[CQ-Contest] inequities in contesting and a proposal

[brian coyne]

An interesting and novel concept Richard which could certainly be a lot of fun, I would love to try it.


The hard part would be  probably to find an empty weekend and I don't know if the logging program writers would be queuing up to take it on.

73  Brian 5B4AIZ / C4Z.



________________________________
 From: Richard F DiDonna NN3W <richnn3w at verizon.net>
To: CQ Contest <cq-contest at contesting.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, 4 December 2013, 16:31
Subject: [CQ-Contest] inequities in contesting and a proposal
 

I see a lot of comments from stations complaining about a USA-EU cabal 
that limits the fun for others in CQWW.  I would submit that the level 
of fun (or perceived lack thereof) is belied by the fact that the number 
of logs increases every. single. year.  Even after the gloom and doom 
projections of 1) no more paper logs, 2) the threat of public logs 
somehow embarrassing people, and 3) the tight submission deadlines, the 
number of logs continues to increase.

And no matter what distance based or grid-zone based proposals are made, 
the fact of the matter is that, in CQWW, rate is king.  I don't care if 
you award 25 points for a QSO with a station that is 8,000 miles away, 
there is enough rate on high volume "circuits" to justify a lot of hams 
sticking to their run frequency and staying with what keeps the rate 
meter above 150.

Now, that being said, I very much understand where KE3X comes from with 
the discussion on his kids.  I'm not really "young" anymore (first time 
I've said that), but I do relate more to what younger hams and younger 
people types say and feel versus the older generations who grew up 
without personal computers and email.  And I agree that the stayed 
formula of contests seems to appeal to some, but not all....

So....what about scrambling things up a bit with a contest.  Find an 
empty weekend and have a 24 hour event that combines what we like about 
CQWW, IARU, WPX, and throw in some spice.

CW and SSB modes allowed. Skimmer, packet, chat, DXmaps, remote bases, 
virtual multis are all permitted.  In fact, if you want to have the most 
"fun", you must be able to receive text messages or emails or a packet 
blast from the sponsor as I will detail below.

Everyone works everyone.  Points in "normal" mode are as follows.  1 
point for QSOs with stations in the same country and within your own ITU 
zone (e.g., UA3 works UA3); 2 points for QSOs within your own country 
but a different ITU zone (e.g. W3 works W5); 2 points for QSOs with 
stations in a different country but in the same continent and ITU zone 
as you (e.g., EA works CT); 3 points for QSOs with stations in a 
different country but in the same continent and different ITU zone as 
you (e.g., JA works VU); 5 points for QSOs with a station on a different 
continent (e.g., LU works XE); 10 points for QSOs with a station of a 
different continent and where the distance between the stations 
(measured via four digit grid) is at least 7,500 miles (e.g., ZL works GM)

Bonus QSO factor for bands: 1.5x bonus for 160 meters; 1.25x bonus for 
80 meters; 1.00x bonus for 40, 20, and 15 meters; 1.25x bonus for 10 meters

Exchange is first two letters of your grid (e.g., FM for FM14) and your 
ITU zone.

Multipliers are ITU zones and callsign prefixes.

Special bonus opportunities:

During the contest, at random periods, special opportunities will be 
announced by the sponsor which gives bonus points for fulfilling certain 
tasks or meeting certain goals.  Announcements will be made by 1) text 
after you pre-register or 2) via email after you pre-register.  You will 
still earn the bonus if you don't pre-register and fulfill the task 
during the period of opportunity, but you won't be notified of the 
opportunity.

Examples of special bonus opportunities:
Between 2145z and 2245z, QSOs with VKs and ZLs yield you triple points
Between 1400z and 1430z, QSOs with stations with a "6" in its callsign 
yield you a 1.5x point bonus
Between 0300z and 0400z, find RI1FJ or KH6XX for 25 bonus points
Between 1500z and 1600z, work stations in 15 different ITU zones for 100 
bonus points
Between 0300z and 0400z, work stations in 15 different ITU zones for 100 
bonus points
Between 0900z and 0930z, work 5 "island" DXCC entities for 25 bonus 
points (e.g., 9H, KH6, ZD8, or 6Y)
Between 2100z and 2130z, make 10 QSOs where you alternate each QSO 
between SSB and CW for double points
Between 1630z and 1700z and between 0430z and 0500z, work any station in 
your "antipode" area for 25 points

Crazy?  Probably, but it definitely would scramble things up a bit.

73 Rich NN3W




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