[UK-CONTEST] Increasing VHF contest participation by newbies

[Ray James]

--- On Fri, 21/11/08, Peter Bowyer <peter at bowyer.org> wrote:

> > GM4CXM wrote:
> >
> > Well blow me down, that will really capture the
> imagination and interest of tomorrow's potential full
> licence holders, contesters and experimenters!

G4MJS wrote: 
> It's an example of exactly what you were asking for.

Not by me Peter, at least not in this thread which was about the Austrian's "Beginners Licence" power limit on 2m being increased to 100w and my thoughts on how something similar in the UK would be beneficial for our newbies. Adrian raised the relevant point regarding encouragement of newbies by attractive contest rules and I agreed. 

> You could make a point that it isn't working very well, but that would
> indicate it isn't such a good idea after all, I guess.

You guess correctly. Just looking at the contest results identifies that fact very clearly indeed. Contests should be competitive, fun and inspire activity but it is clear that despite the massive influx of new amateurs in recent years neither the current CC or previous VHFCC have capitalised on this availability of new blood in attracting them to regular contest participation. We can't force them but we can try to attract them and that is where the CC have to take responsibility because they make the rules.  


> > G4MJS wrote:
> Your recent emails indicate exactly the opposite.
> You've been campaiging for changes in the UKAC rules for some time now.
> I was wondering if you knew what you were campaging against.

Peter, that was a previous debate/thread.
There are some very relevant points from that thread that are pertinent to this discussion but I've not brought up the subject.
As you have then I'll happily reiterate that in my opinion, the UKAC's, being a regular monthly 2.5 hour contest are the ideal events to nurture UK participation by newbies and old hands alike. The M2 multiplier does absolutely nothing to inspire much nationwide activity outwith the South East of the UK. It's just not a fun event, nothing special at all and compounded by the ridiculous decision not to allow use of the award winning ON4KST system that is in use throughout the rest of Europe.
Even if M2 was against you, you still had the non-guaranteed opportunity to attempt some long and difficult paths to remoter parts of the UK no matter if the schedule partner was limited by licence to the power they could run. We desperately need the MI3's in Londonderry, the 2M0's in Sutherland, MW3's in Anglesey and 2E0's in Cornwall to appear, find they are in demand, retain their interest and instil that interest enough to take part in other contests in the calendar. Am I wrong?
   

73 Ray GM4CXM
IO75TW GS