[UK-CONTEST] Decline in 2m contest activity

[Ray James]

--- On Thu, 11/9/08, Paul O'Kane <pokane at ei5di.com> wrote:

> Wrong!
Right

Paul, with respect you're putting forward a HF perspective which is not relevant.
This thread is discussing VHF/UHF contesting matters which differ greatly due to the different nature of the beast.

The ban on cluster/converse/kst etc stops at 70cm.
What is your thoughts on the validity or otherwise of contacts that take place by schedule by the above systems on bands above 70cm and please explain your reasons why? 

On a completely different tact.
Two years ago I wrote to the IRTS asking what they were doing to encourage greater microwave activity because for a nation the size of Eire, it was an embarrassing fact that the only microwave activity that emanated from the Isle appeared on the surface to originate by non-residents.
DF6NA was active 2 or 3 years ago and I believe VHFCC member G4CLA was active earlier this year. I still need EI on 23cm!
BTW, IRTS never had the courtesy to reply!
Folk don't usually go straight to microwave band operation. They usually cut their teeth on VHF/UHF bands initially. 
2m EI activity isn't much to write home about....Charlie and a few others being the exceptions. 70cm contest/dx activity is another matter...dire.
You might wish to put some effort to righting the dreadful situation in your own country as well as making HF conclusions on ours.

73 Ray GM4CXM
XP09g

 
> 
> Since the beginnings of radio, skeds have been used to
> facilitate DXing - think of Marconi's first
> trans-atlantic
> tests.  No matter what medium is used to make the skeds,
> it makes no difference to the validity of the 2-way
> contact, so long as the latter is made solely with RF.  
> 
> It's the same today with amateur radio DXing - all
> that's
> needed for a valid QSO (for DXCC purposes) is the exchange
> and acknowledgement of callsigns - how you find the DX
> does not matter so long as you personally use amateur-band
> RF to work it.
> 
> It's not quite the same with contesting.  There are
> rules
> which impose constraints.  In general, single-operators 
> are expected to find the DX, as well as work it, all by
> themselves. For both single-op and multi-op, pre-arranged
> skeds are out, as also are those arranged (at any time)
> by any means other than RF on the bands and/or modes
> corresponding to their entry class.
> 
> In general (perhaps I'm optimistic), HF contesters
> understand this and stick to the rules.  It seems to me
> that some VHF contesters are economical with adherence
> to the rules, and consider it fair game to arrange
> skeds by any means at their disposal - after all, isn't
> everyone else doing it?  And how else could they be
> expected to have a reasonable number of contest QSOs on
> VHF/UHF, especially these days when activity is so low?
> And isn't it all supposed to be fun?
> 
> As if any of this made a difference!
> 
> If it's OK to arrange skeds using chat-rooms or
> spotting
> networks then, logically, it must be equally OK to arrange
> skeds by telephone.
> 
> No contest QSO is valid in the context of rule-breaking.
> Sure, the QSO happened, but that's not enough to
> guarantee
> its validity.
> 
> 73,
> Paul EI5DI
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