[VHFcontesting] Renewing Interest in VHF Contesting

[DAVID C. OLEAN]

Hi Ev,
    Thanks for stirring up the pot again. I like it when I get more real email than
spam.
    The contest results used to come out in three months back before home computers
were ever invented. Everybody sent in paper logs along with the dupe sheet. I
remember competing in the Sept contest, and seeing the results in the December issue
of QST. I am looking at the QST results from December, 1965 right now. They received
350 logs which was down from 1964! (Oh heavens!)  They allowed 30 days for log
submissions too!
    This timely reporting sure pumped everybody up for the Jan VHF SS which came
along shortly thereafter.  So what happened between the 60's and today?  I guess the
contact totals are higher now.  My brother K1WHT won the single op category in CT.
on just six and two meters, and had 381 contacts in 1965.  Would more contacts by
participants slow down the tabulating? Would a pumped up constituency translate to
more log submissions?
    I think the way the League tabulates costs is to divide the operating budget by
the number of pages in QST. That was explained to us by Dan Henderson, N1ND, at the
NE VHF Conference. A page cost almost $4000, and each VHF entrant cost $26 or so for
their call to be listed in QST.  An HF entrant in an HF contest was a bargain at
about $9.50 per call. I guess they could fit more calls in the allotted pages.  I
can think of better ways to estimate QST page costs. So how much do color  pictures
of "ham related" funny road signs cost?
    I had an idea to improve contest log submissions. It would not affect the real
participation level much, however. How about, rather than electronic logs for
everybody, accept simple summaries from casual operators who just make a few Qs.
This could be done on line or via snail mail. A sample submission might look like
this:
    K1WHS   144 MHz   6 QSOs      4 grids
                    3456 MHz  3 QSOs      3 grids
                    Final Score                 60 points  (or 33 points if 3456 MHz
contacts count the same as two meters)

    The NEWS Group has a web page after the various contests where hams can submit
their raw scores.(Tnx to KB1VC for the technique)  Enter each band total and the
computer tabulates the score and it is posted on the web instantly. The ARRL could
do the same. Apparent contest participation would skyrocket.  We would get a feel
for the real number of participants.
    Of course, these simple submissions would not allow the submitter to win
anything, but it would show participation. No one would argue that it was too hard
to send in a score.  Abuse? I am sure it would happen, but would be easy to detect.
Interlopers would stand out to any administrator. Hey we all know each other
anyway!!  The ops gunning for a competitive score will all send in computer logs and
would be eligible for awards.  I would agree that standard paper logs are becoming
problematical for various reasons. The few ops limited to paper logs should be
accomodated, but they are in a very small minority, really. Any serious contester is
also a computer user with only a few exceptions.
    I really want to get the cost per call in QST down below $3.00 per call. Maybe
smaller fonts and complementary zoom goggles for members would work.
73
Dave K1WHS


Ev Tupis wrote:

> It's been a while since we've had something to get the blood pumping about so
> here goes...
>
>  From the ARRL Letter:
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ==>LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD DXCC CREDITS SYSTEM RENEWING DXCC ENTHUSIASM
>
> The DXCC credits component of ARRL's Logbook of the World (LoTW)
> <http://www.arrl.org/lotw> secure contact database got off to an
> enthusiastic and busy start Thursday, May 6--a day later than planned.
> ARRL Membership Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG, says the
> much anticipated LoTW DXCC component not only is making it easier for
> members to apply QSO credits to their DXCC records, it seems to be
> renewing overall interest in the DXCC program.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>  From the thoughts of Ev Tupis, W2EV:
> One can only wonder what the effect would be on the popularity of a VHF contest
> that *required* electronic submission of logs within 30-days of the close of the
> event and then published the results three months later as a QST recap (as
> normal) and an online line listing that coincides with the QST publication.
>
> Paper logs could still be listed as "paper logs" in a different section but not
> eligible for awards.  OK paper loggers feel free to beat me up about this, but
> before you do, read on...
>
> Imagine r-e-s-u-l-t-s for January being printed in May (just in time to pump you
> up for the June contest!).  Imagine the results from September and the
> (obviously about to be) repackaged uWave Cumulatives being printed in December
> (just in time to pump you up for January!).
>
> Don't reply right away.  Think about a contesting world like this and all of the
> very nice benefits that such a system would allow including the lowered
> processing costs at the ARRL (allowing more resources to go toward spectrum
> defense, etc.) and the more timely reporting of our activity.
>
> Regards to all,
> Ev Tupis, W2EV
>
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