[CQ-Contest] SECRETS OF CONTESTING, CHAPTER: I CAN'T REMEMBER

Thu Apr 10 09:33:26 EDT 2014

You can score the same contest in multiple ways if there is something to be
gained by seeing what the results would have been if this or that.  I don't
think the goal should be to equalize everyone to the point of attempting to
say this guy was the best in the world on this particular weekend.  You can
leave that to WRTC.  The closest you will get to that would be to look at
the Masters Golf Tournament this weekend but even then you will have
varying conditions from morning to afternoon, etc.

Jim's one-time proposed notion having to do with zones was a step toward
equalizing everything which is what a distance based scoring would attempt
to do provided some provision could be made for propagation variances.
 After all it is farther from Aruba to Germany than it is from Alaska to
Germany.  I would rather be in Aruba.

I have come to the conclusion that the most popular contests are the CQ
Contests and it would be best to leave them as is.  However, a brand new
contest with Stew Perry type QSO Point scoring and country multipliers,
bonus points for contacts on the low bands, mixed mode, etc (taking some of
the best ideas from various contests) would be a good thing and someday may
become very popular.

Regardless of what is done there will always be the complaint that it is
not fair.  Those who are in it to win it will find a way to win - whether
it means better antennas and/or a better location along with improving
operating skills.  For the vast majority of participants it is not about
winning the world but instead winning the country or just having fun.

73...Stan, K5GO.

On Thu, Apr 10, 2014 at 7:09 AM, Gerry Hull <gerry at yccc.org> wrote:

> I think Jim has an interesting idea.  However, I don't think replacing the
> current contest with a Beta for a year will work, yet be accepted by the
> powers-that-be.
>
> However, even with a crowded contest calendar, why not try a beta with
> adjusted rules, for a least a 24-hour cycle, sometime near the actual
> contest dates?  The only way to find out if
> something is going to work is to try it out.
>
> The big complication is different scoring/log checking software will be
> required, and will people be willing to put in that effort for a beta?
>
> Something to think about.
>
> 73, Gerry W1VE
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Apr 9, 2014 at 9:27 PM, JIM NEIGER <n6tj at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> > On this subject, some of us spun it around in the early 1980's, and I
> > guess there were many arguments opposed to ANY "change", one of the often
> > stated: "it will invalidate all the records".  Most of which since have
> > subsequently become "invalidated" - upwards.....
> >
> > And today, if you're not in West Africa or "northern" South America, with
> > a few exceptions like when N6KT, W2SC, or N5TJ are operating, you're not
> > going to win SO/AB.
> >
> > In 1983, for CQ WW, I had proposed a notion based on Zones, but it was so
> > complicated, I fear I can't even remember what it was.  I only remember
> > someone saying that Zone 20 EU would have a big advantage over Zone 14/15
> > EU.
> >
> > For me, today, I think the CQ WW Committee should take a one year Beta
> > Test of
> >
> >           (1) In your country, ZERO points
> >
> >           (2) Everyone else, THREE points
> >
> > I predict we would get even more expeditions to interesting and now
> > suddenly, competitive multipliers.
> >
> > Will it level the playing field?  Nope.  That simply will never happen.
> > Will it become a European Sweepstakes??  Maybe, but it sure will be fun
> to
> > listen to the BIG, BROAD signals all trying to run one another :)
> >
> > As it's a Beta Test, the scores don't apply to existing records.  What
> > would we have to lose to give it a one year try??  Today's "younger"
> > generations are oft raving about "change".  Here you go, guys.
> >
> > Along a related subject, at the contest start, I believe that each
> > operator should get automatic credit for their Zone and Country.  Like
> the
> > BINGO FREE square at the center.  (I cannot begin to share the stories of
> > the steps over the years I had to take to make sure I could work another
> > ZD8 for a double mult that I would certainly miss ...... like lending a
> > radio, programming a keyer, etc.  Great fun).  It's often frustrating to
> > fly ten thousand miles, give your double mult to thousands,  but then
> miss
> > Zone 34 because you were the only SU on in CQ WW.
> >
> > Just some rambling thoughts from an OT that's almost retired from
> > contesting.
> >
> > Vy 73,
> >
> > Jim Neiger   N6TJ  ZD8Z (back there next month)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message----- From: john at kk9a.com
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2014 10:10 AM
> > To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> > Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] The two/four-point rule in WPX
> >
> > There is no way to make contesting fair. Changing north american contacts
> > back one point would make it more unfair for stations in the Caribbean to
> > compete with stations in South America.
> >
> > John KK9A
> >
> >
> > To: 'Kim Östman' <kim.ostman at tut.fi>, <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> > Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] The two/four-point rule in WPX
> > From: "Randy Thompson K5ZD" <k5zd at charter.net>
> > Reply-to: k5zd at charter.net
> > Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2014 11:45:20 -0000
> >
> >  From the CQ WW Handbook, January 1999, by Bob Cox, K3EST
> >>
> >
> > Brief History of the CQ WW Contest
> >
> > "... [1962] was when the North American two point rule
> > came into existence. With such a rule, it was hoped that more
> > activity would occur in the Caribbean and Central America
> > countries. All these changes were brought into the rules by Frank,
> > W1WY."
> >
> > This rule has definitely accomplished its purpose by motivating a lot of
> > contest expeditions to the Caribbean.  I don't see this rule changing any
> > time soon.
> >
> > Randy, K5ZD
> >
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