[UK-CONTEST] NFD rules

[Paul O'Kane]

On 13/06/2011 12:24, David G3YYD wrote:

 > Rules restrict, which works against the advancement of the hobby.

On the contrary, rules regulate and all relevant
technology assists, one way or another.  In
amateur radio contesting, technology makes things
easier for the operator, and usually makes
contesting more fun. Relevant technology may also
deskill some aspects of contesting - no great
loss, perhaps, in terms of the ability to log
legibly by hand, or to send CW by hand.

The key word is "relevant".  If the technology
is not relevant, it has the effect of changing
the nature of the hobby, the very thing that
gives it its name (amateur radio contesting),
into something of an entirely different nature.

 > An unrestricted category allows those with
 > imagination,technical ability and the will
 > to explore to do exactly that.

By the same token, you might argue that allowing
the use of poles in high-jumping permits those
with imagination and technical ability to jump
higher - and you would be right.  The only
problem is that, even though poles may represent
advanced technology that cannot be un-invented,
that's no reason to use them in a high-jump
competition.  What you fondly imagined to be
high-jumping has instantly been transformed
into pole-vaulting.

 > Those who do not have these skills or abilities
 > can stay in the current categories with their
 > associated rules.

That's exactly what happens.  High-jumpers do
not usually make good pole-vaulters, and vice-
versa.

To suggest that all communications technology
is relevant in the context of amateur radio
contesting is nonsense.

Is there a place for such "extreme" activities?
There may well be, but please don't confuse
them with amateur radio.

    Extreme NFD - you operate from home, and
    use the internet.

73,
Paul EI5DI