[UK-CONTEST] UKAC Contests.

Mon Sep 10 19:26:38 EDT 2012

I cannot agree with the suggestion that the UKACs are too long. I think
they are about right given the levels of activity as pointed out by M0VFC
and represent a pleasant evening's activity. I must admit to being a fixed
station operator and when 2230 rolls round I just switch everything off,
lock up the garden shed and am home in time for the end of the TV news -
unless I end up ragchewing. I suppose the contest could be organised on the
basis that operators could choose any 2.5 hours operation in a 3 or 4 hour
time frame, even, perhaps allowing operation for the entire 4 hours with
post-operation selection of the 2.5 hours of log to submit.

The point about Internet use is worth further discussion. Of course, active
use of the Internet to advertise one's operations during the contest is
only allowed for AX section entrants except on 1296 MHz and higher. This
does not exclude operators using the Internet passively to read others'
advertisements or to monitor the whereabouts of possible signal scattering
aircraft during the contest.  Whether this is desirable is another matter.

Both the timing and Internet issues are related to the choice of portable
vs fixed station operation and there is something to be said for separate
sections for portable and fixed stations as used to be the case in VHF/UHF
contests in years gone by. However there are already 4 sections for
contestants to chose from and I don't think further sections would be
desirable. It is interesting that well set up fixed stations often seem to
score more highly than portable operations.

As far as scoring is concerned, again I see little need for change. It is
fine for the non-club single operator such as myself and is equally good
for clubs/teams who are encouraged to recruit although there may be
concerns about the geographical spread of some club membership lists.

It is, I think, clear that the UKACs have been a great success in promoting
activity and should be left in their present form unless there is a strong
case for change made out by a significant number of participants. But
please keep it simple.

73 Peter Burden G3UBX

On 10 September 2012 22:25, Robert Chipperfield <robert at syxis.co.uk> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> While I think the argument that the UKACs are too long may have been true
> a couple of years ago, I think it's much less true now. Here's the
> (claimed) hourly rates for the last four 2m UKACs for G3PYE/P for
> 2000-2100, 2100-2200 and 2200-2230:
>
> September: 61, 43, 52
> August: 54, 56, 34
> July: 23, 53, 48
> June: 47, 30, 20
>
> Yes, there's generally a drop-off later in the evening, but it's not
> exactly at the point where you're falling asleep in front of the radio
> (like 2m AFS was for the last two hours, for example!).  I think I'm right
> in saying that entries are still on the rise, and with that, it's becoming
> harder each month to work everyone in the time available, so a shortening
> of the contest duration seems unnecessary.
>
> Regarding the end time for portables, while I can understand the unease
> about being in a remote location on your own, I'd simply advocate doing so
> with a friend instead! It's obviously how we operate, and I believe G5MW/P,
> G8MKC/P, M0NUT/P and no doubt others do likewise - it's a nice social
> occasion.
>
> (For the record, I also find the 2000 local start time convenient as it
> allows time to get to site and set up after work, whereas an earlier start
> would make this a little tighter for those who do go out and set up gear
> every week...)
>
> As for the club aspect of the scoring, that's a tougher problem. On the
> one hand, most clubs (the Camb-Hams included) can't hope to compete with
> those at the top of the table who have huge numbers of entrants, which is a
> shame. On the other hand, it's wonderful to hear all the activity that the
> likes of Bolton have generated, and I wouldn't want to swap that for any
> certificate! In a contest that labels itself an "activity" contest, it
> seems that making the rules err on the side of generating more activity is
> a good call.
>
> Maybe it could be a second table of results: the current table of overall
> club scores, and another as Robert suggested taking the top four entrants
> from each club, as in AFS? Then again, maybe that's a niche the AFS
> contests already serve, and the UKACs are just a good excuse to get loads
> of people on air for a few hours...
>
> 73,
> Rob, M0VFC
>
>
> On 10/09/2012 21:47, RONALD PRICE wrote:
>
>> I agree totally with Robert's first statement especially the finishing
>> time of 10.30pm.
>> I only ever consider going portable during the lighter evenings of
>> May, June and July and even then I usually pack up at about 9.45 in
>> order to get home by 10.30.
>> Portable locations by their nature are usually very remote and I feel
>> very uneasy being all alone at that time of night with a car full of
>> expensive radio gear!
>> I am sure that a starting time of 7.30 and a finish at 9.30 would
>> encourage much more participation by portable stations.
>>
>> Best wishes to all.
>>
>> Ron, GW4EVX
>>
>>
>> On 10/09/2012, Robert <m0oro at aim.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> The Tuesday night UKAC contests taking 2.5 hours are too long. Most
>>> contacts
>>> are made in the first hour and then it tails off. Think also of the /P
>>> stations having to pack up at 10.30 pm. A time reduction should be
>>> considered.
>>>
>>> Use of clusters and chat rooms should be prohibited for all UKAC
>>> contests.
>>> Using the INTERNET to secure a contact is NOT what radio contest
>>> operating
>>> is about. Not all contestants have an Internet connection available
>>> during a
>>> contest.
>>>
>>> This series of contests is good for individual scoring, but not for
>>> clubs,
>>> how can you have a serious club contest when teams vary in numbers, of
>>> course a club with say 10 entrants will beat a club with say 2 entrants.
>>> Where is the fair competition in that ?  Therefore limit the team size to
>>> specific numbers. Then different leagues for different team sizes.
>>> Four and two operator teams would be appropriate.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Robert. M0JRB/G8BUN.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>> UK-Contest mailing list
>>> UK-Contest at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/**mailman/listinfo/uk-contest<http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest>
>>>
>>>  ______________________________**_________________
>> UK-Contest mailing list
>> UK-Contest at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/**mailman/listinfo/uk-contest<http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest>
>>
>
> ______________________________**_________________
> UK-Contest mailing list
> UK-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/**mailman/listinfo/uk-contest<http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest>
>