[CQ-Contest] SS Sundays

[Richard F DiDonna NN3W]

On 2/8/2013 1:19 PM, Timothy Coker wrote:
>
> Geez am I the only guy who feels bad about telling the kids that daddy 
> isn't playing with them because taking a break would set me behind my 
> competitors? This after working 40+ and commuting all week?
>
> I get the whole idea of going strong and head long into it... but SS 
> isn't exactly an iron man contest like CQ WW or ARRL DX is it?
>
> The guys who are currently at the top of this one are hardcore ops. 
> There should always be a group of them for a while into the future. 
> Just giving my opinion as a second tier domestic station on what would 
> probably put some more life into this one.
>
> 73,
>
> Tim/ N6WIN
>
Tim, contesting and family has always been a balancing act and one where 
conflict often occurs.  I am in the same boat as you as I have young 
children, and have to very carefully chose which events I can do 
seriously and which I have to expect to "break off engagement" from when 
the need arises.  These days, I have about 5 events set aside in a year 
- mostly 24 or 48 hour events, and have been fortunate enough to be 
green lighted for a couple 12 hour QSO parties.  One can argue for 
overlays or 12/24 hour windows, but I've really yet to see a persuasive 
argument for why Sweeps as a whole should be cut down in duration.  As 
it currently stands, each operator must take 20% of the contest period 
as off/break time. That, to me, is a rather large concession.

While SS is not an "iron man" contest, I don't see why that's really 
relevant.  It is, however, considered by many to be the pre-eminent 
purely domestic contest.  Thus, you get a lot of heavy hitters pushing 
red line in this event.  So, expect a high level of competition.

73 Rich NN3W