[CQ-Contest] NCJ Article RE: Sweepstakes Change Suggestions

[W0MU Mike Fatchett]

We need to change it to make sure that the East Coast can dominate in 
this contest too?   Can we get a status report on the changes to all the 
DX contest rules to make it more fun for everyone not on the east 
coast?  Oh right, that is not even under consideration.

First, is there something wrong with contest?  It seems like 
participation is still good.   Sunday's have been Sunday's for 30 years 
or more.  Why is it an issue now?

While changing all these VE sections around might be the right thing to 
do, it will have next to no impact on participation.

I would argue for more mults making the sweep even more difficult than 
in the past, thus requiring much more thought put into strategy.  
Everyone wants to be wanted.  We call can't live in MT, NM, ETC.   Once 
again what impact will this have on attracting new blood?  Zero.

All of the suggestions are simply tweaks to make it more interesting for 
the same folks that are already playing.

Isn't this just a case where we need to use overlays and encourage more 
participation from our clubs and club members to get on for two 12 hour 
sprints?  Best scores in each period, best score for both sessions etc?  
How many people in the contest are actually competing for the number one 
slot and have a chance to win?  10, 20 , 50?  How do we acknowledge the 
other 3000 participants?

The exchange is fine.  We have enough contests where there is nothing to 
the exchange.  It tests nothing but your ability to run.

I don't care much about records.  It was in the past, it was a different 
time and conditions are different each time, the track changes every 
year so the records  don't necessarily say much.

I would could also argue for more harsh penalties for copying errors.  
Make it a real test, yet keeping it fun.

W0MU






On 3/14/2018 9:09 PM, Ed wrote:
> I am a relative newbie to sweepstakes, but gosh....shouldn't we all agree to make whatever changes are possible to help the unfortunate souls that live on the east coast.  After all this is a contest where these disadvantaged stations cannot feast on unlimited European or African multipliers...on all bands. There must be something we can do to "level the playing field" here.
>
> Maybe I am missing something here but does the east coast not enjoy working pretty much unlimited east coast stations once the sunsets or pretty much all day long on 40m? Once the sunsets on the east coast and they all move to 80 and 40m, the central and western stations  run out of stations to work  pretty quickly as the band goes long. Then when the central and western stations do decide to move to 40/80, finding a run frequency is extremely difficult or impossible, especially on SSB.
>
>  From my perspective, SS is a contest where strategy is important. When to change bands, whether to call or run,  I really believe this is a contest where you can not park yourself on a single frequency for the duration of the contest and just call CQ.  If you think Sunday afternoon is slow, spin that big knob on the front of your rig and call some of the 3rd and 4th tier stations that have finally found a run frequency. Sunday is a great opportunity to practice your SO2R skills.
>
> If changes are to be made, consider making each of the Atlantic provinces their own ARRL section.
> If they shorten the contest, I will never  get a sweep as it seems I can only find NE during the last couple of hours :)
>
> As a third tier station, I compete against others in my division and my previous contests scores. I try to learn from my previous mistakes and I get on and have fun. If you have the attitude that "if I can't win, I won't play", well there is nothing we can do to change that.
>
> In every contest, it seems some group has an "advantage", real or perceived. In SS I want to believe it is the best operator that uses the best strategy with a reasonable station.
>
> Just my $0.02 ($0.015 $USD)
>
> Ed VE4EAR/VE4VT
>
>
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