[UK-CONTEST] 144mhz UKAC 3/11

[Ray James]

--- On Fri, 6/11/09, Jonathan G0DVJ <g0dvj at amsat.org> wrote:

> Errr ... no ... IRC entered all but the June session (when we had  
> total equipment failure) again this year ...
> See http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/results/09/2mukac.html 

Apologies Johnathan...I was looking at the claimed score listing.


> > Another reason is the dangling carrot of continental Europe.
> > Those 700+ Km contacts you can enjoy into DL from
> Ipswich are more than double that figure from other parts of the UK
> plus you get square multipliers to boot. I'm all for you getting
> points for working those stations but getting a square multiplier
> as well is a carrot too many in what is after all, a UK Activity
> Contest.
> 


> This is where we differ because then I don't see it would
> balance out  ... I don't see that we should have fewer mult
> squares neighbouring us than other UK stations.

GM, GI, GD, GW, GJ/GU and South West England also have hundreds of neighbouring squares just like you.....but they're in they Atlantic Ocean and unlike you they don't have anyone in them to work.
Hence, the UKAC is unbalanced far too much in favour of the south east and therefore to the detriment of the rest of the UK as we end up with "back of the beamitus". Having UK only squares as a mult reigns in some of that advantage as stations everywhere have to be more tactical in order to do well, much more so than at present. 


> On a lesser point I also wouldn't want to devalue our continental cousins to the point where they (or EI stations) do not feel its worth contributing to our UKACs.  

With the exception of one station in the whole of Europe, nobody outside the UK competes in the UKAC. If more did then I would suggest they're put in a section of their own. Any stations appearing from EU aren't on specially for UKAC but because activity is on a particular band, be it 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm, 23cm or 13cm simply because they know the bands are going to be occupied.


> The more activity the better from anywhere, but by far and away these contests are great at encouraging UK activity I agree.

Unfortunately, they do not for the majority of the UK.
If they did then Scotland would be represented by more than a few, Northern Ireland by more than a couple, same for Wales and south west of England, CI and IoM by more than one. Weak signal VHF+ activity has eroded to such an extent equipment is lying idle. We need them back on again and a regeneration of interest. Our calendar is full of events in which "back of the beamitus" flourishes, I'd like to see our unique RSGB UKAC's on a Tuesday night differ and promote more inter-UK activity without inhibiting any contact with Heinz, Joop, Sven or Francois.   


> > I believe the CC should use this regular monthly event
> to encourage greater inter-UK activity from GM, GI, GD, GW, GJ/GU
> and South West G.


> Wherever you live in the UK ... inland or coastal, north or south, its  
> better IMHO that there are as many stations as possible to work ...  

Totally agree...100%
Hence my suggestion.

> but it is very quiet a lot of the time for stations in this part of  
> the world once they have worked the 0-50 pointers in their own square  
> and the other main bulk from IO91. 

My heart bleeds for you!
Now try looking at it from the perspective of elsewhere in the UK.
In my case I recall one UKAC when my nearest contact was over 300Km away.


> Indeed other postings in this thread have alluded to or admitted that many UK squares most distant from JO01/02 are unlikely to be activated in midweek UKAC events!

I believe Paul 'IZR was the only person who mentioned he worked away during the week. That's one square but I'm sure others in IO73 would be interested to make an appearance if rules changed that encouraged greater UK participation rather than disuading.


> Bottom line is that there have to be enough stations out there that we  
> can work to bother all going out to the portable club station here at  
> all, whether they are in the UK or across the North Sea.

Totally agree, but we've been on a national downward spiral of weak signal activity for years and if something isn't done to turn it around then there'll be even less stations to work in the future.
This weekend is the 144MHz Marconi CW Contest. Last year boasted 9 entries and that is down 50% from recent years so if we can't generate national interest in a national activity contest then it bodes no good for international events.
 
73 Ray GM4CXM