[UK-CONTEST] 59 reports on VHF

[John Wilson]

Absolutely agree, I think this is an issue where our contest committee 
needs to be active.  An input to the IARU VHF committee to seek to 
"encourage" entrants in VHF contests to send real reports would be a 
good idea, in other words to penalise entrants who send more than a 
certain percentage of 59 reports.

I've noticed this effect in a significant number of contests recently, 
the trend is for European stations to send 59 regardless and UK stations 
to give real reports which puts us at a disadvantage.  To my mind, part 
of the essence of a VHF contest in particular and which sets it apart 
from HF contests is about accurately copying information under adverse 
conditions.  Now with the internet one can look up callsigns and 
locators from various sources after the contest so if all reports are 59 
this only leaves the serial number as the unique piece of information.

I actually quite like the concept of the ropoco contest where, in 
essence, it is necessary to exchange a random sequence of numbers and 
letters.  I'm sure a system could be devised,.where each entrant would 
have generate a random sequence according to a set of rules before each 
contest.  However I think we have to stick to what might be potentially 
achievable.  End of rant.

John G3UUT

David Ferrington, M0XDF wrote:
> I agree, however, classic case in point..
>
> acall ...
> G6BRA
> BRA go
> Golf Six Bravo Romeo Alpha
> was that Gold Eight Bravo Rome ?
> Golf Six Bravo Romeo Alpha
> ah - G8BRA,  59, 00...
>
> Yeah right, so you still didn't get our callsign right after asking 3 times and then gave us a 59, when I know our station isn't performing too well and your'e not a 59 with us.
>
> :-(
>