[UK-CONTEST] VHF-NFD Fixed Stations

[Andy Swiffin]

>>> On 10/07/2009 at 13:37, in message
<bd0bf46b0907100537g26fc8f07m34625df2a1025111 at mail.gmail.com>, Bob Henderson
<bob.5b4agn at gmail.com> wrote:
> Perhaps I'm missing the point but.........
> 
> Why don't you just make contacts between fixed stations worth zero points?
> 
> Putting fixed stations in breach of contest rules if they call CQ does
> nothing to inspire their participation in the contest.

I'm not sure that solves anything -  The outlying fixed stations are just going to run out of people to work.   We had the Es last Saturday, without that I would have had about 30 stations to work, hardly worth the effort.   People who enter the fixed section are only competing against themselves - it doesn't dilute the real "competition".

> 
> The folks who climb mountains and brave the elements to mount a /P operation
> surely want as many stations to work as possible.

Indeed and the fixed category can only help provide more fodder for the /Ps.   By encouraging outlying fixed stations to stick with it gives the /Ps some more distant stations to work _and_ a bit more interest for the fixeds in the more populated areas.

<andy at gd0tep.com> wrote:
> Chris, following on from your points...
> 
> Item 4 should then be: 
> 
> There's now a 'fixed section' in the only VHF field day contest of the year,
> the only contest aimed specifically at portable stations. Bonkers or what...

 It's called moving with the times.   But by all means keep your contest "pure"  ditch the fixed section entirely and the portables can spend longer chatting to each other because there'll be fewer people to work.  Hey - you could even change the rules to let everyone work everyone else twice there'll be so much time, or how about adding in the exchange of knitting patterns?....    This isn't just an RSGB event and there's going to be more interesting things to work and more activity than any other contest, why not let the fixeds have something to aim for?    The section itself is a well conceived idea, it's just the fine detail that needs honing.


How about this for a suggestion.  The contest committee email everyone who submits an entry this year:  Canvas the portables if they want to keep the fixed section;  Ask the fixed entrants which rules they want to change, 100W limit,  No CQing etc.   Democratic or what?

Andy
gm8oeg


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