[CQ-Contest] Why some Caribean Islands compete as South America at CQWW

[Martin , LU5DX]

Distance based scoring, may not be heaven, but it is a whole lot closer to
it than the current scoring schemes (talking about AB categories).
The differences that can be produced on one band are compensated on another.
However, in terms of single band entries, it is a bit more complicated. As
an example I consider the advantage we enjoy in some areas of the Southern
Cone on 10 m during certain times of the solar cycle.
If someone could run the calculations based on the log entries for either
CQ WW or CQ WPX, it will become obvious that the results would better
reflect the efforts.

73,
Martin LU5DX





On Fri, Nov 6, 2015 at 3:10 PM, Tom Georgens <tomgeorgens15 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I appreciate the kind words in  these posts, but would rather this thread
> not be about me.
>
> Simply, I just try my best, but would not claim to be the best
>
> To the subject at hand, creating a balanced playing field on scoring is
> close to impossible.  Every QTH has its plusses and minuses.  8P is about
> 1500 miles from Miami and further from the US radio population centers than
> parts of Zones 9 and 10.  It is also very far east and not as good
> day/night
> alignment with the US for the ARRL contests.  OTOH - It has great
> propagation to Europe and better high band propagation to the US than the
> northern Caribbean as the sunspots decline.   In the end, this is where I
> chose to operate and I live with the good and bad.  I also realize that
> most
> people do not get to choose where they operate.  I further  realize that
> the
> Caribbean get special points treatment that the rest of the world does not
> get
>
> While there are too many variables to balance to create a level playing
> field, I do think it is unfortunate that the WPX and WW (CW and SSB) use
> largely the same points scheme.  Whatever areas are disadvantaged, are
> similarly disadvantaged in both contests.  It would be interesting of one
> of
> them, likely WPX, moved to a more innovative scoring system, maybe distance
> based.  Surely, this will create unfairness of its own,  perhaps more so,
> but it may give opportunities for certain geographies to compete globally
> in
> a major contest.
>
> Since global scoring fairness is likely impossible, competition will always
> have a strong regional component.  In the end, it is about building the
> best
> station you can, operating it to the best of your ability and measuring
> yourself against your regional competitors.
>
> As for 8P, I think there was a time when it actually was considered South
> America.  If only ...
>
> 73, Tom W2SC 8P5A
>  Still a little tired from CQWW SSB
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> john at kk9a.com
> Sent: Friday, November 06, 2015 4:59 AM
> To: Helmut Mueller
> Cc: john at kk9a.com; 'Fernando PY2LED'; cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Why some Caribean Islands compete as South
> America
> at CQWW
>
> I agree with DF7ZS.
>
> It takes a tremendous effort to build and maintain a station in the
> Caribbean. The tower and antenna corrosion is unbelievable, especially
> where dissimilar metals touch. Most station owners are absentee owners who
> have little free time to keep things working. Fortunately a little goes a
> long way when near the sea and you can be very competitive with a modest
> station. Low band conditions are much worse in zone 9 than in zone 8 so to
> some degree more points are justified. There are better and worse places
> to operate a CQ contest but what fun would this be if everyone was at D4,
> CN or EA8?
>
> W2SC consistently does a fantastic job from 8P5A. Tom is a great guy who
> has shared much information with me about his operations. However, I would
> not use the word best since there are a number of super-ops, especially in
> CQWW contests.
>
> John KK9A
>
> On Fri, November 6, 2015 3:59 am, Helmut Mueller wrote:
> > Hi @ ALL.
> >
> >
> > Why does P4, PJ2 and PJ4 count to south America? Well a look at a map
> > could help to solve this mystery. :)
> >
> > Yes, it might be an advantage operating from there, but maybe not.
> > It is a big effort to build huge superstations, but should it be
> > sanctioned? No, big effort make things change. It is also a big effort to
> > create and maintain stations on Caribbean islands. Should it be
> > sanctioned? NO! And again ... this helped winning for a while.
> >
> > Look at 8P5A (Tom W2SC) ... he belongs to North America, and has a
> > tactical points disadvantage over SA Islands and he wins it anyway ...
> > year after year!!! To me Tom is the best operator I know in the world and
> > he is in the perfect location. Want to sanction this?
> >
> > Conclusion:  Now we are building TOP super stations on tactical well
> > selected locations, Morocco for example. CN2R, CN3A and lately CN2AA.
> > CN2AA has more than double points to claimed place #2. Should we sanction
> > that? I think NO. Thats the normal evolution.
> >
> > 1985 you could will M/M with 21.9 M Points ... 2015 you need 75 MIO!
> >
> >
> > Do I have a "neutral" view on that? NO .... I operated 7x from
> > P4/PJ2/PJ4. And 10x from CT3. I can tell you it is not easy keeping the
> > station on CT3 up and running and competitive. We are playing with old
> > worn out amps and beaten up TH6 Beams. Its just a question of time
> > someone wants to build a superstation there!
> >
> > 73
> >
> >
> > Helmut
> >
> >
>
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