as possible.

You might want to consult the potential rookies on this.  To them, the Web is what they consider "as simple as possible" - not all this logging and exporting and emailing.

Talking to our Web-savvy potential replacements, they simply can not believe that we engage in exciting, worldwide competitions and then have to send in a log and wait for months before the results are available.  The typical response I get on this topic is an emphatic "Lame!" and their interest turns off like a light switch.

This is not hard. Read the rules carefully - there are three ways to play:
1) Get a free copy of N1MM logger with the built-in software interface for the contest
2) Download your own free copy of a simple contest logging program for Windows-based machines
3) Open up a browser window to the getscores.org site and log on-line (this is the 21st century version of paper and pencil)

Don't have broadband? I believe the software developer(s) are building in enough buffering for you to log off-line in N1MM and then run the dial-up connection for a few minutes and dump in your QSOs either during the contest or at its conclusions.  There will be ten minutes after the contest to finish up and submit all pending QSOs.

Why not implement this for existing contests?  Too much infrastructure already out there.  This was a golden opportunity to both create a contest more in tune with the needs and abilities of new hams and at the same time open up radiosport to real-time logging and scoring.

There are literally millions of people all over the world engaging in real-time, on-line competitions 24/7/365.  That's the way people do things now.  We need to get with the program and take advantage of the technology while preserving the key elements of radio contesting.

73, Ward N0AX