[UK-CONTEST] The EURO (European Union Radio Open)

[Paul O'Kane]

Here's my 2 cents worth for new event for 2004 and beyond.

Proposal:   The EURO (European Union Radio Open)

Let's review current HF contests with the emphasis on
Europe.

WAE: (DARC Germany)
  Europeans can work DX only.
  Some operators don't like QTCs.

EU HF Championship (Slovenia)
  Inter-European QSOs only - no DX.

UBA Contest (Belgium)
  European Union stations can work everyone, but the
  emphasis is on working Belgian stations for extra
  points and multipliers.

What do we "seem" to want?

I think it's probably a high-rate contest in which Europeans
can work everyone, with no particular advantages accruing to
specific countries - and where DX (outside the European Union)
can work European Union stations only.

I'm using EU in the context of European Union countries (not
Europe, the continent), and DX means all countries outside the
European Union, including other European countries. Membership
has its benefits!

At present there are 15 EU countries, and there will be another
10 from the start of 2004 - a total of 25. As the years go by,
there will even more.  By the way, I'm talking official EU
countries, so the United Kingdom, including GD, GC, GJ, is one
country.

I suggest that we have a multiplier, or bonus, system based
on call areas - following the example of the Scandinavian
Activity Contest.  The benefit of this approach is that the
call area can be determined directly and unambiguously from
the callsign.

Therefore, each EU country would count for a maximum of 10
multipliers - giving a potential total of 250 EU multipliers.
In addition, for EU stations only, DX countries would count for
one multiplier.

Some UK contesters may suggest that there are not 10 call areas
in the UK, but there may be when you take special contest calls
into account.  In case it's not clear what I mean by a call
area, here's an example of imaginary calls - all from the UK
call area 3.

GI3XYZ, M3X, GD3K, MM3ABC, MX3AB, GB3RS, MC3D

250 EU multipliers plus another 300 or so DX multipliers
represents too many potential multipliers for each band, so
perhaps the multipliers should count once only - regardless
of band.

But, should we have multipliers or bonus points?  The problem
(if it is a problem) with contests with a high proportion of
multipliers is that the final results are closely dependent
on the number of QSOs logged - in effect, the multipliers are
devalued.

I suggest a scoring system (for EU entrants) of 1 point per
QSO, regardless of country or continent, and a bonus of 5
points for each "multiplier". That represents a real incentive
for digging out the bonus QSOs.  If there is a preference for
a high scoring contest, then make it 10 points per QSO and 50
points per bonus.  Further, I suggest the exchange should be
serial only, as that's enough to keep everyone honest. 

Can we get the ball rolling and have a European Open in place
for 2004?  Adopt the EURO now :-)

73,
Paul EI5DI