[UK-CONTEST] Domineering VHF Contest Stations

Fri May 8 06:24:25 PDT 2009

You've hit the nail squarely on the head Jonathan.  Realism is often an 
unpopular virtue, but bending over backwards to retain an activity that is 
in terminal decline can't ultimately benefit the hobby.  Better to accept 
the inevitable and move on.

Although not convinced of the level of interest, if the balance of activity 
has moved further towards FM, what about an FM only event, which would have 
the merit that few of the *old guard* would be likely to participate?  In 
order to introduce newcomers to the possiblities of VHF propagation, points 
per km was always a good starting point.

Elsewhere, it has been demonstrated that some sort of recognition for 
participation or modest achievement other than a rather meaningless piece of 
paper can work wonders.  A Sponsor would be needed of course, but there's a 
good market for FM rigs out there.

73, Peter G3LET

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jonathan G0DVJ" <g0dvj at amsat.org>
To: "UK contest list" <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 12:38 PM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Domineering VHF Contest Stations

> Hi all,
> Yes an interesting thread ...
>
> I think there are two different parts to the how/why low UK VHF+
> contest activity ...
>
> 1) Sure there are a few unmotivated but capable and potentially
> 'already sold on contesting' types who feel the rules/sections/
> geography gives them such a problem that it's not worth participating/
> entering ...
>
> and then
>
> 2) there are the masses, many fairly new operators, on the bands who
> could but don't take part...
>
> The two groups would both swell numbers to VHF+ contesting but the
> motivation and needs of each are very different IMHO.  And the higher
> potential numbers in future come from the second group.
>
> Group (1) already have the kit and some skills and just need to feel
> they have an incentive.   You can tinker with rules but as Andy and
> others have said, location is so significant.  I'm not in favour of
> the slim jim categories approach ... it won't help group 1 and as I
> say below neither group 2 really!
>
> Group (2) are typically more complex.   Many of the long-time amateurs
> have found their niche in the hobby by now and it doesn't include VHF
> contesting or contesting at all probably (given some of the anti-
> contest abuse I have heard/suffered on HF recently). So not much
> potential there.  Having seen what happens if one tries the education/
> publicity approach to these folk at local clubs etc, we find that a
> few of the locals will come on to give the other locals a few points,
> work them and then go back to chatting life away about the price of
> bread on FM.  This doesn't help activity and certainly not entries.
> They aren't interested except to feel they are helping the locals.
>
> The newer licensees suffer a different issue.  Many (not all) of these
> are not sure why radio interests them let alone finding a niche.  This
> was not the case when the exam entry to the hobby was more technical.
> A very large percentage of newcomers that I see passing thru
> foundation courses now still see radio as a way of talking to people
> and a social thing, not a technical or competitive exercise.  This
> doesn't fit well with contesting.  Then there are the licence
> conditions now which give no incentive for a newcomer to explore the
> finer points of VHF and above. Jiri in the last post said when he
> began he had a 5w SSB rig!   Back in 82, I had a 2m only 10w
> multimode.   Nowadays, the newcomer is likely to have, in this order ...
> - an FM only handheld
> - an FM 50w mobile (maybe with D-star God forbid)
> - a compromise HF/V/UHF do-it-all mobile (a la FT817/857 etc)
> This is an issue with today's rig availability/technology and economics.
>
> Even those with the last type of rig are not likely to explore VHF dx/
> contesting.  The lure of HF is there for them immediately.  If you
> come into the hobby with a simplistic idea of talking to people far
> away, why would you spend time trying to find activity on VHF/UHF and
> then when you do its either local folk chatting on FM or strange
> numbers and codes being exchanged between those that know?  What is
> easier ... sticking up a bit of wire like a G5RV and/or a plastic co-
> linear, or choosing from a range of complex and larger metal beams
> which then require one of those funny rotator things ... ? I'm just
> seeing it from the newbie's point of view.
> And the likelihood of hearing many newcomers on CW (also mentioned by
> Jiri) is quite small as we go into the future.
>
> The only way to explain contests to these newcomers is to show
> them ... and the initial reaction is often one of puzzlement rather
> than enthusiasm.  It doesn't come across as the sociable chat hobby
> that many envisaged.  For sure, some do see the point and become
> active in contests, but not that many, and I notice that it is very
> different now compared to a decade or more ago when I saw new people
> coming into the hobby.  I have invested plenty of time showing new
> people around different contest groups in this area, but if when they
> go home to their shack they can't copy and do more of the same then
> most get involved with something else which they can do easily ... HF,
> 2M FM, Echolink or whatever.
>
> Sorry to sound pessimistic, (actually IMHO it's just realistic) but
> the numbers are just not there like they used to be, and there are
> reasons much deeper than any contest rule changes will correct.  It
> reflects on our licensing system, technology advances, and the way we
> promote the hobby.
>
> 73
> Jonathan G0DVJ
> --
>
>
>
>
> On 8 May 2009, at 10:57, Jiri Culak wrote:
>
>> Hi all
>>
>>
>> All interesting reading.
>> Mixed feelings but. Ray is right that UK VHF activity is dreadfull
>> at best.
>>
>> I think the problem is elsewhere. When I started contesting on VHF I
>> had
>> nothing apart from 5W SSB Radio, 2m 4el OK1KRC design yagi.
>>
>> So the question is, what is wrong with overall UK VHF Activity?
>> If the contest is being run only to be won, then it's down to
>> mentality.
>>
>> Is it down to UKAC rules ? Will change of scoring increase?
>> It can probably create more chances and change UKAC perspective.
>> Certainly
>> if something doesn't satisfy many and there is no enjoyment then
>> change
>> could be way forward. (UKAC)
>>
>> When I was attending local radio club night's there were quite a few
>> new
>> M3's and 2E's around. Initially they were interested, but after a
>> month or
>> so they came with idea...why to bother with VHF when it's so much
>> pain when
>> we can go on 80m or 20m and work world from home regardless location
>> etc.
>> I think one word coming to my mind is laziness. (hope spelling is ok)
>>
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