[UK-CONTEST] RSGB 2nd 1.8 Mhz Results

[Lee Volante]

Hi all,

I will also crawl out from behind my rock add my voice of disapproval
for this rule change, with some additional concerns on top of those
already mentioned.

It seems unprecedented in RSGB contests in recent memory that a
privileged 4 or so stations will be able to use up to 400 watts from
1842 to 1850 simultaneously, and any other SSB contesters operating at
the same time will need to be 11 dB weaker.  If we see entrants camped
out for an hour or more before AFS SSB or 80m CC phone sessions where
there are 60+ "running slots" available, what happens if you reduce
that to 4?   What's the betting any of these guys will have a 0 in
their callsign?   Is this the strategy - decide how bad 32w SSB is
compared with those running 400w just below you, or go back to CW?

Getting onto one of these frequencies mid-contest when the other
station vacates will be interesting.  Perhaps we would constantly
needing to listen on the other VFO waiting for 5 seconds of silence,
so they can jump in to the QRO zone?  I can't see it working well, or
is biased against those with 2 receivers, or would be more through
luck than judgement.  And even barefoot stations would benefit from
being able to run 100w here and be several dB louder, so it's not just
the amplifier owning folks to consider here.

Has anyone tried working non-domestic SSB QSOs on 160m with 32w with
antennas 20 to 30 feet high on a weekend where there will be
relatively few 'big guns' to help out?  I have and it's not much fun.
This is a 'DX' contest - DXCC needs to be wored as much as UK postcode
districts.  The concurrent Dutch PACC contesters can use 400w up to
1.88 MHz.  Many some or all of the UK QRO frequencies will be full
already. Will any UK operators ask the PAs to move up 10 kHz?  So I
guess everyone will work PA with ease anyway...

Of course, forcing a mixed mode contest tries to ensure that these
people will rotate between CW and SSB, giving someone else a chance at
the SSB QRO slots.  But this is alienating the good number of people
who would prefer a CW only contest.  Both for domestic and DX QSOs on
160m, any extra power that can be mustered / allowed will have great
benefits.  Whilst the rules of course demand full compliance to the
licence, the changed rules will add temptation and frustration to
those above 1850.  And on 160m, with a greater differential of antenna
efficency than 80m, spotting transgressors will be far more difficult
than it is at 80m.  What do we hear - a poor antenna and 100 watts (or
400+), or a good antenna at 30 watts?

Mixed mode events do exist on 160m for IARU HFChampionship, RDXC,
EUHFC amongst others, including the concurrent PACC, although single
mode entries are also allowed. Big DX contests e.g. CQWW, CQ160 do see
what appears to be relatively strong UK signals above 1850.  But this
is the first (or first for a long while) that the RSGBCC is organising
where power levels will need to be changed depending on operating
frequency within the same band, where we could see many UK stations.

Mark G4MEM said: "specifically the intent is to introduce a SSB only
and Mixed Mode category."  But the rules do seem to say it's mixed
mode only, "All entries are mixed-mode, that is, CW and SSB", but also
mention awarding single certificates for the highest CW and SSB only
logs as some form of appeasement. It seems muddled.  Or is the SSB
only section a future intent?

So:

1) If the SSB QRO frequency space is so small relative to the expected
number of entrants, why include it at all?  Why not start at 1850+ and
keep 32w for all on SSB to be fair?   It's natural to expect that many
contesters would not find a freq in the 8 kHz to allow them to legally
run more than 32w for the entire session. If it's claimed the QRO
portion is "necessary" to make EU or DX QSOs, it is biased against
those will not be able to run there.

2) Why not have CW, SSB, and Mixed Mode sections?  Many SSB-only ops
or newer ops would be similarly ired by a mixed mode only, as much as
those that enjoy the existing event do not favour SSB.  I'm pretty
sure I enter more mixed mode contests than anyone else in the UK, and
try to champion the newer licensee and those with simpler stations.
I'm planning to give this event a very wide berth despite being a
casual entrant over many years, and will recommend that to others.
I've never been inspired enough to operate the whole duration.

3) Can the sections be clarified.

If the weight of a relative few voices can save the 21/28 MHz for
another year (which still surprises me), surely changes can be made
here too?  Speak up, folks, we should only need a few more comments?

73,

Lee G0MTN