[UK-CONTEST] Latest IARU C5 VHF Newsletter

[don.field at gmail.com]

It is clear from his frequent postings on here and private messages to 
myself and other members of the Contest Committee that Ray will not be 
happy until we accede to his demands, irrespective of what other 
participants want.

Ray talks about the need for the Committee to "impose rules" but we do try 
to listen to what the participants want. The survey showed a strong 
preference for retaining the current scoring system. It seems that many 
entrants do enjoy chasing "DX" rather than UK squares, even at the cost, 
maybe, of a lower score. Perhaps for them the benefit of a contest is 
generating activity, rather than the opportunity to achieve a winning 
score. 

Ray also suggests that we failed, in that "even on this reflector, some 
were unaware of its (the survey) existence". I'm not entirely sure why he 
should lay this at the door of the Contest Committee. This is the original 
posting by Pete G4CLA:



Pete Lindsay  to uk-contest
        
The Contest Committee are reviewing the rules for the 2009 VHF/UHF activity 
contests.
We are keen to hear your views, whether or not you currently take part in 
these contests and would like to encourage you to take a few minutes to 
participate in our on-line survey.

The survey can be found here 
http://www.vhfcc.org/cgi-bin/survey.pl?for=ukac.

Pete, G4CLA.



It's not clear what more we could have done other than to repeat the 
message on a daily basis, for example!



I note Bob G3ORY's critique of the survey itself. Surveys are notoriously 
difficult to get right - even the professionals frequently make a hash of 
it. We will live and learn. But the very fact that we have trialled a 
survey is, I would suggest, a step forward for the Contest Committee and, 
hopefully, something we can build on in future. However, if those like Ray 
feel we should then ignore the results and simply follow the exhortations 
of one or two who shout loudest, then frankly there would be no point in 
running a survey in the first place. He cannot have it both ways.



Yes, we do want to encourage activity at VHF but, as has been noted, the 
malaise at VHF (downturn in activity) is widespread, both geographically 
across Europe, and not simply restricted to contesting. The reasons are 
probably many and go well beyond the remit of this reflector. I am sure any 
positive suggestions would be welcomed by those charged with safeguarding 
our VHF allocations. For example, to go back to where this thread started, 
David Butler G4ASR, as the RSGB's VHF manager, will be representing VHF 
interests at the IARU Region 1 conference which starts next weekend - the 
RSGB has submitted the majority of the VHF papers to be discussed at the 
conference (more than all the other Region 1 societies combined, I 
believe), demonstrating the Society's commitment to VHF matters. I fee sure 
David would welcome your support and input.



Don Field G3XTT

Contest Committee Chairman



> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ray James
> Sent: 11/07/08 02:20 pm
> To: UK Contesting
> Subject: [UK-CONTEST] Latest IARU C5 VHF Newsletter
> 
> The latest newsletter can be found at:
> 
> http://www.iaru-r1.org/VHF%20Newsletters.htm
> 
> Good to observe that concerns of VHF activity and contesting is 
> widespread.
> Both go hand in hand but contesting in particular has a major role to 
> play. The benefits of increasing UK VHF/UHF Microwave contest 
> participation are too numerous to mention.
> I also note another Region 1 concern is the lack of newcomers into the 
> hobby venturing onto the VHF bands. This is certainly true of weak signal 
> modes. 
> 
> The monthly UK Activity Contests are the perfect learning ground for 
> newcomers to cut their teeth and old hands to have some extra fun knowing 
> (or hoping) plenty stations will be active and keen to have a contact.
> Unfortunately, the Contest Committee are letting us down big style by not 
> imposing rules that promote greater UK participation.
> In particular, the dreaded M2 Multiplier.
> This basis for contest scoring is great if you live in the middle of 
> Europe with 360 degrees of activity but the fact is we in the UK don't.
> 
> A UK Activity Contest needs rules that enhance UK participation. Rules 
> that encourage activity from folk new and old and not include M2 that is 
> so heavily biased to how close one is to continent. 
> We need to encourage operators from throughout the UK to participate.
> Make everyone feel they are "wanted" with a postal code or county 
> multiplier. Okay, someone working a DL, OK or HB9 may have a shorter 
> length QSO but they still need the UK multipliers to build up a good 
> score. It would likely move the winning bias from the south east of the 
> UK to somewhere central but wait a minute.......that's where it should be 
> in a UK Activity Contest!
> 
> 
> It is apparent the survey taken this summer was incomplete in so far that 
> even on this reflector, some were unaware of its existence. 
> 
> 73 Ray GM4CXM
> 
> 
> 
> 
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