[UK-CONTEST] New CQ WW Category

[Bob Henderson]

Paul

Let me avoid any doubt by stating clearly that I hold an entirely different
view of what constitutes amateur radio to your own.

You have described well what amateur radio means to you but any implication
that this definition is or should be universal is just plain daft.  You
won't be surprised at this statement because we had this discussion at the
lakeside during the HFC last year.

Amateur radio is a very broad church with many perspectives held.

A number of my friends hold that use of radio equipment not home made is NOT
amateur radio.  I respect their perspective but do not share it despite I
use home made equipment.

About 40 years ago when I started to use an el-bug an elderly amateur with a
G6 two letter call told me what I was doing was not amateur radio.  I
laughed at this but he would never work me while ever I used that el-bug.

I know of other amateurs from that era who felt moved to abandon amateur
radio due to the growing influence of computers.  You have a lot to answer
for.  :-)

Once a licence is gained for use of the amateur spectrum, we are free to use
it in any way not precluded in that licence.  Thank heavens there are so
many folks with different interests and views.  That's what keeps the hobby
and life in general so interesting.

I applaud CQ for introduction of the Extreme category.  Its existence
increases the possibility that activity within more restricted categories
will stay reasonably true to the rules and spirit of those categories.  It
will also likely attract folks to contesting who might otherwise not
bother.  More activity is good.

Bravo CQ.  Long live diversity of interest in this great hobby of ours.

73

Bob, 5B4AGN

2009/6/11 Paul O'Kane <pokane at ei5di.com>

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Callum m0mcx" <callum at mccormick.uk.com>
>
> > They did give it a new name, they called it "Xtreme"
> > category.
>
> That's correct, and the implication is that it's an
> extreme form of amateur radio contesting.
>
> There's just one problem - once you use something other
> than amateur-band RF in the signal path between the two
> people concerned, it's no longer amateur radio - or does
> anyone defend the argument "Of course I'm still sailing -
> it's only a little engine."
>
> >  But you need to get over this Paul.
>
> There's nothing to get over - Xtreme contesting is a
> perfectly valid pursuit in its own right, it just happens
> to be something other than amateur radio - you need to get
> over this Callum :-)
>
> > There really are some people that genuinely get
> > turned on by pushing all this stuff. It's fun.
>
> I can think of a few other things that are fun and turn
> me on, but no one pretends they're amateur radio.
>
> > These people don't want to live in a current technology
> > world, they want to experiment with new things.
>
> Here we go again with the same old hoary arguments. Imagine
> going fishing with a fly at the end of a line - how dreary
> and how primitive!  Enthusiasts do that for its own sake -
> if they introduced "new technology" to make it more fun, it
> would soon have to be called something else.
>
> > You must let them move along this footpath rather than
> > knocking it.
>
> Knocking it?  I'm explaining how it differs from amateur
> radio. When I want to mix RF and the internet, I connect
> to Skype with my wireless broadband link.
>
> > There are a dozen very experienced, extremely capable
> > individuals who can motivate this large body of people from
> > their position of status and you are one of them.
>
> My interest is in motivating people to use amateur-band RF
> for amateur radio QSOs.
>
> >  You must let technology run its course.
>
> Once again, by the same logic, all racing sailboats should
> use engines, and cyclists should use motors, and fly-fishermen
> should use nets (or explosives - they're much more effective).
>
> > If you don't and verbalise as such, the whole community will
> > believe that there's something wrong with progress.
>
> It all depends on which direction you're progressing :-)
>
> > let it happen. Encourage it. You can still have an unassisted,
> > single op category and I won't think any different about what
> > you are doing.
>
> I am an amateur radio enthusiast, not a communications
> enthusiast.  I have no interest in working stations that
> use professional broadcasting and relay techniques, no
> matter how advanced the technology may be.  As a radio
> amateur, I expect to contact people through the medium of
> amateur-band RF.
>
> > Let us both respect each side of the debate
> > rather than ridiculing it out of court.
>
> If anyone feels ridiculed, could it be from trying to defend
> the indefensible?   :-)  This notion of extreme contesting
> is as inappropriate as extreme athletics would be.  How
> about allowing trampolines in high-jumping?  Now, that would
> be progress - the simple application of technology. We would
> soon see a few new records.
>
> 73,
> Paul EI5DI
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