[CQ-Contest] Real-time Radiosport

[Ward Silver]

In my opinion, the biggest obstacle to maintaining the connected 
generation's interest in radiosport is how long it takes to figure out 
who actually won.  The contests are fairly exciting and challenging 
whether you use spotting information or not.  They get that and are 
intrigued by the worldwide aspect and the dependence on solar and 
terrestrial conditions.  But their interest usually dissipates 
immediately (and irrevocably) when you explain that the results aren't 
known for several weeks or months.  Even the fastest reporting - WRTC's 
24-hours - is ridiculous to someone accustomed to knowing their score 
and place not only immediately following the end of the game but at all 
times throughout the game.

So we can argue all we want about format and point counts and spots or 
no spots but those come in a distant second.  I don't believe there is 
much to be gained by changing the user interface to be more game-like, 
rather to use the power of the Internet to conduct the administration of 
the event in the time-frame to which people have become accustomed.  
"Waiting for the magazine to come out" is not part of the modern 
sporting lexicon.

73, Ward N0AX


On 3/10/2013 6:09 AM, W9OL wrote:
> I would only comment that....if you watch the kids today. They play 
> video games. Faster, more instinctive, instant gratification, almost 
> to the point of addictive. A slower, more polite, contest may not 
> attract any of the young bloods. Now don't dump on me....I work a lot 
> of contests, nice and easy, chase who I want, and have a quiet type of 
> fun. But I don't think the kids - potentially ham contesters, would 
> find a more relaxed contesting style attractive. But then I may be 
> wrong...it happens, ask my wife! On 2013-03-09 4:48 PM, Radio K0HB wrote:
>> >Radioman skills would improve.  Contesting would be a lot more rewarding,
>> >with a real sense of accomplishment.
>> >
>> >
>> >On Saturday, March 9, 2013, Tom Osborne wrote:
>> >
>>> >>What is the downside of nobody using cluster spots in contests?  73
>>> >>
>>> >>Tom W7WHY