[UK-CONTEST] Re: UK-Contest Digest, Vol 23, Issue 7

[Tony]

----- Original Message -----
From: <uk-contest-request at contesting.com>
To: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 5:01 PM
Subject: UK-Contest Digest, Vol 23, Issue 7


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> Today's Topics:
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>    1. Re: CQWW 2004 (Tom Wylie)

Tom GM4FDM wrote
" I obey the LAW, abide by the terms and conditions
of my licence ..."

Interesting,  so you can categorically state  that at no time during CQWW
SSB did GM5A exceed 400W output at the antenna feedpoint on any band?

I don't see the parallel with International athletic or motor racing,  the
only way a UK team or single op can win the big International contests is to
run humungous amounts of power to compete with (certain countries) where ex
military TXs of at least 10 kW are commonly employed - even then the "bonus
dBs"of a rare DX call make the chances of a UK station coming out as overall
winner as pretty remote.
Thus we are not competing on an International level in major Contests so the
parallel with  International "sports" does not apply - unless stations
grossly violate their licensing conditions.... which of course they don't.

"International" Contesting has no real parallels with other sports,  would
you accept an entrant in a cycle race turning up and competing on a 1000c
motor cycle?

Lets not confuse "sport" with what we do,  there is no "level playing field"
in contesting, and those who "win" cannot say "we are better than you and
thats why we won"

even if everyone ran 100W from an FT1000MP into a multiband doublet at 30
feet the variables of HF propagation, soil conductivity,  local topography,
proximity to large areas of water etc etc mitigate against HF contests being
a measure of operating skill, in the existing regime in which there is a
vast disparity between antennas and power o/p the idea of a "sport" is in my
view quite ludicrous.

I will continue to enter contests, even win the odd one, at least I can hold
my head up and say that I do obey the rules AND abide by my licence
regulations,  when I win or get a certificate having run 100W max into
simple wires or a ground mounted Butternut HF6V I can with some pride hang
the paperwork on the wall, but could never say to someone who got less
points that I was better than them because of the variables mentioned above.
I suppose it comes down to being able to look yourself in the eye in the
shaving mirror (make up mirror) and truely say that it was your operating
abilities that largely accounted for your success.

73 and look forward to working you in the next Contest
       Tony G 3 Z R J