Topband: ARRL LOTW and More

[Jim Brown]

On 12/19/2012 9:34 AM, GALE STEWARD wrote:
> As Joe stated, if the rules do not appeal to you, don't operate.

That's a "favored operator's" view of things. There are, for all 
practical purposes, three major 160M contests (ARRL, and the two CQWW 
events), and their rules all strongly favor the Atlantic basin 
contesting establishment.  If you're in that favored region, you're 
generally happy with the rules, and if you're not in that region you 
find the contests unappealing.
The only 160M contest with decent rules for everyone is the Stew Perry, 
but it has, unfortunately, not attracted the critical mass participation 
needed to make it fun either -- even with a very good station, you run 
out of stations to work pretty early in the evening.

I'm an ARRL member, and a CQ Magazine subscriber. These contests are 
being administered by entities that I support, and I have a reasonable 
expectation that they should fairly support my interests too. Sadly, 
they are the only game in town, so if you've built a nice 160M station 
and want it exercise it, it's your only choice. Imagine owning a nice 
car, and the only paved roads are 2,000 miles away!

73, Jim K9YC