No subject

years, I see a number of clubs whose only contest excursion is this
event. Not only that but probably also a lack of CW activity on Club
evenings, apart from maybe morse classes at 5wpm! Therefore the
newer licencees do not get any idea of what CW is about.

If you look at the spread of operators involved in SSB FD and then
compare it to CW FD, you get two totally different pictures :

In 2000 SSB FD, there were 40 entries with a total of 200 operators,
these include a good cross section of G4, G0, M0, Novice and Class B
(potentially M3). An average of 5 ops per team.

In CW FD, typically teams are 2 or 3 G3s or maybe G4s. For example,
GM3POI/P -2 G3, G3KHZ/P -2 G3, G3TBK/P -1 G3, GU3HFN/P -2 G4
GU0AAA/P -3 G3, G3IZD/P -1 G3 & 1 G4.

It seems to me that a combined SSB/CW FD could be a very useful marketing
tool to at least let the newer guys hear CW and possibly encourage them in
to
CW Contesting. What I find worrying is that whilst we appear to be running
around like headless chickens, with much wringing of hands saying "Oh deary
me,
what can we do" when a possible opportunity arises nobody is willing to say
"Ah
but here is an idea,  lets look at it it and see if there is any merit in
it"

Better to have tried and failed, rther than not try at all.

Chris G3SJJ






----- Original Message -----
From: Jonathan G0DVJ <g0dvj at amsat.org>
To: UK Reflector <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2002 4:12 PM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] UK contests.


>
> On Friday, June 21, 2002, at 04:29  pm, G3SJJ wrote:
>
> > I totally agree Dave and this is why I campaigned so much for a
> > combined SSB and CW Field Day. This would serve the dual
> > purpose of exposing the M3s to the benefits of field days and give
> > us older hands the chance to show them competitive CW.
>
> I am not sure I agree on this one - people need to have a certain
> interest in both radio and cw in order for exposure to cw to encourage
> them to learn it, and the same goes for cw contesting.   Combining field
> days is not a pre-requisite for this exposure - if they are interested
> enough then there are plenty of mixed mode contests in the calendar to
> allow such exposure.
>
> > "All the way" ?   YES
>
> Before I get accused of not wanting to encourage newcomers - I DO agree
> with this in that we should (and indeed in the groups I am involved
> with, HAVE) gone as far as possible to encourage our M3s and other
> contest newcomers of any prefix to get involved.
>
> > I do hope the same amount of words are published in support of
> > SSB Field Day as were dished out for CW Field Day !
>
> CW FD and indeed CW AFS are well supported.  Lets hope that good words
> are published about all well-supported events.
>
> As for the LF cumulatives etc.  I tend to agree with what Andy PIQ
> posted in regard to the need to have a variety of different contests
> available both long and short duration.  On HF I think there are
> probably enough long (24-48 hour) events already organised (ARRL, CQ,
> WAE, + RSGB IOTA, Commonwealth/Jubilee, & FDs etc.) - so maybe the
> vocation of RSGB HF contests should be directed at some short, evening
> based, but well publicised events that reward both G and DX (or at least
> Europe) contacts that will fit into the diaries of those of us who are
> busy but able to do a few hours from a small station at home with
> limited antennas and low power, hence QRP sections needed too.  Maybe a
> newcomers section could be added for those that have less than 2 years
> contesting experience.   I also know that the QRS corral in CW AFS does
> actually encourage a few of our members to bother participating in that
> one.  Certainly doing the RSGB Top Band contests from a willing club
> member's QTH last year provided not only practice at CW contesting for
> some G3s, G4s & M0s in our small group who otherwise wouldn't do
> contesting, but also a useful social occasion and learning opportunity.
> Just a pity that these are only Single Op events so our efforts had to
> be submitted as a checklog only.  Anyway these are just a few ideas to
> chew over!
>
> Jonathan G0DVJ
> --
>
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