[VHFcontesting] Contest suggestion

k3sk at buckwalter.co k3sk at buckwalter.co
Tue Sep 17 12:31:56 EDT 2024 

Resent from my correct email address --- 


I do not like the even/odd hours idea.  I do not agree with anything related to specific operating times.   You need to be able to go where the activity is regardless of time.   I have a different suggestion that the ARRL contest committee apparently disagrees with.    I am not anti-digital and I use not only FT8 but MSK and Q65 modes frequently for contesting.   I also look frequently for SSB & CW contacts, which are hard to find.  During this past September VHF contest, I only worked 7 analog contacts as compared to 346 digital contacts.   

Because of the ease of working more digital contacts that may be far weaker than analog (SSB/CW) modes there needs to be an incentive for mixed mode stations (analog/digital) to look for and work analog contacts.   I believe that incentive should be contact point values.   Take each band point value as it is currently for digital contacts and increase it by 1 point for either a SSB or CW contact.   An example would be on 2 meters, each digital contact is 1 point and each SSB or CW contact would then be 2 points.    In the case of working the same station both digital and analog, let the lower value contact be considered a dupe and not counted for scoring.    

Using this method will surely increase the number of analog only stations without putting any negative effect on those that work mixed or digital only.   This will lead to more analog only operators staying "in the game" for the entire contest and not give up because there is no one to work.  

Dave Buckwalter - K3SK
FM07th


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: Rick R <rick1ds at hotmail.com> 
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 11:26 AM
To: Paul Bourque <pbourque at gmail.com>; k1ep at arrl.net; packrats reflector <packrats at mailman.qth.net>
Cc: Terry Price <terry at directivesystems.com>; News group mailing list <newsvhf at mailman.qth.net>; flwss at flwss.net; vhf contesting <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
Subject: [VHFcontesting] Contest suggestion

Here's a thought—Even hours analog, Odd hours digital​ Or perhaps having an analog-only contest and a digital-only contest as has been suggested many times. Rick K1DS

________________________________
From: newsvhf-bounces at mailman.qth.net <newsvhf-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Paul Bourque <pbourque at gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 11:18 AM
To: k1ep at arrl.net <k1ep at arrl.net>
Cc: Terry Price <terry at directivesystems.com>; News group mailing list <newsvhf at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [NEWSVHF] Dave and Fred and all

A couple of years ago, I posted in Contest Update and recommended that stations call CQ and look for CW/SSB QSOs at the top and bottom of each hour. Of course, what really helps here is that some of the bigger gun stations get on and call CQ. Maybe we should make this a thing- similar to how K1WHS is helping bring back life to 222. But we need to get more stations on board for this to work. I'm not anti digital modes, but I really find it more enjoyable to work stations on phone (working on my CW skills, but not anywhere near ready for prime time with that.)

This past contest, I was focussed on 6 meters because I'm so close to getting my VUCC on 6 and that was my goal for this contest. I only heard one station calling CQ on SSB (W2EA), which I had already worked. The CQs from my little gun station went unanswered. But I tried- I didn't make a single contact on SSB as my time was being wasted sitting there calling CQ to an empty band. BTW- my goal for getting closer to VUCC was successful- I'm sitting at 99 confirmed grids right now- and hoping that a couple of stations that I worked confirm for my 100th grid.

In June, I roved to 3 sites in FN31, FN32 and FN42- (SSB/FM only). When I was in FN32- basically in W2SZs backyard, I was expecting to hear them on all three bands I had (6, 2, 432)- but they were suspiciously absent from SSB and FM. I did catch them calling CQ on 446.0 when I was driving down the hill from my FN42 location. I thought for sure I'd hear them on phone being so close to them. In years past, W2SZ was my "beacon" during
contests- it was a sure bet that I'd get them in the log every contest.

I'm really looking forward to any suggestions on how we can breathe some life back into CW and voice (SSB, FM, AM..) during the VHF contests.

73,
-Paul N1SFE


On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 10:23 AM Ed Parish <k1ep.list at gmail.com> wrote:

> If all of us abandon CW and SSB, then everyone will be on FT8. We 
> still need to call CQ on CW and SSB and make some activity there. It 
> was disheartening at tines to tune from 50.125 to 50.200 and not hear 
> a single SSB signal during the contest.
>
> On Tue, Sep 17, 2024, 09:44 Terry Price <terry at directivesystems.com>
> wrote:
>
> > I don't "care" for digital modes either but I have worked folks on 
> > FT8
> that
> > I could not work on cw so it does have it's place. As a contester, 
> > you
> have
> > to go where the activity is, do I wish there was more cw/SSB, heck 
> > yes
> but
> > it is what it is.
> >
> > ANY VHF & up activity is welcome, hell I'll work you on FM or AM if 
> > necessary !!!
> >
> > Terry Price - W8ZN
> > Directive Systems and Engineering
> > 703-754-3876
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 8:50 AM Ellis Foley via NEWSVHF < 
> > newsvhf at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> >
> > > I agree whole heartedly with you Dave and Fred, I do not work FT8, 
> > > just not a digital guy in that respect. tried lots of things Rtty, 
> > > ASCII etc just never got into or like the mode. and not seeking 
> > > any awards so no
> > need
> > > here.  But I used to work all the VHF contest thru and thu spent 
> > > many a contest til the wee hours of each morning working and 
> > > sending in my
> logs.
> > > Have not done that last 5-6 yrs simply because I no longer put the
> effort
> > > in because every one is on FT8 or what ever other digi mode.I did 
> > > not
> > even
> > > turn the rig on this contest. had no desire to even "dole" out points.
> > >      I'm seeing and hearing a lot more guys saying the same thing, 
> > > but
> do
> > > not hear them on ssb or cw when the contest come around? so! 
> > > unless
> they
> > > get off the computer and on the rigs it will remain the same or 
> > > get
> even
> > > worse. Sad to see the empty air waves on ssb and cw. anytime not 
> > > just contesting. I monitor 50.125 all the time and have only heard 
> > > one guy
> on
> > > and worked him in almost two months! And the clincher is just 
> > > about
> every
> > > new rig today has 6m into it. ! and no one uses the band . oh well 
> > > Que
> > sera
> > > sera.de EllisWA1RKS
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