[UK-CONTEST] 144 UKAC

[geoff plucknett]

No IO81 - what a surprise (not). Because you see, despite all of that, one
thing remains certain. No-one ever beams west!

Geoff G4FKA

On 8 June 2012 17:16, Ray James <gm4cxm at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

>
> --- On Thu, 7/6/12, Rob Harrison <robharrison at g8hgn.freeserve.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>
> > The format of UKAC did need changing to attract new stations and the
> previous method of including EU squares did have a bias.
>
> Great to see somebody in JO01 finally accept what those outwith the SE had
> felt for years. Though it wasn't just very "new" stations that needed
> attracting to the UKAC's but many existing licence holders who were seldom
> heard, put off by constantly being on the back of beams or hearing nothing
> under M2 in UKAC's or similar rules evident in  most pan-European contests.
> I never started up the call for M5 those years ago to put Scotland in a
> place of advantage. I did it for two main reasons.
>
> Firstly, for more inclusive UK support in what is after all a UK Activity
> Contest. As I've written previously, M5 provided the fairest compromise to
> everyone in the UK by shifting any perceived advantage to the middle of
> England rather than the South East corner.
> The fact that a number of vociferous JO operators continue to moan, groan
> and abstain 18 months after the change holds little water with me.
> I don't give a Castlemaine XXXX if a minority of folks nose's are out of
> joint 'cos they've lost a perceived position of advantage working X number
> of G's and XXX number of continentals in a UK Activity Contest.
> They are selfishly only looking at what they get out of it and not the
> greater good of UK VHF+ Radio.
>
> Now we have active participation in most of the UKAC's along the south
> coast, deepest SW, all parts of Wales, IoM, GI and right up to the top of
> GM including the Orkney's. Not everyone enters but that brings me to my
> reason number two.
>
> We do not ever envisage any threat to our HF bands.
> They are mostly primary allocations but the same cannot be said on VHF+.
> Though 2m is a Primary allocation, between 6m and GHz bands many are
> secondary and if we don't use them we weaken any claim we have to
> entitlement in retention for amateur radio use.
> The more strings those who safeguard our spectrum have to their bow the
> better and contesting and contest entries provide a perfect indicator that
> can be be presented should the need for proof arise.
> By entering, even a token entry, UK amateurs will be contributing even if
> not competing but both aspects have positive attributes.
>
>
> > However a bias is now with other stations, and the scoring system needs
> > looking at again to eliminate geographical bias for ANY part of the UK.
>
> Impossible Bob.
>
> M2 = JO00/JO01/JO02/JO03 heavy bias + beams predominently south east.
> Points per Km = JO00/JO01/JO02/JO03 heavy bias + beams SE again.
> Radial Rings = JO01/JO02/IO91 + beams predominently SE again.
> M2 + Postal Codes = JO01/JO02/IO91/IO92 med/heavy bias + beams All D + SE.
> M5 = IO91/IO92 low bias + beams all directions.
> M5 + Postal Codes = IO91/IO92/IO82/IO83 med bias + beams all directions.
> Postal Codes = IO91/IO92/IO82/IO83 med bias + beams all directions.
>
> So whatever is chosen there is going to be some part of the UK and usually
> the same or similar few with a geographical advantage.
> I always maintained a retention of interest to work continentals and as
> shown by my own results and others, this has continued unabated.
> Accepting that the middle of England (just about) has a slight edge with
> no guarantee every month is a recipe for a happy UK ship and would only be
> surpassed and made even more interesting and/or competitive by having M5 +
> RSGB Postal Codes, which I also wrote about.
> The reason I like Postal Codes is that continued interest would be
> maintained in working stations in a locator you've already worked for a
> multiplier when PC's present additional multipliers within them.
>
> > I can use selective examples just as well as Ray can, somewhere in
> between lies the truth. Lies, damn lies and statistics!
>
> Agreed Bob!
> You body swerved the results for JO02 with G4IRC, the Ipswich Radio Club
> currently topping the 2m restricted section in the UK and more proof
> positive that being in the JO line and near to the North Sea coast isn't
> the massive disadvantage some make it out to be with M5.
> Good contest tactics to work as many UK squares and stations as possible
> and also fill your boots with long range continental contacts for "points
> only" is a recipe for success. Bryn G4DEZ in JO03 has managed to do the
> same and I'm sure enjoying not sticking out like a sore thumb with a
> runaway lead but others now snapping at his heels each month so it'll go to
> the wire who eventually wins. Runaway east coast winners are a thing of the
> past now that any perceived bias has moved inland yet each month is usually
> throwing up different winners. It's a win win situation :-)
>
>
> > So committee don't rest on your laurels just because it appears that
> everything is ok, it isn't. It could be better, it may be hard to find a
> solution, but that's no reason not to try.
>
> Me thinks if it ain't broken, don't fix it!
>
>
> > 73
> > Bob G8HGN
>
> 73 Ray GM4CXM
>
> > PS: I haven't gone over to the dark side yet.... HF contests :0))
>
> Pity Bob...it can be good fun as well. Have fun.
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