[RTTY] Pileup of Rookies!

[Larry Gauthier (K8UT)]

Gary (et al),

Believe me, I share your frustration with the rules. I was one of the N1MM
Logger team members testing our code to ensure we got the scoring to work
properly, and we had a few email exchanges with the ARRL folks before
releasing the RRRTTY code.

Strictly speaking, you - as a non-Rookie - could have run more than 100
watts. The 100 watt limitation is listed as 3.1.2, beneath "Single Operator,
Rookie." There are no power limitations for non-Rookies under section 3.2. I
am not sure if this was intentional or an oversight...

But hey - this was the premier event. We should expect some fine-tuning
before they get it right; and before we understand how to meet&greet other
hams we encounter during the event. I certainly support the notion of a
shallow-immersion contest for RTTY Rookies with old-timers as mentors.

Send some gentle suggestions to Sean (KX9X). I know he listens.

-larry
K8UT

-----Original Message----- 
From: Gary AL9A
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2011 12:33 AM
To: rtty at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [RTTY] Pileup of Rookies!

I wish I could share Don's enthusiasm - unfortunately not so.  Contest
organizers who insist on limiting power output to 100W should be required to
spend a couple of months in AK first to see just what that does to your
competitive spirit.  I only operated about 2 hours before packing it in with
16 QSO's in the log.  Just couldn't stand to listen to my plaintive CQ's go
unanswered any longer.  I can't understand the desire to "level the field",
so to speak, by limiting the use of amps, but why stop there?  I have a TH11
yagi at 70 feet  and a 40M mono band yagi at 80 feet.  Shouldn't I be
required to forego use of those antennas and revert to dipoles or verticals
to "level the field" for those who also do not possess gain antennas at
decent height?  I'm at 61 degrees N latitude.  Is my propagation situation
the same as those at 40 degrees N latitude?  Not likely.  Who do I see about
"leveling" that disparity?  Up here most Alaskan hams consider the use of an
amp IS "leveling the field"!  It's just nonsensical to think that arbitrary
restrictions such as this are beneficial for the contest or the
participants.

However, during my brief operating time I noticed an even more disturbing
aspect of the Rookie Roundup rules and how certain ops chose to implement
them.  Several stations were printed calling CQ with the proviso of "ROOKIES
ONLY".  A couple of others refused to work me when I called them because,
"You're was not a rookie"!  Really?  How did they know I wasn't a rookie
using the AL9A station unless they completed the exchange and got the CK?  I
worked K6YL expecting to get just the CA mult, but much to my surprise the
CK was 09 - a rookie!  You mean rookies can have an Extra license?  Go
figure!

The rules do not state a non-rookie cannot work another non-rookie, only
that there is no point credit for the QSO.  However, there IS point credit
for working a new mult regardless of rookie or non-rookie status!  So while
I intentionally called several stations that I knew were not rookies, it was
because I wanted to get the state mult!  So by refusing to work me, you
refused to give me your state mult and at the same time denied yourself the
chance to get the AK mult!  Did you work a lot of AK rookies in the contest?
Last time I checked most contest rules, working mults is a good thing!  I
hope no rookies were working the contest as guest ops at an Elmer's station
only to be denied a QSO because they "weren't a rookie".  I think some of
our brethren need to chill!

73,
Gary AL9A


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Hill AA5AU" <aa5au at bellsouth.net>
To: <rtty at contesting.com>
Sent: August 21, 2011 1:06 PM
Subject: [RTTY] Pileup of Rookies!


> Wow, what fun.  Spending time in the Rookie Roundup RTTY and having fun
> with a small pileup of Rookies.  Great to see all the new
> calls!!!
>
> Jump in and join the fun with 3 hours left!  Everything has been on 20
> meters so far.
>
> 73, Don AA5AU
> http://www.aa5au.com
> http://www.rttycontesting.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> RTTY mailing list
> RTTY at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rtty

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