[UK-CONTEST] R33 Stations

[Dave Lawley]

I'm aware of the irony of me saying to people "certificates aren't 
important" but part of my point is that as well as having fun, there are 
other goals you can set. For example, working DXCC during CQWW. And here 
I have to say that the downside of your idea of an RSGB contest 
alongside CQWW is that the rest of the world wants Gs to be on for as 
many hours as they can manage, not just the last four.

I've just set myself some goals in the Russian contest: see how long I 
can S+P and keep the rate above 100. People think that contesting is all 
about sitting on a frequency and CQing. The louder you are and the 
better you can sort out the callers, the greater score you'll make but 
S+P skills are just as important, and often lacking. I never tire of 
practising my S+P skills. Copying callsigns (phone or CW) as you tune 
them in, and quickly checking if they're worked already. If they are, 
bung em in the band map and move on. You may not win anything but it is 
fun and will improve your skills.

Cheers, Dave


Richard Newstead wrote:
> G4BUO wrote:
> 
>> I think it would be a shame if newcomers got the impression that the only 
>> reason to operate a contest is in the hope of getting a certificate.Yes,  
>> I enter a number of contests with the aim of winning, and have donefrom  
>> time to time, but I operate many contests just for the fun of it,and to  
>> practice my skills.
> 
> Dave
> 
> Whilst I agree generally, surely it is the motivation to win (or at least  
> beat more people each time) that encourages people to get better? People  
> who could not care less about their position will never do very well. I  
> have often thought that there could be some short contests piggybacked  
> onto something like the CQWW. How about the RSGB doing something in the  
> last four hours of such a contest? That could be great fun for beginners  
> with the added attraction of DX stations calling YOU for a new one.
> 
> Re encouraging people; I offered a few weeks ago on the microwave  
> reflector to take someone along for an entry to the next microwave  
> cumulative contest (next Sunday). I got no response whatever. That offer  
> (27 July) remains open (contact me off reflector at g3cwi at tesco.net).
> 
> Unexpected certificates do occasionally arrive. I was somewhat surprised  
> to get one recently from last year's CQWW VHF (World third). Not bad as I  
> was only QRV for 4 hours and had backpacked to the site (real backpacking  
> - not carpacking!). Now if I can do that, what could a club or even a  
> couple of people manage? There are often more sections than entrants in  
> VHF/UHF contests so with a bit of careful planning everyone can be a  
> winner.
> 
> 73
> 
> Richard
> G3CWI
> http://www.sotabeams.co.uk