[UK-CONTEST] Numbers of G stations entering International contests

[Ed Taylor, G3SQX]

I have to agree with Andy, G4PIQ, on the subject of G stations entering
international contests.  In fact, I could have written his whole email
myself!


<<  there are too many events in the year resulting in diluted activity
levels  >>

Any event which does not attract at least 30 G entries should go
immediately.  This includes VHF as well as HF.  Surely, 30 stations prepared
to go on the air and put in an entry is a bare minimum.  How can we justify
the space in RadCom, and how do you think this looks to the anti-contest
brigade, seeing a contest with so few entrants?

<<  High activity contests are more interesting (and challenging)  >>

Yes, and I think that a contest such as BERU fails on this count, even
though I don't doubt the skill of the top participants.

<<  international events enables us to push the line that there is lots of
DX about for the casual op to work  >>

This is undoubtedly true, although not everyone is interested in working DX.
But the D68C folks showed that lots of "lesser" stations will work DX if
they think they have a chance.

<<  I'd suggest a UK awards programme ... there has to be a real domestic
focus to a move like this  >>

Let's rustle up a few new trophies for UK entrants in international
contests, and transfer the trophies from the RSGB's deleted contests.  What
about a couple for the new M3s?

<<  In the case of 21/28 maybe you could just transfer the contests in some
form to a part of the CQWW events.  >>

The problem with the 21/28 contests is that there is not enough G activity
to keep a DX station busy for the duration of the event (and the problem is
much worse in sunspot minima).  It's not an attractive proposition for a DX
station, although a G station can keep fairly busy.  This is in contrast to
an event like the Russian DX Contest, this coming weekend, where there are
plenty of stations for everyone to work.  (Of course, this is multi-band,
multi-mode, so it's not strictly a fair comparison).  Chris, G3SJJ, has said
that the two legs of the 21/28 should be made into one -- I think this is
just tinkering, and the format is no longer viable, or even desirable.

This year's 21/28 ought to be the last.  If the Jubilee contest is even half
a success, let's use the 21/28 weekends in 2003 for a New Commonwealth
contest along the same lines as the Jubilee, with separate SSB and CW
events.  If October is thought to be too busy, the old 7 MHz weekend could
be used for one leg of the New Commonwealth contest, perhaps.

<<  bear in mind the level of stick that the HFCC will have to bear over ANY
changes  >>

Yes, this will happen.  Most of it will come from the usual suspects, who
enter many of the RSGB contests, and are content with them.  But a major aim
of the HFCC and VHFCC should be to attract many more UK amateurs to domestic
and international contests, as well as promoting the main RSGB contests
around the world.


73,

Ed, G3SQX

(my personal views)