[UK-CONTEST] Commonwealth Contest.

[brian coyne]

Firstly how sad to learn that news about Frank, I
never actually met him but am aware of the legend that
he created, a true dx-er as well as contester, RIP
Frank.

I was looking forward to Beru and admit it is a year
or two since I looked at the rules and having just
done so am totally de-incentivised. I had hoped to
give it a blast with an hf vertical and some wire for
lf but really wonder now what is the point other than
to have a poodle around here and there.

Perhaps somebody could point out what would be the
attraction for little pistols in this contest as it is
now governed because I fail to see any other than
meeting old friends or give a few points out to the
well equipped.

HFCC definition of restricted does not mean what it
does in other RSGB contests but is changed to mean a
category for reduced operating time. HFCC has always
shown a reluctance to increase categories within any
of their contests which perhaps made sense in a
contest which may have only attracted 40 or 50 entries
but they had the same marked reluctance to do so when
the IOTA test was first introduced and I have no doubt
they were still kicking and screaming when forced to
face the facts that additional categories had to be
brought in for that one. Beru attracts sufficient
participants and traffic to warrant additional
categories.

Low power users now have to struggle against allcomers
no matter which time period they choose which is a
pointless task if they had any notion of trying to be
competetive, especially given that 10mtrs is 99%
certain to be a no no, 15mtrs very iffy and if open
closed to distant contacts for 100w boys without a
beam. Likewise 80 mtrs is unlikely to provide much
either in the way of dx for these guys. I note there
are a few crumbs such as the 69 band/call areas (which
will need to be gathered on mainly two bands) and
John's trophy for the uk boys which appears to have
been switched from the original and now redundant
section, and that winner will have many dead useless
hours to put in with only the odd morsel for comfort.

So far as I can assess these present rules have a
negative effect on activity and competitive
participation, there is nothing there to make me or
any other overseas barefoot op want to try very hard
that's for sure. Further whilst possibly the reason
the reduced operating time category was to encourage
persons subject to time restraints the actual effect
is to encourage a more than anticipated nr's into that
category reducing overall activity and  making those
long nights even slower.

 

Regards to all,

Brian 5B/G4ODV.


		
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