[UK-CONTEST] Contesting + support

[Don Field]

Rob's post raises some interesting points.


 The 80m CC events have encouraged many club members to have a dabble at
contesting, which is great. Just last weekend at the McMichael Rally, I was
asked by a local club to give a talk about contesting, to help these newbie
contesters to the next level. Contest Committee members and other contesters
are always, I am sure, happy to respond to such a request.


 As for "newbie" certificates, this is a route worth pursuing but one of the
biggest problems we currently have in the Contest Committee is getting
certificates printed and mailed. It's quite a job (literally thousands of
certificates a year). One Committee member used to work for a print shop and
could do professional printing and envelope runs, but that route is no
longer available to us. It's not a financial issue but a "pair of hands"
issue. So I would welcome a volunteer to help with this admin job - to
don.field at gmail.com will do nicely.


 I don't think the issue is the new licensing system. Roger G3LDI may have
been fortunate in having lots of elmers when he started. I was alone and
back then you had to be very committed to become an amateur - a major hurdle
before you were ever allowed near a transmitter. Worse than learning to
drive or to fly! I am sure we lost many potential amateurs along the way.
The present system allows a gradual evolution of knowledge and skills, but
it does require committed instructors and, ideally, local club support. By
no means all instructors are anti-contest. Rob G4LMW is at Newbury and I
know the instructor team includes contesters like G4FON, and in Reading (my
own club) there is a strong pro-contest element. But obviously the
individuals will vary from club to club - that's what happens when you rely
on volunteers. But, as I recall, my RAE instructor back in 1968 was just a
physics lecturer at the local technical college, earning some pocket money
by teaching a City and Guilds exam - he wasn't even a radio amateur. My
introduction to contesting  only came when I stumbled across one on topband
by accident after getting my licence!


  Don G3XTT

Contest Committee Chairman




----- Original Message -----
From: Rob - G4LMW
Sent: 16/07/08 12:55 pm
To: uk-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Contesting + support


As a non-contest (not anti-contest) operator for 27 years, perhaps I should
give my experience as to why I have suddenly got the contesting bug after
all this time.......

The RSGB Club Championship has been a great encouragement. My local club
(Newbury & DARS) has had a strong entry in recent years and all members are
encouraged to take part. The format of the contest is ideal for the newcomer

and I have very much enjoyed the challenge. I now find myself joining in in
all sorts of contests and sending check-logs etc. I will be taking part in
this weekend's QRP bash too. I have to say that the SSB contests don't
interest me too much so I tend to concentrate on CW, but the RTTY contests
are fun

I am not in a priveleged position with regard to antennas. Though I have the

space, I do not have the support of the "Station Manager" in this regard.
Still, my dipole does OK.

What would now encourage me further?..........................to actually
WIN something !!! (or come close). Maybe I have missed them but are there
awards/prizes for "newcomers" in any contests? The idea that a "newbie" to
contesting could actually WIN something would be great.

Regards
Rob, G4LMW



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