[UK-CONTEST] Contest Calendar or Not

[G3SJJ]

Derek/Harold, I wasn't suggesting a reduction in time but agreeing with
Clive's (abortive) proposal that the start time for the 160m contests should
be brought forward. This would assist Mr Average as well as Mr Big. My
consistant approach in any suggested changes is always in favour of Mr
Average and that is what causes the friction!

One of the aspects that hasn't really been discussed is the increased speed
of actually make a QSO. This is partly due to computer logging and partly
due to acceptance of more slicker ways of operating than in the past.Some
years ago, typical hourly rates for a top station might look like
60,50,40,30 with a relatively slow drop-off. Now it is crazy in the first
hour, 85 for me and 95 for Steve G0CKP. That represents some 55% of our
total Qs. In actually fact Steve's total of around 175 was creditable, but
the hourly rates possibly indicate the contest is on its way out.

Likewise in AFS, a few years ago, my hourly rate might be 85, 75, 60, 55.
Whereas this year it was 114, 71, 53, 40. The danger is that I complain
about the last hour being slow and this is interpreted as a decline in the
popularity of the contest.

Seems to me that leading contesters need to take this on board before they
complain, but also organisers shouldn't read too much into the comments sent
in on the summary sheet! Looking down Dave's comments regarding LF
Cumulatives, it does appear that both sides have some blame here.

Typically a contest exchange in the past might have been : (with apologies
to Derek)
CQ CQ CQ Test de G3SJJ G3SJJ AFS K
G3SJJ de G3NKS
G3NKS GA ur 599001 BK
DE G3NKS TNX UR 599001 BK
TNX 73 De G3SJJ G3SJJ AFS K

whereas now
TEST G3SJJ   (Hit F1)
G3NKS
G3NKS 5NNTT1 (Enter Call, hit Space Bar, hit Insert key)
5NNTT1
TU G3SJJ (Hit Plus key to log and send msg)

Actually I use my keyer about 60% of the time, but the messaages are the
same, sometimes I put a shortened name like Del, other times I might even
shorten the callsign to NKS. In SSB AFS I often try to simulate a Voice
Keyer, rather than the time-wasting 73 and Good Luck in the contest OM.

Chris G3SJJ





-----Original Message-----
From: Derek Thom [mailto:Derek at g3nks.demon.co.uk]
Sent: Saturday, December 07, 2002 8:09 AM
To: G3SJJ
Cc: UK Reflector
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Contest Calendar or Not


G3SJJ <g3sjj at btinternet.com> wrote:
(snip)
>Secondly, "was likely to result in higher G entry."  Dave, you know as well
>as I do that no change in these particular contests will ever increase
>entries. It might however stem the flow of operators leaving the event.
>Steve G0CKP commented, as other did similarly in LF Cumulatives, that there
>was nothing to work after one and half hours. For me, the contest ended
>after three of the fours hours, yet I class my antenna above average. So
>what do you expect those with average or less than average antennas to do.
(snip)

I don't agree with Chris's logic here!

Those of us with less effective aerials - and less effective contest
skills - need the extra time to make a decent score!   AFS is a good
example of this where the scoring rates of the really big gun stations
drop-off remarkable in the last hour or more, but others have a much
more consistent QSO rate.

Contests should not always be "designed" for the big guns.  They need to
appeal to Mr Average as well.  Partly for this reason I regret the
demise of the LF Cumulatives.

Derek
--
Derek Thom
G3NKS
Cheltenham