[CQ-Contest] SS Sundays

[Edward Sawyer]

I decided to go back through the easy to grab ARRL data.  Here is the rest
of the table:

 

SS                                                  ARRL DX

Year Phone    CW                    Phone        CW

 

2012    1675    1290                    1869        1697

2011    1828   1404                     1812        1624

2010    1793    1469                    1691        1668

2009    2054   1555                     1490        1392

2008   1871    1420                     1316        1296

2007   1571    1261                     1281        1291

2006   1541    1326                     1281        1184     

2005  1441     1204                     1157        1187

2004  1557     1230                     1337        1298

2003  1582     1240                     1345        1126

2002  1692     1319                     1324        1144

 

Looks like ARRL DX (W/VE) is steady growth, sunspot dips or not.  Now
running 40% higher than 2002.  SS is running virtually the same as 2002
after a 2008 - 2011 "run up".  What was that "run up" and why did it end?

 

Interesting stuff.  Sound like the SS run up may have been unsustainable.  I
sure like the trend of ARRL DX, especially in CW!!

 

73

 

Ed  N1UR

 

 

From: Edward Sawyer [mailto:SawyerEd at Earthlink.net] 
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 8:46 AM
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: SS Sundays

 

N4ZR Said: "But... the stats don't lie. Look at these log counts for the
last few years (all I could get easily off the ARRL web site"

 

Its worse than that.  Lets look at Pete's statistics next to the ARRL DX
contest (W/VE logs submitted only):

 

             SS                                                  ARRL DX

Year Phone    CW                    Phone        CW

 

2012    1675    1290                    1869        1697

2011    1828 1404                       1812        1624

2010    1793    1469                    1691        1668

2009    2054 1555                       1490        1392

 

Same sunspots for both, same CW excuses, same age demographics.  You be the
judge.  The ones that love it, love it.  Many others don't.  And there are
few if any adding to the "love it" category and the ones who have "loved it"
are getting fewer in number (literally) or less able to get on for it each
year.

 

Seriously, if you want to "recruit newbies" to domestic contesting, pick
NAQP, its way more fun.  Alternatively, WPX is a great contest as it
includes "cool DX" and constant rate from "everyone works everyone" format.

 

73, Ed  N1UR

 

Never liked SS even when I lived in Texas and Michigan.  Apparently, I am
not the only one.