[UK-CONTEST] Guest Operating

[Chris Rolinson G7DDN]

"for most of us, the *real* contest takes place within the "sub-sections" or challenges that we make up for ourselves."

I must apologise, Ian, for not making myself very clear.  I totally agree with your point above and the majority of your post.  Like many of us I suspect, I keep close records of my performance in contests and take great pleasure in beating my own scores and indeed gain a lot of satisfaction from doing so.

Where we perhaps differ is that I don't actually KNOW what other stations are comprised of.  Therefore a section in most contests for the average barefoot 100w operator with a wire antenna gives ME a good idea of what to expect in terms of competing with other similarly equipped stations, of which I suspect there are many.

There seems to be some feeling in this group that people keep asking for more sections so they can win a certificate.  I suspect that most people advocating some form of slight change to the rules don't give two hoots about certificates, (I could print my own if I felt the need for self-adulation ;-)) but I do like to know how I am doing compared to similarly equipped stations within a given contest as a whole.  I suspect that if such a section were implemented it would actually be immensely popular which would make it somewhat difficult to win such a certificate anyway!

Also can we accept that it is unlikely that most "average" UK stations have the real estate (or associated planning permission or even noise floor in some instances!) to expand their systems very much?  For many folk, their stations may already be at the maximum they can physically set up, but the urge to compete may still be strong, even when handicapped in these ways.  If we are more "inclusive" in our section planning, we may get yet more "ordinary" hams interested in contesting and we all know that can lead on to bigger things.  

Regards es 73



Chris Rolinson G7DDN
g7ddn at g7ddn.com