[TenTec] Just a 'foot-in-mouth' observation

[Jim Brown]

On 6/27/2012 5:05 AM, Richards wrote:

>    It is unfortunate the ARRL modeled its Field Day
>     assessment scheme in the style and fashion of a major
>     contest.  That seems to have transformed Field Day
>     from a nationwide training exercise into more of
>     a contest.

The so-called "transformation" of which you speak occurred more than 56 
years ago -- it was definitely a contest in 1956. And if it isn't a 
contest, why are there double POINTS for CW contacts, why is there a 5X 
POINT multiplier for QRP with emergency power, why are there bonus 
POINTS for satellite contacts, POINTS for contact with the public, 
POINTS for visits by public officials, and POINTS for press coverage?  
If it's not a contest, why is there POINT credit for the GOTA station?  
If it's not a contest, why is there a "free" VHF/UHF station whose 
POINTS are also added to the score?  Isn't it obvious that you 
accumulate more POINTS if you have better antennas, a better location, 
antennas separated from each other so that you can have multiple 
transmitters on the air at once (and more guys operating at once), and 
better operating skills?

The only things about these SCORING rules that have changed over the 
years have been in some of the bonus points, the addition of the GOTA 
station, and the free VHF/UHF station.  These are all great changes -- 
they further the objectives of bringing new people into the hobby, they 
encourage existing hams to learn more both operationally and 
technically, and they encourage us to educate the public about what 
we're doing.

May I remind one and all that bandwidth is bloody expensive, and we've 
got a lot of prime real estate. The only real justifications for that 
are our ability to contribute during emergencies and the extent to which 
ham radio contributes to technical education and innovation.  It damn 
sure isn't about rag chewing or DX chasing -- we get to do those fun 
things ONLY because lawmakers and the FCC believe that we do those 
public service things. .

73, Jim K9YC