[VHFcontesting] Goal-Based Contest Scoring

[Zack Widup]

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 n1mu-vhf at rochester.rr.com wrote:

> 
> Ken,
> 
> The idea was that the true "winner" in each operating category
> (Multi-op, Single-op, etc.) would have the top score in all Goals---a
> clean sweep.  Maybe you didn't read that part.  I know it's not the best
> organized piece of writing in the world.
> 
> Anyway, if you truly feel this way, why change the rules at all?  You
> said that the contest winners should be the ones with the best equipment
> and operators.  Wrong.  The winners work within the rules and employ
> strategies and tactics that maximize their scores.  What's wrong with
> that?  Just because you paid more for your radio and can copy 100 WPM CW
> does not mean you win.
> 
> Tom. 
> 

The "playing field" in ham radio is not always equal, sometimes due in a 
major part to propagation unpredictability.  If a huge sporadic-E or 
tropo opening misses a certain area where someone with the best equipment 
lives, others with less equipment may run up much higher scores because 
of it. But this is Mother Nature at work. Not much anyone can do about it.

In the recent 10 GHz contest, some people along Lake Erie had tremendous 
propagation for a while and at the same time those of us to the west had 
nothing.  As Kurt Vonnegut would say, "So it goes."

73, Zack W9SZ