[UK-CONTEST] HF CW Field Day

[Olof Lundberg]

Ed, thank you for taking the time to write to me privately regarding the
Contest Committee actions. I must say however that this is not a personal or
private matter. The Contest Committee acts publicly and should conduct its
affairs transparently. Private correspondence and deal-making may be part of
your problem or perhaps even the cause of your problems.

You published new field day rules in March. Some of us took them at face
value and devoted considerable time to trying to understand them, design
solutions and prepare for field day. Without telling us you started to
entertain comments for changes and redrafting the new rules. Three weeks
later you suddenly publish new very different rules.

Playing with the NFD rules the way you have done is a form of cheating in my
book. I can turn my back to cheating but I can't get my wasted time back,
time I could have spent with the grandkids, with my wife, listening to the
birds or a zillion other things.

According to the precedent the committee has established through this NFD
fiasco I take it for granted that you are willing to change the rules again
in the next few weeks so I will be bold enough to make some serious
suggestions intended to be constructive and helpful.

If I remember Dennis Healey's Law of Holes correctly you should stop digging
when you are in one. Along that line of thought I have two alternatives you
might wish to look at as you consider your next step with this year's NFD
rules: 

1)	Stick to the rules you published as The New NFD Rules in March.
Announce now that you will have a serious, orderly and transparent process
for reconsideration of the FD rules for next year; or

2)	Admit that you have cocked-up completely and keep the rules from
last year exactly as they were at that time; consider additionally a
temporary un-restricted category this year where the only rules are those
related to Basic Information, Site, Operators, Frequencies, Scoring and
Logs. Announce now that you will have a serious, orderly and transparent
process for reconsideration of the FD rules for next year.

In a separate posting I'm suggesting an outline for a better modus operandi
for your committee and I will also post a couple of detailed comments on the
rules as messed up as they now are which I hope you will also find helpful
and constructive.

73 Olof G0CKV

-----Original Message-----
From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Chairman, RSGB
Contest Committee
Sent: 12 April 2012 13:59
To: UK-Contest at contesting.com
Subject: [UK-CONTEST] HF CW Field Day


You will be aware that the rules for HF CW Field Day have recently been
changed.  The Contest Committee has received a number of comments, some
expressing legitimate concerns.  These were discussed at a recent Contest
Committee meeting, and it has been agreed to make a few more modifications.
The main effect will be to reduce the technological and logistical
requirements for groups wishing to enter the Restricted sections, while
maintaining their challenge and potential for innovation.  This also
maintains the clear distinction with the Open Section.

Here is a summary of recent changes:

1.    The definition of "Site" now excludes reference to property 
limits.  Entrants must still move equipment on to the site no sooner than 24
hours ahead of the start, but this no longer includes welfare and
accommodation items.

2.    In the Restricted and Low Power sections:

(a)   all vertical antennas contribute to both the antenna length and 
antenna support allowances -- this corrects an anomaly;

(b)   antennas may not be higher than 15m, which is within the 
capabilities of virtually any group;

(c)   a muting requirement applies to receivers used -- this brings 
operation close to "big knob-little knob" mode, and can be implemented with
minimum external circuitry.

The updated rules can be found at www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2012/rnfd.shtml

The FAQ and diagram pages have been updated and made clearer.

For any clarification, please email nfd.notify at rsgbcc.org

73,

Ed Taylor, GW3SQX
Chairman, RSGB Contest Committee


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