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

[Peter Hobbs]

Actually, the 21MHz CW contest was widely supported a few years ago, as
Clive says, when it was a counterpoint to  the 21/28MHz phone contest.  I
think it was set up when 21MHz was a comparatively new allocation to show
what it could do.  I have to say I lost interest when 28MHz was added to the
CW event.  The problem is that both concepts are now dated in relation to
current expectations; after all, who wants to just work the UK, unless in a
comprehensive environment, as in the case of WAG?  Unlike most of the other
countries, we've never had a major all band "work the UK" contest.  A lot of
organisation would have to go into such an event if it were to be seen in
the same league as WAG or the Russian contest, but I can't really see that
anything less is likely to be supportable.  Perhaps we can have a go on the
whole subject at the HFC this weekend . . .

Peter G3LET

----- Original Message -----
From: "Clive Whelan" <clive.whelan at btinternet.com>
To: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 6:46 PM
Subject: [UK-CONTEST] 21/28Mhz, the future?


> 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
>
>
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