[CQ-Contest] Observations of a young ham

[ScottW3TX]

I will comment as a ham that would love to be contesting but is professionally too busy, and as a father of kiddos that I would like to have experience ham radio.

First, kids want to do activities with other kids.  When I took my 13 year old son to the DX Dinner this past year the next youngest person was probably me (I am 50).  I didnt make the contest dinner (because we went to a kids pizza party organized by DARA) and perhaps there were some young people there.  Still, kids don’t want to hang out with a bunch of old people.

Second, the ability for a kids own station to be somewhat competitive is virtually impossible.  Perhaps it has always been this way.  Still, creating an age based and antenna system based scoring system may be of value. 

The idea of having individual kids or teams of kids compete via remote controlled stations is a very good one.

I see DXing as a much more kid friendly amateur radio activity than contesting.  The investment is less and it is easy to feel one is competing against oneself instead of the wealthy guy’s station across town.

Trust me that contesting will never be able to compete with Minecraft and all the other gaming options.  

Without and age-based and antenna system based scoring system contesting will lose out on recruiting perhaps 90% of the potential pool of hams aged 10 to 18.  

73, Scott W3TX   





> On Dec 19, 2016, at 11:24 AM, W4AAW at aol.com via CQ-Contest <cq-contest at contesting.com> wrote:
> 
> Youths seem to be looking for the things gaming provides.
> 
> Remote Contesting provides many of the features gaming provides:
> 
> 1. Live, highly competitive action, fought out on the screen.
> 
> 2. Defense against highly skilled opponents with instant display of scores.
> 
> 3.  Interesting, highly informative graphics and exotic screen options.
> 
> 4. Development of player technique directly increases score.
> 
> 5.  Teaming with others anyplace in the world.
> 
> 6.  High quality stereo audio.
> 
> 7.  A great many games with various rules available weekly.
> 
> 8. Low cost or no cost to play. Players do NOT need to buy any equipment or software.
> 
> 9. Individual, team, category, country and world records to try to beat.
> 
> 10.  At present, three major modes of play available.
> 
> 11. Major, award-winning teams at award-winning facilities seeking highly competitive young team members.
> 
> I am hopeful we contesters lead all the rest of our hobby by rolling out a Totally Remote Youth program by next September. 
> 
> If CQ Magazine or NCJ would back the idea, it could grow quickly.  With the help of Elmer's,  young hams would do as our present TeamW4AAW does:  Stay at home and operate a powerful world-reaching station in a spellbinding competition that is real, not just a game!
> 
> If you know any young hams or prospective hams to whom realtime worldwide gaming would appeal, please get in touch with me.  The youths don't need money to do this.  They already have their gaming computer and headset and good Internet connection.
> 
> Wouldn't it be great if other M/M stations (and others) set aside some time, effort and contests to join in a rollout of TRY?
> 
> 73 Mike W4AAW
> see www.remotecontesting.com
> 
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