[UK-CONTEST] 'Ethics'

[Chris Partington]

In response to John G4ZTR, I did mention /P operation in my post.

 

I regularly operate /P and to be fair, am usually ready at least 15 minutes
prior to the start of any contest, complete with a few "true" signal reports
etc.

 

So the issue of needing signal reports when operating /P in my view, a few
minutes before the start of a contest, is not necessary if you're prepared
slightly earlier than the start.

 

In fact, in a few sections in the CCs last year operating as /P, most
stations I called tended to engage in a full blown QSO to keep the frequency
rather than give me a quick signal report!

 

 

 

In response to Ken G3LVP, I certainly agree with the comments made regarding
"Contest Groups" rather than Club Stations, a separate section would be a
good idea.

 

I suppose it's all down to defining what is a club and the criteria to be a
Club, my understanding is affiliation to the RSGB is sufficient i.e. no
regular meetings required etc.

 

In other words (tongue in cheek) e.g. 5 top class operators situated
anywhere in the Country, could form a "Group" and become affiliated to the
RSGB and enter.

 

However, the top few stations last year, several of which were ARS/ARC, have
members spread all over the country as far apart as Scotland, Wales and the
South Coast, (even Europe in some cases) so it probably doesn't make any
difference if there were a separate section anyway!

 

 

BTW Ken, AFS does have a 50 mile radius rule! In my particular case I live
approx 72.5 miles from the Club meeting place but attend 3 to 4 meetings a
year and operate VHF contests in the local area.

 

I would prefer that the 50 mile radius were not introduced as I would be
penalised. I'm sure there are others who feel the same!

 

 

I feel that something that could be considered is the size of a group taking
part and the number of entrants for each group. 

 

In the CC series maybe it would create a more even playing field to have
teams of 4 as in the AFS contests, the best 4 scores to count for each team,
this would give smaller clubs a better chance of competing where they have
maybe 4 to 8 regular entrants rather than large Contest Groups with 15 plus
entrants situated all over the UK.

 

There is considerable pressure on smaller clubs with a few operators to
compete in all the CW/SSB/Data sections every month and be competitive!

 

73's,

 

Chris G0CLP/P