[UK-CONTEST] Contesting + support

[peter Jackson]

A way round the certificate problem is to do what the Germans have for the 
WAE RTTY Contest, you look up the results on their website, if you are 
eligible for an award there is a symbol, click on it and your cert is shown, 
you then save it and print it. The fine certificate has your call sign, 
section and score. The result is just as good as one sent in the post.
Looking forward to the HF Convention, I see that Saturday is taken up with 
contesting, great.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Field" <don.field at gmail.com>
To: "UK-Contest" <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 3:00 PM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Contesting + support


> 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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