[CQ-Contest] [YCCC] Why ARRL SSB Contest is Not My Favorite

[Dick Green WC1M]

A few years ago, some idiot on the CAC tried to explore the possibility of making ARRL DX a more interesting (i.e., fun) contest. I'm not talking about radical proposals like distance-based scoring that got everyone in a tizzy, but relatively modest changes to make the contest more inviting to DX and less boring for US ops. When some of the CAC's hypothetical discussions about possible changes were leaked to the press, violent reactions from certain members of the contest community eliminated any stomach for making changes.

The most common argument was, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Others rightly pointed out that the current format is very attractive to smaller US stations because "we're the DX". It was also suggested that we don't need to stimulate more US participation (true) and the DX participation is pretty darned good (also true -- I had some of the biggest runs of my contest career in the CW weekend this year.) 

These are all good arguments, but participation isn't the only measure of a good contest. Fun is important, too, and your experience has been shared by far too many contesters.

73, Dick WC1M

> -----Original Message-----
> From: k1vv at comcast.net [mailto:k1vv at comcast.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2013 9:25 PM
> To: hankkier at aol.com
> Cc: yccc at yccc.org; cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [YCCC] Why ARRL SSB Contest is Not My Favorite
> 
> Maybe something like stamp collecting ... ?
> 
> 
> Whitey K1VV
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: hankkier at aol.com
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com, yccc at yccc.org
> Sent: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 6:45:08 PM
> Subject: [YCCC] Why ARRL SSB Contest is Not My Favorite
> 
> 
> 1 - almost impossible to find a run frequency without stepping on
> someone's toes, except on 10 meters
> 
> 2 - poor participation numbers by DX
> 
> 3 - reduced # of country multipliers available; probably 25% less than
> available in CQWW
> 
> 4 - voicebox can't handle the traffic!
> 
> 5 - keep working the same stations on the same bands that we have worked
> countless times before
> 
> 6 - BORING
> 
> Some stats:
> 
> - worked 794 different calls; 1281 total qsos
> 
> - just 133 separate stations (11%) gave me 40% of my total QSOs - worked
> those on 3 or more bands - virtually ALL of those stations I have worked
> in every contest in which I have made any effort - BORING
> 
> - 2 or more bands, 237 (18%) stations and 60% of the points!
> 
> Need something to increase interest, and participation, of DX stations
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