[UK-CONTEST] 21/28Mhz, the future?

[Clive Whelan]

Now that the dust has settled a little on both events, perhaps we should
reflect on the future of this event, so that HFCC may have some guidance.
After all if we do not tell them what we think, then we can have no
complaint at any action that they take, so c'mon blokes, let's do it!

I suspect that there is nobody- even perhaps the big sticks- who can say
that this year's events were anything but dire. For the little pistols
amongst us, the events were probably a serious waste of time. Frankly I have
thought this about the CW event for some years now, and really don't want to
waste any more time, which is very sad, as in the dim distant I did win the
restricted section ( CW), which at least states my credentials.

So what is wrong? I would propose two main factors.

1. Declining sunspot activity-which really came home to roost this year-,
which makes 21Mhz difficult, and 28Mhz virtually useless.


2. Very poor support from the U.K. for contests in general, and HF contests
in particular, which is perennial and definitely not ameliorating. What then
happens is that our traditional support from the likes of Eastern Eu, and
the U.S. which has sustained us thus far, begins to drift away. When a  well
supported competing event such as WAG on the CW w/e, is superimposed, we
simply become subsumed, and an inexorable downward spiral is underway.
   The reasons for the poor support from the U.K. fraternity for contests,
is  beyond the scope of the immediate discussion, but clearly must also be
addressed, otherwise we are definitely wasting our time. Thus I would
propose that this, rather than declining solar activity is the main problem;
anyone who was QRV in the CW event, could not help but be impressed by the
activity from DL, and people wanting to work them. However, it is surely
clear that our own events are not now sustainable as they stand, and we need
to change ( as Chris has said this seems to be a naughty word for some
reason) so that our limited support is maintained, and hopefully improved
upon. HFCC have a thankless task- which we must all acknowledge-, since they
are damned if they act, and damned if they don't, but hey HFCC this is not
for the fainthearted!



So what do we do? Well just a couple of ideas to start the ball rolling.
Multimode contests have traditionally been frowned upon on our shores, and
indeed, many years ago RSGB was signatory to a gentleman's agreement between
Eu national societies not to organise such events. Such an agreement did not
last long, and  everyman and his dog now organise multimode events. I
therefore propose that it would be foolish for us to do otherwise, which
would continue to fragment support. Clearly single mode entries must be
permitted, but that is hardly an administrative problem is it?

I am ancient enough to remember when the 21/28 events, were simply the 21Mhz
CW contest; perhaps this was about twenty years ago, anyone remember?
Perhaps therefore we should concentrate on 21Mhz until the sunspot minimum
has come and been and gone ( sorry lapsed into Wenglish there!)? For
aficionados of 28Mhz, there is the ARRL 10m contest in December, so
withdrawal symptoms should be minimal. In detail, how about an RSGB 21Mhz
contest? This in my view should be multimode ( even digi modes perhaps?),
with mode specific sections included. Further, I think that our levels of
activity are simply insufficient for a UK works the world kind of contest,
and that this event should simply be everyone works everyone, with the usual
intercontinental points bias, and country multipliers. i.o.w. Not unlike the
ARRL ten metre congest, but on 21Mhz! Who knows we might even capture
support from those who think that 28Mhz will effectively be unusable for a
few years yet. After all 21Mhz is a remarkable band, which never really
dies, even in poor sunspot conditions, well not in the autumn at least.

So how about it, is this just codswallop, or is there some mileage in it?


73


Clive
GW3NJW