[UK-CONTEST] Re: Computer Logs

[Peter Bowyer]

Peter G3LET wrote:

>  Don't forget this forum is somewhat self-selecting in terms of a minimum
> of computer savvy, but I see no reason why all those of us who actually
> enjoy  CW or SSB contest operating should be brow-beaten into converting
> to a remote and artificial data mode.

Spot on.

I realise I'm coming across as something of a Luddite - nothing could be
further from the truth - I've worked with computers (for money) since the
age of 17 [25 years ago], am considered somewhat of a gadget-freak, and am
never more than 6 feet away from an internet-connected device 24 hours a
day. I regularly check email after an early-hours trip to the bathroom .
Operating in a contest without a computer would be totally impossible - for
me.

But I'm thinking about the people we want to encourage into the fold. I'm
thinking of the new operator (whether that means 'young' or just 'recently
licensed'), flipping through RadCom or idly tuning around the bands, seeing
or hearing a contest going on. He/she plucks up courage to make a few QSOs,
and then what? In order to encourage him in this newly-discovered corner of
the hobby, what we want is him to do is send in an entry, and we need to
make it as easy as possible for him to do that.

It's easy to say (and perfectly true) that computers are cheap, software is
either free or cheap, it's simple to email your entry etc. But none of those
things are simple for our newcomer who doesn't have a PC in the shack,
doesn't have PC skills, doesn't have internet access.

If we insist on electronic entries, we won't get him to step over that first
hurdle and send in his first entry. Which is doing him, and the hobby, a
disservice.

Peter G4MJS