[UK-CONTEST] February 2006 Radcom

Thu Jan 19 15:27:07 EST 2006

There is a saying that goes something like "You're either with us or 
agen us." It is plain where we are so I have given up ranting about 
this, just a few observations:

- I agree that the figure of 55,000 is misleading. I can think of many 
callsigns locally and nationally that are not active and probably would 
not know the difference between 599001 and WSJT.

- I feel aggrieved for the contributors who are trying their best under 
difficult circumstances. Probably more so now than ever before.

- Apart from Colin G3PSM, who does a tremendous amount of work on our 
behalf, I don't recognise any callsigns or names of officials other than 
G0TWW! Yet the following contributors are also members of this 
Reflector, now doesn't that paint a picture? Listed in order of 
appearance : G3ZVW, G3ORY, G3XTT, G4BUO and G4VXE, GM3SEK, G3ZVW (not a 
dupe!) so now we know who keeps RadCom going. Contesters !! Well done guys.

- Where have all the well known names gone? Do they know something we 
don't? The society was much stronger with these people.

- With reference to Tim G4VXE's column, I am sure it is not his doing 
but he is limited to just three paragraphs, then normal contest reports 
are integrated into his column.  Another indicator of the downward slope.

And finally, the new President is looking for a circuit diagram for a 
yacht radio. Guess we should be thankful he knows what a circuit diagram 
is! The last one didn't know the difference between Yaesu and Yazoo!

And finally, finally!! David G3FPQ gets a mention for 60 years 
membership. And who has one of the best signals on 40m, 80, 160 and any 
other band for that matter? Well done mate.

They're agen us.  Chris G3SJJ

Colin Potter wrote:

>Hi Colin,
>
>Surely the figure of 55,000 should be replaced by the number of hams who are
>actually active and who are rather few going by the number you hear on the
>air. My guess is that while a some go on the repeaters and some more are in
>natter nets on 80m, the numbers of truly active but non-contesting hams may
>be a minority.
>
>Regarding this month's RadCom - I cannot even see reference to the contest
>page in the "Regulars" section of the Contents!! Shame!
>
>Incidentally, I would be much more interested in occasional articles and the
>cover featuring the hard-working regular contributors to RadCom rather than
>"celebrities" however worthy, including PAXMAS...
>
>73 Colin M0DDT
>
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "col" <col at v21mail.co.uk>
>To: "Chris Tran" <zl1ct at gm7v.com>; <uk-contest at contesting.com>
>Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 5:14 PM
>Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] February 2006 Radcom
>
>
>  
>
>>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
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>UK-Contest mailing list
>>>UK-Contest at contesting.com
>>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>18/01/2006
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>UK-Contest mailing list
>>UK-Contest at contesting.com
>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest
>>
>>
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>>    
>>
>16/01/2006
>  
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