[UK-CONTEST] February 2006 Radcom

[col]

Hi Chris

I agree with your comments on the importance of the contesting community.
However I have come to accept that our particular interest in the hobby is 
seen as a minority interest. How many UK amateurs actively contest? I would 
suggest a figure in the low hundreds. I am not sure of the exact total of 
currently licensed amateurs but RSGB suggests 55,000.
if we are generous and suggest 550 active Amateurs contest out of 55,000 we 
are a 1% minority!
Who can blame the RSGB for not devoting more than 2 pages to a 1% minority! 
I am surprised its not down to 1 page to be honest!

I don't want to over simplify the argument as I know how many developments 
contesting contributes to (antenna design, station aids, software etc)
It does beg the question would the UK contesting community be better served 
by a Separate national society or foundation, with its own web site and 
e-publication? An extension of uk-contest if you like.Where all relevant 
information, news, contest calendars, results can be displayed. I know its 
an onerous task  to run a web site and keep it updated.

I don't know if there would be enough interest to make it worthwhile, but 
would certainly offer help to anyone with the ability and contest knowledge 
to put it together.I unfortunately don't have the necessary IT skills to 
make it happen!

73 Colin  GM0RLZ


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Tran" <zl1ct at gm7v.com>
To: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 2:19 PM
Subject: [UK-CONTEST] February 2006 Radcom


> Hello all
>
> Feb. 2006 'Radcom' arrived today in the Highlands.  I'm disappointed that
> no-one on the Radcom editorial staff seems to understand the importance of
> contesting to our hobby - for example, why is Tim G4VXE forced to squeeze
> everything into 2 pages (P54/55 - not even in the index !) while there are
> acres of wasted space at the top of pages ?  Also, the members ads could 
> be
> made much smaller, etc.....
>
> The letter from G3NCN on P.96 is also a waste of space - he even concedes
> that non-contesters are the 'minority' on the CQ WW weekends especially. 
> All
> this has been gone over ad nauseum.
>
> In between hastily installing an antenna to work 3Y0, I feel a letter to 
> the
> Editor coming on ....
>
> 73
> Chris
> GM3WOJ/ZL1CT
>
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>
>
>
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