[UK-CONTEST] 21/28 Contest

[Ian Greenshields]

Having dabbled in the contest today let me also add my views to the
new proposal.

I was one of 'don't drop it' crowd when the proposal was suggested
some years ago as I felt it wrong to do so on the rising sunspot
cycle. However I do now think it needs to be changed - both 15m & 10m
are open today, not brilliant, but open, and it really is a scratch
around for contacts and is too slow to maintain interest.

A new contest covering more bands and allowing anyone works anyone,
with a focus on working the UK seems the right way to go. I don't see
anything wrong with the postal district multipliers. although any
other multiplier should have the same effect, WAB or whatever. Just
ensure it maintains interest on working Gs.

Can we coordinate with GTC, TRC, CA QSOP etc? Some seem very unwilling
to work outside their own contest, but I would quite happily work them
and give whatever exchange they need provided I can also get the QSO.
I notice the W6s are quite happy to work us & seem OK with serial +
district. I logged the serial received and ignored the rest (my logger
won't accept any more) - is that OK? I'll find out! But if each of the
contest instructions acknowledged other contests at the same time with
an indication of whether or how to log them, it could make for a more
interesting day. Quite a few stations in both TRC and GTC refused to
work me - a shame.

I definitely approve of adjudicating such that both sides of the QSO
must be correct or neither gets the QSO points. Penalties if you like.
There's an annoying trend of stations that couldn't care less if you
logged their call or SN correctly & will only grudgingly resend it if
asked. The loggers that seem to send one serial number while logging a
different one should also be penalised. And keep RST. 599 if you like,
but if someone sends a real report, you'd better log it correctly, or
loose points for not doing so. Ditto if you send a real report and log
599. Rate is good, but not at the expense of accuracy; no contest
should encourage sloppy operating.

Keep the exchanges simple so that casual stations can join in without
reading the rules - why should they? We're the ones that want the QSO!
A contest that discourages casual operators would be terrible - we
could all work each other in 3 hours & then go home!

So, yes, let's have a change. But keep the weekend - it's a good one.
Thanks Clive & Chris for suggesting something new. I think it will
work.

73 Ian G4FSU