[UK-CONTEST] UKAC Contests. My final thoughts.

[Robert]

Many thanks for all your input and comments about the UKAC Contests, it's appreciated.

I am still of the opinion that the UKAC contests should stop at 10pm. Reducing the time will serve to 
speed up the call rate and increase competitiveness. There is after all a good deal of unnecessary 
chit-chat. As to the call rate in the last half hour, no matter how long the contest is there will always
be a last half hour with a bit of a flurry. A reduction will help portable stations in various ways 
and be a benefit in some domestic situations where operating late hours from a bedroom is a problem,
spare a thought also about the worker who maybe to have start work early doors the next day.

On to the cluster, VHF radio contest operating is about tuning, finding a station, peaking the beam and
finally working that station. This is the skill in contesting. What it is not is reading info from the web
such as the callsign, frequency and direction. Therefore putting the contact a click of a mouse away. There
is no skill in operating this way. The cluster we can dispense with for all contests, but unfortunately the texting and 
Skype will still remain. 

In the club ratings, the maths are simple, the club with the most members wins. Which give credence 
to my opinion that multiple teams with a fixed number of contestants will present a level playing 
field for clubs. Nobody would consider a Tug-of-War contest fair with teams of differing numbers.

Finally I would like to say how very enjoyable the Tuesday night contests are, the patience and the 
politeness of operators is outstanding. Not to forget also a vote of thanks to the adjudicators.

73, 
Robert. G8BUN/M0JRB and sometimes M0ORO.