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

Thu Oct 21 11:22:15 EDT 2004

I also agree with Don and Don !

Don XTT, I have been saying this for a long time. Apart from USA and ex
USSR,  we in the UK run more domestic contests than any other country.
Probably I wouldn't go as far as Ed G3SQX proposed a few years ago that we
need only 3, but certainly we need only retain a core of say AFS, IOTA, one
FD (combined), 80m Cumulatives, and possibly Club Calls (still generating a
lot of Club activity.)

The rest can be binned, then introduce something on the lines that Don BJ is
suggesting. Those who enjoy the masochistic 48 events can still do so and
submit an entry into CQWW or whatever, but I would much prefer to enter a UK
competitive event within that framework and in a timescale that is more
conducive to domestic life.

Don XTT also made the point I have tried to get over before. The average
working person can only be expected to allocate a certain amount of time for
contests. I reckon 6 a year would be doing well, plus then as Don says there
are an increasing amount of social events, as well as domestic
considerations.

Let's look forward, not back, as appears to be a national trait in the UK.
The 80m Cumulatives proved it can be done on a smaller scale, now let's
grasp change and go for it.

Chris G3SJJ

-----Original Message-----
From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Don Beattie
Sent: 21 October 2004 14:07
To: Donald Field; UK Contest Reflector
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] 21/28Mhz, the future?

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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> UK-Contest at contesting.com
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>

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