[UK-CONTEST] Domineering VHF Contest Stations.......

[John Lemay]

Well, I've managed to keep quiet until now ........

The suggestion that east coast groups "work streams of DL's on their pre
arranged pre "owned" frequencies" is something I can't ignore.

I am one of the east coast operators (our favourite site is about 20m from
the sea and getting closer every season). Beaming east, it is very difficult
to find a clear frequency in which to park ones station, and we must do that
as there is no point at all in hoping to work strings of DL's if a slot is
already occupied by a DL. We never own a frequency and regularly have to
move around.

When we decide to beam inland (and yes, it does happen) sometimes we find
"our" frequency is occupied by a G, or a GW, and again, we may have to move.
So, firstly we can lose time looking for a clear qrg and secondly we have to
hope that lots of G stations want to work us. In reality, many G's are
looking for the PA0's for the additional points. The net result is that our
qso rate and points rate plummet when we beam inland.

Our best incentive to beam G, by far, is when the Backpackers section
begins. It revitalises the last few hours and the challenge of pointing 400w
at a qrp station and pulling his/her signal out of the mire provides an
excellent conclusion to the weekends operating.

Returning to the original thread of this discussion, I am heartily fed up
with the suggestion that the committee should pander to those operators who
wish to win something with their FT-290 and a Slim Jim. They should get off
their backside and make an investment, either in equipping the home station
more competitively, or by joining or forming a contest group and going /P.

These are my own views and may or may not represent those of the Colchester
Contest Group.

Regards

John G4ZTR, G0VHF/P, M1CRO/P



-----Original Message-----
From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Paul_group
Sent: 08 May 2009 07:45
To: uk-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Domineering VHF Contest Stations.......

Ray James wrote:

> 2008
> 1 G5LK     465
> 2 GM4ZUK   265
> 3 G0VHF    344
> 
> Further back into the 80's as GM4CXM/P or GM3WCS/P, we were regularly
knocking up 700 - 900 contacts with a far smaller amateur population than we
enjoy today. 


Back in the very late 70's and early 80's even our very small 
technically inept contest group was making those kind of scores from 
YN38 with 30W and a 6 element quad. I remember thinking we were in the 
big time when we also had 30W on 70cm!


> 
> We don't need handicaps, elite sections or FM only contests, just more UK
inclusive rules within our contests to try and inspire more UK licensees to
make an appearance, enjoy the events and return for more.
> 

I look at it this way, to me VHF contesting isn't really about rate its 
about station setup and exploiting propagation. There has to be enough 
traffic to make it worth while though.

For a 144MHz event, well I don't bother with contests where I know I'm 
going to be sat on a flat band calling into the back of the east coast 
stations beams while they work streams of DL's on their pre arranged pre 
"owned" frequencies, its both futile and frustrating so I'd rather do 
something else.

If I compare that to a 70MHz contest, that's a very different story. On 
70MHz inter UK tropo is far more important in the final score than the 
small number of mainland Eu stations that are available. On that band 
wins from IO74 and IO73 are achieved beating the "dominant east coast 
stns" (yep its a good feeling)

The difference is fairly obvious, IMO twiddling the rules to encourage 
inter UK qso's would be in ever ones interest.


I have no interest in promoting sections for people with verticals, no 
interest in ego boosting sections - that's all nonsense. we need to 
encourage people to set up sensible efficient stations so they 
experience just what can be achieved on VHF/UHF if there is to be any 
hope of re vitalising the bands.

Failing that it's going to be just Icom's and G5RV's for the future of 
the hobby.

-- 
73 de Paul GW8IZR IO73TI
http://www.gw8izr.com

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