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

[Don Beattie]

Folks,

I totally agree with Don (XTT) here. Like most things in this world, the 
contest calendar is gravitating towards:

a) A limited number of "mega-events" - well supported global contests

and

b) Some niche opportunities for specialist or sprint type events.

Unfortunately, the 21/28 (and I fear before long, BERU) and some "national" 
events in other countries will fall increasingly between the two stools.

So, I'm sorry to bang on about it again, but rather than highlighting the 
difficulties of running a "contest within a contest", could we not try to 
find a solution ? As I said in my last post, running an RSGB badged 
"sub-contest" for G's within one or more of the major events of the year 
would:

a) Provide lots of activity - plenty to work - and increase activity in the 
main event
b) Be a help in reducing # of contests
c) Give a "level" playing field for G entries so that they feel it's worth 
entering (not up against the southern European mega-stations)
d) Allow HFCC to define its own categories ( no need to follow CQWW/WPX/ARRL 
necessarily)

Yes, I know there are checking issues. But how about us trying to find a 
solution for these ? If we could, we would have a set of satisfying contests 
(no need to be the full 48/36 hours).  How about a strategic approach ? Ask 
ARRL/CQ if we can work out some sort of collaboration on logs ? There's 
something in it for them as well, remember.

Now I'll stop sounding like a record stuck in the groove, and stand back for 
the comments !

73

Don, G3BJ



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donald Field" <g3xtt at lineone.net>
To: "UK Contest Reflector" <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2004 1:48 PM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] 21/28Mhz, the future?


> I'm glad Dave BUO mentioned that these actually started as 28MHz contests, 
> as that seemed to have been forgotten by those engaging the discussions 
> (it had slipped my mind, too, I must admit). I do recall when it was 
> possible to work 700 or more stations in one of these, at least around the 
> peak of the cycle.
>
> However, I think the world has changed dramatically since the RSGB contest 
> program was formulated many years ago. The Commonwealth (BERU) Contest is 
> perhaps a clue. Back then many of the countries which are now very QRV on 
> the bands were relatively inactive (Eastern bloc especially - just a few 
> club stations). However, the Empire was teeming with ex-pats who loved 
> nothing more than a chance to work a string of stations back in good ol' 
> blighty. This simply isn't the case any more. Apart from a few stalwarts 
> (9J2BO, some VK/ZL boys when propagation is there, and our new retirees in 
> 5B4) those folk simply no longer exist. And anyone else outside the UK 
> would certainly have found more meat in the WAG contest last weekend. And, 
> of course, there are very many more contests nowadays, with all those 
> countries which previously didn't have much activity now having introduced 
> contests of their own (WAG is but one example of many of a "nouveau" 
> event). So what interest there is will, of necessity be more thinly spread 
> (I have noticed that even the Scandinavian contests seem well down on 
> their peak in terms of activity).
>
> Probably another factor is that, despite our ageing contester population, 
> those who work for a living find they need to focus on just a few key 
> weekends for contests, otherwise their families would never see them. If 
> you enjoy more than one mode, by the time you have factored in ARRL (2 
> weekends), CQWW (2 weekends), WPX (2 weekends), IOTA and/or IARU, maybe a 
> couple that are of specific interest (In my case CQ 160 CW, for example, 
> and maybe an RTTY event. For some it might be the EU Sprints or even, dare 
> I say, Field Day), then add in the RSGB Convention, and something else 
> (FOC weekend, Dayton, Friedrichshafen), that's easily a dozen or more 
> weekends taken care of. Take out a few weekends away from home for 
> holidays, family events, etc. and you're left with barely more than half 
> the weekends in the year to play husband/father/grandfather, etc. So why 
> on earth play in yet more contests, other than maybe some short, sharp 
> ones (especially mid-week) which is perhaps why the RSGB 80m events have 
> been so popular this year. (And I haven't even mentioned those who might 
> want to play on VHF from time to time ..)
>
> These are surely the realities for most of us, and it's time to face up to 
> reality when reviewing the contest calendar. The 21st century has been 
> with us for 4 years already!
>
> CU at HFC!
>
> Don G3XTT
>
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