[UK-CONTEST] The contest "exchange"....

[Paul_group]

On 07/10/2010 20:21, PETER CLEALL wrote:
> As I have only been a low level dabbler in contests for less than 12 months,
> I hardly dare to comment.
>
> I am in favour of retaining a 21/28 cw + SSB contest. I would have operated
> SSB last weekend but for a long standing family reunion.
>
> How about overseas ops working each of the RSGB regions for awards. UK
> stations to compete for  individual and club awards to be given per region.

I've often wondered why the (V)HF columns of Radcom aren't used to sell 
the DX oportunities afforded by contest opperation.

I often take part in contests with no intention of actually putting in 
an entry - its a symbiotic relationship, you guys get your cannon fodder 
and I pick up the odd # or DXCC.

some time ago around the peak of the last cycle I think, there was an 
article in the Mag explaining to the less experienced HF men how to 
fashion a sloping dipole with orientation to optimise chance of working 
a particular expedition, some guidance was given on time of day for best 
chance. From my observation that was very successful.

I think its the same for events like the 21/28MHz contest. Imagine the 
feeling of calling cq contest and being answered by a real dx stn. That 
might be old hat to people on this reflector but to a new "casual 
contester" it could be a reall thrill. We shouldn't assume that everyone 
knows how the propagation works (Note #1) So our casual contester who 
decides to try to work a few stns in the contest, how disappointed they 
would have been in 28MHz. They might conclude contests are a waste of 
time without a Kw and a beam.

That person may never even look at the sport radio, ( I still hate that 
title) pages but may well read the HF pages to find out how to work some 
DX, a simple explanation of how to work DX in a contest might even help 
people realise that contesting and dx'ing are actually a little bit similar.



(Note #1) Earlier today I heard a local stn here complaining that his 6m 
antenna was obviously faulty as in june he was working all over Europe 
and this week he couldn't hear anything.

-- 
73 de Paul GW8IZR IO73TI
http://www.gw8izr.com