[VHFcontesting] Where Have All the Multi's Gone? version 4

[Ed Kucharski]

Hopefully this works, 4'th attempt. The reflector stripped the attachment, the embedded Excel file was too big and the cut/paste Word file lost formatting. So I attempted to type it in the email below. Hope it looks okay. If anyone wants an Excel or Word file of the chart I'm happy to email it directly.

I'm doing some research and digging for data about the recent thread associated with the effect FTx has had on traditional weak signal modes (ssb/cw). 

In the process I noticed a dramatic decrease in both Limited Multi  and Unlimited Multi activity and scores (September VHF Contests) in the mid-late 2000's and again in 2015. The authors of the results write-ups noted this as well but didn't offer an explanation (unless I missed it). 

Why??? FT8 didn't begin till 2017 (according to that write-up). Remember, I only looked at the September results! 2015 was the first year allowing use of spotting in all categories (spots, chat rooms, email, text, phone, etc.).

See chart below. I had a little difficulty getting all the #'s if it wasn't mentioned in the write-up - scanning and counting results - I may have missed a few either way, scores were rounded.

Thoughts?

73,
Ed K3DNE
LM= Limited Multi, UM=Unlimited Multi.


Year    #LM   Avg. Score LM Top 10   #UM   #LM+UM     Avg.Score UM Top 10    Cum. Avg. Score Top 10 (LM+UM)
2000     53                246K                     23          76                      468K                                         714K
2005     33                296K                     29          62                       695K                                        991K 
2010     23                 78K                      26          49                       277K                                        355K
2014     41                 97K                      40           81                      152K                                        249K
2015     17                 75K                      14        31                        97K                                         172K
2017     21                 54K                      15           36                       83K                                          137K
2018     22                 45K                      15           37                       62K                                          107K
2019     22                 54K                      17           39                       60K                                          114K
2020*    21                 48K                     12            33                      57K                                          105K