Topband: ARRL 160 contest

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Herb,

On 11/30/2012 1:09 PM, Herb Schoenbohm wrote:
> Thanks for the comments Ron. For some reason I just can't think of
> how in a 160 meter international contest that if you work KH6 you get
> no additional multiplier for working Guam, Wake Island, Swains,
> American Samoa, Midway, Johnson, Kingman Reef, Kure Island! These are
> all separate entities over at the so call ARRL DXCC Desk but
> apparently not at the "Contest Desk".

For historical reasons the ARRL 16 Meter contest is essentially a "160M
Sweepstakes".  Other than *adding* DX countries to the multiplier list
for W/VE stations, the rules are very similar to those for Sweepstakes.
As such, you are in the 'VI' section and all of KH# is in the "Pacific"
section.  Nothing "wrong" with that - just the way the contest formed.

For many years before activity in the middle part of the US expanded,
it was impossible to "win" ARRL 160 from anywhere other than W1.  I
was probably lucky to be the first to do so in 1982 when W1 had a bad
storm and could not hear anything.   You're not going to win from KP2
and I'm not likely to win again from W4 (even if I had antenna other
than a 40' high inverted V) ... that's just the nature of 160.

> Those in charge at the ARRL need to start thinking about what is
> wrong rather than have the ivy covered arrogance that "our tradition
> is never wrong."

There is *nothing wrong with tradition*.  Making KP2 a DX multiplier in
the ARRL 16 Meter contest s not going to change anything other than to
keep you from working other DX as you complained for years.  You are
not competing with stations in KP4 (Puerto Rico Section), VP2V (DX),
any of the other islands or even mainland W4.  Yes, you're farther
away from W1/W2/W3 and the concentration of stations but so are the
stations in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Idaho, etc.

No contest is "fair" to every participant ... each has its own unique
rules and history.  In this case, if Alaska, US Caribbean territories,
and US Pacific territories were considered DX, you would be complaining
about bot being able to work other DX stations.  You can't have it both
ways, sorry Herb.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 11/30/2012 1:09 PM, Herb Schoenbohm wrote:
> Thanks for the comments Ron.  For some reason I just can't think of how
> in a 160 meter international contest that if you work KH6 you get no
> additional  multiplier for working Guam, Wake Island, Swains, American
> Samoa, Midway, Johnson, Kingman Reef, Kure Island!  These are all
> separate entities over at the so call ARRL DXCC Desk but apparently not
> at the "Contest Desk".
>
> How does this make any sense?
>
> As far as fun is concerned, I love to work DX on 160 as we all
> do......but staying up all night and working more mainland stations and
> getting more multipliers than any "DX" station for years during this
> contest, and then not even showing up in the listing, is not my idea of
> fun.  I know winning isn't everything but having at least a chance to
> compete is the only thing....if I can borrow from Vince Lomabardi's
> famous quote.  The band tonight will be full of a bee's nest of US
> stations calling CQ incessantly by machine and many without any regard
> to DX stations.  they will cover over 5T0SP, D3AA, 7P8D and others who
> at least on the "gentleman's band" deserve some better respect.
>
> Those in charge at the ARRL need to start thinking about what is wrong
> rather than have the ivy covered arrogance  that "our tradition is never
> wrong."  Just allow the CAC to deal with a revision to more adequately
> accommodate the rest of the world, outside of this "East Coast always
> runs things at HQ" syndrome.
>
> Again I will be happy to work anyone I can hear in this hornets nest but
> am really tempted to use my Eu and African Beverages to work DX.  I will
> however make a special effort for those on the West Coast especially
> working W7DRA with his 2 stage  6V6 5 watter...To me that would be the
> ultimate thrill to accomplish in the cacophony of incessant CQ by  many
> 100's that have only a TX antenna and could care less what is on the
> frequency DX or not.
>
> 73,
>
> Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
>
>
>
> On 11/30/2012 11:36 AM, Ron Spencer wrote:
>>
>> I don't understand why the ARRL refuses your request which seems quite
>> reasonable to me. But I'd not let it ruin my fun!
>>
>> Good luck and I'm sure I'll hear and work you!
>>
>> 73
>> Ron
>> N4XD
>
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