[UK-CONTEST] Consultation - NFD

[G3SJJ]

Tend to agree Don.

1 - If there were to be a major re-think of the rules then alignment of 
SSB FD and CW FD would make sense.

2 - 1200 Qs, ie average 50Q/H, is about the norm for top groups who 
could handle more so no real problem if there was more to go at, so 
Roger's thought are ok there. More Eu /P would help as you say.

3 - I think most countries stick to the 1st weekend in June, though 
recall one, maybe PA goes it alone.

4 - Certainly need a Restricted section.

5 - Yes, under current rules Cluster is illogical and even more so in 
Club Calls and Low Power Field Day, but if a group wishes to deploy one 
of its operators, ie the DX Cluster, in than manner then fair enough. 
Who knows, during the night  they may have an inexperienced operator on 
who makes 3 Q/H and the Cluster turns up another 5. So that's 8 Qs 
instead of 3. No-one is saying Bracknell HAS to use DX Cluster in NFD, 
but Stockport may think they would like the facility in Club Calls. 
Their choice not ours.  Please, let us not get distracted on the Cluster 
issue. It's there and has been for a long time. If you don't want it, 
don't use it. Simple.

Yes, the original idea was an emergency exercise, now it's about having 
a fun weekend under field conditions with some mates and getting the 
best rate you can under whatever the rules are. Chris G3SJJ



Don Field wrote:
> Speaking personally (not wearing any of my Contesting or RSGB hats!), I
> would offer the following:
>
> 1. We have a wee problem in insisting on sticking to UK Field Day rules in
> that we have two sets of rules - one for CW Field Day and another,
> completely different set, for SSB Field Day. Some resolution seems to be in
> order before we start banging tables!
>
> 2. I don't agree with Roger G3SXW that 50 QSOs an hour is too slow - for
> most club members that is positively warp speed. Let's remember that this
> isn't an event purely for the "big guns". But I would like to see /P
> activity from more European countries - Italy and Spain, for example. Would
> add to the interest of the event. No fixed to fixed contacts, please!
>
> 3. There can be a co-ordination of dates to achieve (2) above without
> necessarily having the same set of rules for everyone. Surely no one can
> object to the encouragement of a common date for European Field Days?
>
> 4. With RADARC, I was involved in several Open Section wins but, perhaps as
> a result of our own efforts, we raised the ante to the point where Open
> Section was only realistic for a few clubs (two mobile towers, several 60ft
> masts, full computer-controlled switching of all antennas, and that was ten
> years ago). So maybe there really is a case for taking Field Day back to
> KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid) and removing the Open Sectiuon, though SSB
> Field Day may be tough with only 100 watts and a wire.
>
> 5. Cluster use is illogical. There are very few on-air clusters these days -
> how many folk have broadband at their Field Day site? Surely the argument
> behind Field Day is to be able to provide comms when fixed infrastructure
> goes down?
>
> FWIW!
>
> Don G3XTT
>
> (nice to see so many contributions, all of them constructive - makes a
> change from some of the apathy and whining on here!)
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