[UK-CONTEST] Re - RoPoCo

[brian coyne]

I have noted the various comments, all valid ones at that but this thread commenced with concerns about lack of activity and I, and others, have given reasons for the poor turnout.
 
Finishing earlier may relieve the boredom but will do nothing to add to the numbers. Starting earlier is surely a no-no as that would likely reduce numbers even more.
 
I take Davids (BUO) point about degrees of difficulty for beginners but how many of those enter this one anyway and could not a QRS corral help with that? Balanced against that consider just how many regular contesters may be encouraged to support this contest were it to be tried on a weekday evening? Consider also that in the 3/4 weeks prior to this last weekend there have been some pretty busy contests so many guys will have used up all their Brownie points and need to give some time to the family one weekend in a while..
 
Whilst living in the UK I did RoPoCo a few times and enjoyed it too, but other things usually got in the way, probably a late Saturday night if I tell the truth, but to answer Ed I would say that, because I was in the far south west, I ran out of propagation. A couple of hours after sunrise from April through September you don't get copy of guys over 200 miles away who are using 100w and it goes downhill from there, so consider stations on the fringes too.
 
These forums are great for concentrating minds on the needs which patently here is to decide on a better slot if you want to increase participation.
 
Les (OGB), by golly that was when we were both (young!) rookies, probably more than 25 years ago, constructing all forms of antennas to try and hear those mobiles better, happy days.
 
73  Brian 5B4AIZ.