[UK-CONTEST] U.K. contesting in 2012

[Gavin Stirling GM0WDD]

Ok I'll bite. I occasionally have a dabble on VHF but having listened into an HF contest what a bore and you do it over 24 or 48 hours! It's almost as exciting as playing golf, watching snooker or the Super Bowl.  :-/

Sell it to me as I don't see the attraction. There are many more attractive ways of spending my life than listening to a wall of noise......

Regards,
Gav
GM0WDD

Sent from my iPhone

On 5 Feb 2012, at 21:44, "G4FNL" <g4fnl at bubloz.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> Hi Chris
> 
> Yes - I agree. 
> 
> Some years back I was grateful to be invited to two contest sites: G4ANT and
> GW8GT. We took part in the CQWW contests. Unfortunately, I think both groups
> are sadly QRT. Currently, there are a few brave souls who open up their
> shacks for others to operate (G6PZ for example) and thank goodness Paul does
> or the contest scene may be even worse.
> 
> My local club is probably typical of others that exist. It has something
> like 50 - 70 members. Of those, approx 5 are active on the HF bands. To try
> and encourage a few to take part in the contest environment, and over the
> course of a year, on approx ten occasions last year I offered a seat either
> to take part in one of the RSGB 80m short contests, with me alongside, or to
> go it alone, and to use the station that I use. This would be just a taster
> session. Now, how many people do you think I had queuing to have a go?
> That's right - absolutely zero. Of course it could be that I use the wrong
> soap, but I was surprised at this result. So, unfortunately, I have given up
> asking at that club any more - but if there is anyone on this reflector that
> would care to come along one eve - let me know.
> 
> Then perhaps we could get a proper Multi-Multi station going - but somehow I
> doubt it  ;>)
> 
> BTW, there will be another G log to be sent off for CQ160 later this
> week........
> 
> 73 Graham G4FNL
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Chris Tran GM3WOJ
> Sent: 05 February 2012 18:28
> To: uk-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: [UK-CONTEST] U.K. contesting in 2012
> 
> Hello UK-contesters
> 
> Contesting in the U.K. seems to me to be in a poor state.
> 
> If we take the recent CQ 160 CW contest as an example, so far there are only
> 25 U.K. entries, of which 18 are from G. Contrast this with 132 entries from
> Germany. The population of Germany is approximatedly 25% higher than that of
> the U.K. (82M vs 62M)
> 
> You will correctly point out that 160m is a difficult band to have an
> effective antenna, conditions were mediocre for this event, there are many
> U.K. amateurs who suffer planning regulations, TVI, BCI, QRN etc - all these
> are factors but there is an underlying problem.
> 
> It seems to me that the current RSGB contests (CCs, AFS) are reasonably well
> supported, but the current HF Championship and AFS Super League rules do
> nothing to encourage AFS/CC entrants to participate in major international
> events (except for the IOTA contest)
> 
> Unfortunately, it also appears (I may be wrong) as if the RSGB Contest
> Committee are making decisions in isolation, without full discussion about
> the implications of rule changes.
> 
> Lastly, there does seem to be a negative attitude to 'contest clubs' here in
> the U.K. - in marked contrast to Germany where they are actively encouraged.
> 
> 73
> Chris
> GM3WOJ 
> 
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