CWACs (Contests Within A Contest) could be more popular if there were
better ways of reporting the results. We have some overlays - that's a
step in the right direction. Adding more work for the sponsors is probably
a non-starter at this point, though.
The major logging programs broadcast information about contacts as UDP
packets on the local network. (Some can also send the information to remote
servers in support of real-time scoring...just getting started there.) We
can use that information to create local displays.
One of the W0ECC "partners in crime", Kyle AA0Z, created a really snazzy
"dashboard" for viewing by the other operators not on the air. It's
implemented in Node Red. You can see some examples in this video (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OwMKKwDk_w) starting around 7 minutes into
the program. It's great! We all pile into the kitchen, grab a snack, and
watch the current operators go at it - trash talk, cheering for various
things, and so forth. Suddenly, contesting is a spectator sport :-)
The next step would be for the Node Red dashboard information to be
available on the internet to other viewers. And maybe streaming audio from
the station(s) themselves to accompany the display. And other viewers
might have several dashboards to watch at the same time, kind of like we
now view the real-time scoreboard.
And there's no reason some of the CWAC ideas couldn't be implemented in the
dashboard without changing the host logging software. The dashboard can be
available on a screen in the station, just like the logging software, so
the operator would be making QSOs and logging them - 100% compatible with
the existing contest - but watching the dashboard metrics as well or even
instead. Maybe that's a first-to-something or a work-the-bonus-station or
least-number-of-transmissions-per-station-worked (kind of like baseball's
slugging percentage)...whatever - knock yourselves out.
I think we have the tools available now. Simple matter of programming :-)
73, Ward N0AX
On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 11:07 AM <cq-contest-request@contesting.com> wrote:
> Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:52:12 +0000
> From: Randy Thompson <k5zd@outlook.com>
> To: Mike Fatchett W0MU <w0mu@w0mu.com>
> Cc: "cq-contest@contesting.com" <cq-contest@contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Ham Radio in the Future
> Message-ID:
> <
> IA3P223MB176800D16A16B745C42CE63B9C2AA@IA3P223MB1768.NAMP223.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM
> >
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> The things you are proposing could easily be layered over an existing
> contest. Have at it and let?s see how it works.
>
> Randy K5ZD
>
> > On Aug 13, 2025, at 3:20?AM, Mike Fatchett W0MU <w0mu@w0mu.com> wrote:
> >
> > ?Event...Like the 1st one to work W1AAA gets bonus points......The 1st
> to 50 contacts gets..... the 1st to 50 mults..... bonus for low power.
> Just a few off the top of my head. Team play where the team that does X
> 1st or has the cleanest log gets more points. The options are endless.
> >
> > This will not be a game for the old guard or a contest for the old
> guard. People in general dislike change from the norm, old people are even
> worse. It will take a while and some probably will need to pass on before
> major changes will happen.
> >
> > W0MU
>
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