[CQ-Contest] Interesting Youth In Ham Radio (was Digest)

[MARK BAILEY]

Hi Ward:


Clearly, our game is going to become more connected and real-time.  I see no reason, however, that this new world cannot co-exist with the traditional single operator categories (WRTC-like for instance).  What I would like to see considered is making sure that the new world doesn't require everyone to be connected and integrated - interoperate with a game where the "radio" people can play.


I was particularly struck by, and disagree with, the following: 


"So everybody has to be
connected - so what - make a new CWAC overlay to CQ WW called the
Internet WW and run everybody's totals there.  If a QSO isn't validated
because the station isn't online, give it one point or something."


I think this new game, which is very rapidly taking over the Assisted and Multi-operator categories, can easily coexist with the traditional single operator game that some of us still enjoy playing!  :-)


73,


Mark, KD4D


> On November 15, 2017 at 12:31 AM Ward Silver wrote:
> 
> 
>     I like where this thread has gone and picked out a few of the bits I
>     thought most thought-provoking. N3BB's earlier comments were of
>     interest, as well. Perhaps I could add a couple of thoughts and maybe
>     RM2D will re-appear with some thoughts about younger contesters, as well.
> 
>     My "sales pitch" is usually some variation on "you can hear the world
>     turning" on HF. This immediately provokes questions and starts any
>     number of stories. Most people are completely unaware of the
>     ionosphere, solar weather beyond the occasional sensationalized news
>     item about how we're all going to die from a solar flare, and the idea
>     that things change every day and every hour. This at least starts a
>     conversation which can lead anywhere the interest goes.
> 
>     Radiosport is also missing two crucial elements to hold the interest of
>     anyone accustomed to being online: visualization and real-time
>     interaction. At the moment, contesting is like submarine racing -
>     awfully interesting to whoever is in the submarines but not of much
>     interest to anyone else. All the amazing stuff we imagine during the
>     contest - openings, pileups, grey line, angle of arrival, rate, strategy
>         * they're all between our ears and very little is displayed visually.
> 
>     Some progress is being made - like with the waterfall display - but
>     there is so much data we could overlay onto various presentations.
>     People are visual today and we need to make what we do a little more
>     visual. I'm not saying turn it into a video game - just think up ways
>     to make the core functions of what we find so exciting something to see
>     as well as hear and imagine.
> 
>     Real-time interaction (meaning scoring) is the other part. The
>     real-time scoreboards are a step or two in the right direction - more of
>     us need to be using them and we need more tools for comparing, tracking,
>     ranking, analyzing scores and the breakdown data. The underlying
>     mechanism of reporting score data to a common processor seems to be
>     solved. Why not send QSO data along with the score? Collect the QSOs
>     and send them to a cross-checking validation engine that runs until the
>     contest is over. (gross oversimplification) Then the final scores are
>     published in minutes, not weeks or months. So everybody has to be
>     connected - so what - make a new CWAC overlay to CQ WW called the
>     Internet WW and run everybody's totals there. If a QSO isn't validated
>     because the station isn't online, give it one point or something. Or
>     make a new contest with everybody online - that's where our target
>     audience is anyway. We can't wait until the last non-online holdout
>     gives in.
> 
>     Those are tonight's ideas.
> 
>     73, Ward N0AX
> 
>     >
>     >> But if the sales pitch for amateur radio is "hey look how fascinating
>     >> ionospheric HF propagation is compared to big budget VHF/UHF line of sight
>     >> communications" I think it's a very easy pitch to make.
>     >>
>     >> = = =
>     >>
>     >> For the young person who has $100 and is
>     >> looking to invest in something with a high probability of fun, how does
>     >> amateur radio stack up? How much fun would it be for any of us with a $100
>     >> station budget?
>     >>
>     >> = = =
>     >>
>     >> I've found contesters to be among the most young-at-heart people I've ever
>     >> met. I've been shocked a few times to discover that a contester I had
>     >> operated with was 10+ years older than I'd realized. Contesting truly may
>     >> be the fountain of youth. Maybe it's the combination of a spirit that does
>     >> not decline with age and the strategic insight that only gets stronger with
>     >> experience.
>     >>
>     >> = = =
>     >>
>     >> ...they are interested in integrated stations (computer &
>     >> radio) with automation coming quickly as the world that they are used to,
>     >> this is a bit of a challenge for some of our mentors, who want to start
>     >> from the theory of discrete components and work toward crystal radios, then
>     >> onto discrete components, then ...
>     >>
>     >> = = =
>     >>
>     >> I believe that both approaches will appeal to different constituencies;
>     >> however, the former approach of starting with the integrated station and
>     >> then dealing into the theory, seems to be more effective on a broader base.
>     >>
>     >> My take away is that there is no one single bullet and that we will need
>     >> multiple approaches; however, from my observation, if not a statistically
>     >> significant sample, is that this approach in getting them online then work
>     >> to fill out operational and theoretical competence has offered an appeal to
>     >> a broader set of students that we have the privilege to interact and offer
>     >> a road to hamdom....
>     >>
>     >> = = =
>     >>
>     >> Amateurs have spent decades building the foundations of radio, it's time to
>     >> help the new crowd take those foundations and build something of their own
>     >> on top of it.
> 
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