[UK-CONTEST] Consultation - NFD

[Ed - G3SQX]

Re: National Field Day Consultation

It's interesting that in a couple of respects NFD has become very much
easier than it was when I first did it (nineteen-sixty-something).  The
equipment and generators will usually work at switch-on, and keep working
for 24 hours -- definitely not the case in the olden days.  And the antenna,
at least for the restricted section, probably uses a couple of easily
raised, lowish poles, with a centre-fed doublet, and an ATU or two.

The hard part has become finding half-decent operators.  At G3XRT/P, the
number of CW operators has reduced from 5 or 6 about 15 years ago, to 2.
This is doable, but somehow doesn't really fit in to the "all muck in
together" atmosphere that used to prevail.  There are a couple of other
interested members, but they are unable to read CW above about 20wpm, and
are completely intimidated by the 32wpm exchanges.  They're not contesters,
have no real interest in striving for DXCC, etc., and consider themselves
normal run-of-the-mill operators, to whom a chat with the locals, or perhaps
a W or DL station on 20m, is their main activity.

So I think the aim of getting more societies from the rest of Europe is
praiseworthy, and gives rise to good points regarding some aspects of the
rules, but may be the wrong question here in the UK.  If we want to
participate in another contest, with the added twist of a certain amount of
portable operation, we're heading that way.  The number of entrants will
reduce gradually, as we all become infirm or SKs.  Interestingly, the same
is likely to happen to SSB FD and VHF FD, because the aging club membership
will have their resources too thinly spread to contemplate three field
days -- one is the limit for most clubs, if that.

So, I come to a similar conclusion as G3SJJ (must be a first!), that the
ultimate answer is a combined FD, along the lines of that run in the USA.
There's a chance that more clubs would be able to participate, although it
would need as many sections as the IOTA contest (!)  Perhaps some initiative
similar to the self-created WWYC would bring younger people on.  And one day
we might have a common date and some commonality of exchange with ARRL FD
(!!!)

Given that we're being asked to answer questions which will probably lead to
"just another CW contest with a few /P stations on the air", here are my
answers.

Increase number of sections:  Not much point in the UK when only
         100 groups or so enter anyway.

Fixed stations:  why?  They can enter dozens of CW contests
        throughout the year.  As has been pointed out, we already
        have the problem of 100w IOTA contest expeditions having
        great difficulty in running because of wide (and clicky)
        fixed station QRM.

Multipliers:  why?  It's a European portable contest, not CQWW
        or WAE.

Packet:  On balance, I think better without, even if a
        multiplier-based system is adopted.  DARC have
        lost the plot on the packet question in WAE, and
        they will push this through in FD, if allowed.  As
        G4BUO says, not an issue with the current NFD
        scoring system.  G3SJJ says that a multi-op section
        automatically allows the group to use DX Cluster
        -- currently correct, but the rules could quite easily
        prohibit cluster for NFD.

160m/10m scoring:  good feature of NFD.

The "GJ advantage":  already the case, since DLs currently
        use multipliers.

QSO rates:  depends on whether you think this is "just another
        contest".  I think it ought not to be, but that's the way
        it has become in reality.

Antenna height:  11m is pretty easy on flat ground with
        two people and one set of guys.  15m is a bit harder,
        but would compensate slightly for the fact that radios
        are easy to set up.

HFCC operating a "contest within a contest":  probably
        the usual British compromise, but it doesn't really
        address the underlying problems.

73,

Ed, G3SQX