[CQ-Contest] NA sprint SSB - Lets get on the air gang

[George Fremin III]

On Fri, Sep 16, 2011 at 08:15:52AM -0700, Chris Tate - N6WM wrote:

> setting your paddles aside for 4 hours, and getting on the air for
> NCJ NA SSB sprint this weekend.  This contest is showing an
> unfortunate trend of rapid decline in participation, and there is a
> genuine concern from many in the community that this contest will
> not be able to continue if the pattern stays consistent.  I am
> confident that you my friends and colleagues in the contest
> community do not want that to happen, and all it will take is 4
> hours of your time to re-energize it.  

As a somewhat active Phone contest operator, I have felt the SSB
sprint should have been killed off long ago.  Of all the contests on
the calendar I do not think there is another one that is more
disruptive to activity on the bands.  I do not think it makes
contesters look very good.

I used to do this contest and I have put together many winning phone
sprint teams.  But during a phone sprint many years ago with 30
minutes to go in the contest, while on a top 5 score pace, I noticed
how our activity was affecting the normal users of 80 meters and I
stopped operating the contest.  I think I have made a hand full of
contacts since.

In my opinion the phone sprint does nothing to improve our image.

-- 
George Fremin III - K5TR
geoiii at kkn.net
http://www.kkn.net/~k5tr