[UK-CONTEST] UK AC M5 mults

[Rob Harrison]

Hi,

Oh no I don't think so.

Well until a small minority started to object to the previous set of rules 
UKAC wasn't broke, as far as RSGB were concerned; it had run under that 
format for many many years. So it's hardly surprising that when it's 
"mended" to suit one set of complainers, that another set will take umbrage 
and try to get it "fixed". Note I didn't say re-instated. NO PRE-M5 wasn't 
fit for purpose and needed reviewing, but although better, M5 is not the 
whole answer.

So is it some parts of the UK can object but others can't? I'm not saying 
you can't object, just that everyone should be able to. M6 is not perfect 
either, but let's try it for a year to gain some statistics for an even 
fairer system, and change it again if need. Unless we get some stat's this 
is all guess work, and in the meantime because there's loads of activity, 
nothing gets done in regard to improving things. Activity is all well and 
good, but it's only on one day out of seven. I do feel if M6 is not trialed, 
we will be fooling ourselves that everything in the UK on VHF/UHF is fine, 
and clearly it is not outside of Tuesdays. The numbers of regular stations 
on throughout the week is very small and the average age of those is growing 
older each year. Yes there are other calls on our time, but it seems many 
are happy to come on for their club and give away points on a Tuesday, but 
not to be active at any other times. Those are the ones we need to progress 
to better results, to show what can be achieved on VHF/UHF, rather than lots 
of short range QSO's. That's not healthy for the general well being of 
VHF/UHF in the UK.

We all feel nobody beams at us, why should they, if they are getting points 
on a run, then they'll stay on that heading until contacts run out. You only 
need one contact in each square for a mult. So get the mult's then go to 
your sweet spot(s). I'm sure that's what most will do to maximise their 
score for their given location. If you truly beam in a certain direction for 
an hour or more with no results just to say you did, then I apologise to you 
unreservedly, but I don't think I'll have many takers on that one.

I appreciate all and every contact, and beam to all points of the compass, 
always have done. But if I'm not getting responses, or if I can't find 
someone using S&P, I'll beam elsewhere and try again. IO70 & 80 are rare for 
me here in UKAC, JO00 is on for about 50% of sessions. Our perceptions and 
reality are probably quite different. At convention I spoke to a few of the 
regular contesters on VHF/UHF, and M5 was discussed. It was instructive to 
hear their personal perspective on things from their locations, let's get 
some more of that rather than what we think people are hearing and working, 
before jumping to conclusions.

73

Bob G8HGN


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Parnell" <chris-g0hfx at hotmail.co.uk>
To: "UK contest Committee" <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 7:28 PM
Subject: [UK-CONTEST] UK AC M5 mults


>
> Hasn`t this topic just about been done to death.
>
> We all don't live on a hill like Bryn used to, and can work the world 
> (well EU) and his dog on VHF even under
> flat conditions.
>
> As the system is--it WORKS for the majority of entrants, who are either 
> prepared to make do with the poor set up they have, the poor location they 
> have, decide to move if possible, or like several (quite a few in fact) of 
> us in terrible home locations who would get sorely depressed by working on 
> most bands on a Tuesday evening about 20 or so Q`s and be lucky to make a 
> Q outside our own square --we go portable to make a reasonable entry for 
> our clubs--not generally for our own vanity.
>
> This cobblers about NE station not beaming E/SE/SW --we it seems to me 
> that stations in the East rarely beam SW the number of times JO00 & JO01 
> don't reckon in the log is almost every contest. I rarely work 
> GM/EI/DL/PA/ON but I and many others who also have problems in certain 
> directions just get on with working the best we can and enjoy ourselves. I 
> always beam in all directions at some time or other, with one antenna its 
> pot luck if you happen to miss the square/s you need.
>
> Incidentally I`m nearly 70yrs and still go /p on my own, the vast majority 
> of my club members cant be bothered to operate (whether in a contest or 
> what ever) from home or /P just a few dedicated ones (bloody fools 
> perhaps).
>
> I agree with Ray keep M5 as it is--don't fiddle with something that works 
> well for the majority.
>
> Chris G0HFX
>
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