[CQ-Contest] An alternate SS CW re-invigoration plan

[cqtestk4xs at aol.com]

Nice thinking outside the box.  However, giving the newbies even 15 x points won't do a whole lot of good since code is not a requirement for a license.  So, if they don't know the code, it won't make a whole lot of difference.

Out of my 950 QSOs I made in SS  CW exactly 43 checks were 00 through 17...around 4 %
Out of 2132 QSOs I made in SS  Phone exactly 539 checks were 00 through 17...around 25%
Just for CK 17 in the SS phone I had more QSOs than all of the 21st century checks in SS CW.
CK 16 in SS phone yielded a total of 74 QSOs, the highest total of any year.

The FCC has killed the SS CW...slowly by attrition.  Let's face it.  The average code speed in SS is at the very least 20-25 WPM, with most going faster than that.  How many newbies are going to be able to handle that speed.  Most will be intimidated.  Back in the 60s and 70s guys built up their code speed on the novice bands (minor leagues) before venturing out on the higher speed general bands (major leagues).  The minor league system has disappeared and to expect these guys to play in a big league contest at 10 WPM is unrealistic.

One suggestion though:  Why not set up a speed trap zone.  Maybe designate a part of the band (maybe 14065-14070) where the speed limit was a max of 15 WPM.  Automatic DQ for going higher.  Log checking in conjunction with RBN would enforce the speed limit.

KH7XS/K4XS
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard F. DiDonna <richnn3w at gmail.com>
To: cq-contest <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Tue, Nov 28, 2017 9:14 pm
Subject: [CQ-Contest] An alternate SS CW re-invigoration plan

The ARRL SS CW discussion has died down now that we're a good few weeks past CW Sweeps.  Nobody has commented on the huge number of '14, '15, '16, and '17 checks in the phone Sweeps.Others have in the past rued the demise of the Novice Roundup. So, why not combine the both?Recommendation for the flag pole saluters: permit hams who have a check within three years of the year of the running of Sweeps to operate Sweeps and allow 1.5x or 2.0x points for QSOs with stations whose check is within three years of the year's running of Sweeps - CW only.Stations who have been licensed longer than three years and submit a log with a check within the three year window get DQed. Maybe this would help generate a little activity?IIRC, the ARRL 10 meter contest used to do this for Novices and Techs some years ago.73 Rich NN3W_______________________________________________CQ-Contest mailing listCQ-Contest at contesting.comhttp://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest