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Sorry for the typo in the first try address!
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Message-ID: <38D1024D.9FE2EFCB@flatoday.infi.net>
From: "Francis J. Merceret" <merceret@flatoday.infi.net>
Reply-To: merceret@flatoday.infi.net
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To: K4OJ <k4oj@tampabay.rr.com>
CC: mgilmer@gnlp.com, cq-contest@contesing.com
Subject: Re: [FCG] We had 1200 entrants and 1199 categories, our apologies to
the guy who lost...
References: <016601bf8f31$14a39ea0$86c95c18@tampabay.rr.com>
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I would like to express a "concurring opinion" regarding the specific
Sweepstakes proposal while storngly disagreeing with the generic comment
about categories.
I don't believe the "Sunday Sprint" category is likely to attract a
significant number of new operators, which is its announced purpose. It
will probably pull some folks OUT of the Saturday effort, and thus be
counter-productive as Jim argues. I agree with that portion of his
argument and that's enough reason to oppose the plan.
I strongly disagree with Jim's argument about categories, however. One
of my main gripes against the ARRL (and reasons I prefer CQ contests) is
the presence in CQ contests and absense in ARRL contests of single band
QRP categories. I have a decent antenna on only one band - 15m. And I
cannot compete with K1TO or K4OJ head to head on any band in the
hi-power category because I simply lack the time, money or permission
from the county zoning authorities to build antennas to compete with
these giants. (My tower is 30 feet. Can't go higher without a zoning
waiver from the County Commission which any single neighbor within 500
feet can veto - cost - $500 to apply for hearing, whether waiver granted
or not).
Jim may not care about the wall paper. I do. If I thought I could
never find a category I had some chance of winning, I would not
seriously contest. I would play a bit, because it is fun -- and it
helps my DXCC totals-- but WINNING IS IMPORTANT. It is the possibility
(not certainty) of winning that makes it worth the physical and mental
(and sometimes emotional, when family issues get involved) challenge to
participate full-bore in a lot of major contests.
I am only an adequate hi-power op because I don't have those superb
"ears" that the great ones do -- but I am a damned fine QRP operator --
I know how to get heard even when I'm weak. I don't consider
approaching half a million points on a single band running 4.5 watts in
the WPX to be a "cheap" win. I'm as proud of my QRP single band wins as
Jim is (and deserves to be) of his Hi-power all band wins.
We can't all own multiple 100+ foot towers with stacked arrays and
alphas for every band. The "tri-bander and wire" category was a stroke
of genius (and fairness) long overdue in contesting. Ditto "Rookie". I
encourage RELEVENT new categories in all contests -- lets attract some
new folks not just as participating spectators, but as serious
contestents. Motor sports has categories for everything from small
motor bikes to Indy cars - and no one "disses" the other's
achievements. Ham radio can learn from that!
Thanks for the opportunity to comment!
73'
Frank
NA4CW
K4OJ wrote:
>
> N2MG nailed it when he wrote the following, re: the new SS category
> proposal...
>
> This would fundamentally change the contest without getting any more people
> to operate the contest.
>
> YES IT WOULD ALTER A TIME PROVEN FORMULAE-REMEMBER THE LAST TIME ARRL TRIED
> TO TOTALLY REMAKE A CONTEST>>>>>yuccccckkkkkkk
>
> I would hope the goal would be to get more people on the air, not just take
> the boredom out of Sunday.
>
> AGREED...BY STALLING WHEN GUYS TURN ON THEIR RIGS TIL SUNDAY WITHOUT
> INCREASING THE OVERALL NUMBER OF ENTRANTS YOU KILL THE THRILL OF THOSE FIRST
> FEW BLISTERING HOURS OF SS!
>
> N2MG, You have my vote - 100%....we do not need MORE
>
> AND
>
> MORE
>
> AND
>
> MORE
>
> Categories...
>
> We do need more participants...and yes it would be nice to see them show up
> on Sunday afternoon when things slow down for all of us...would this
> category get people on who normally would not get on anyway...I don't think
> so....mebbe they might make more QSOs overall, yes...but it is not NEW
> BLOOD, THAT WE REALLY NEED.
>
> This is a sad spin-off of our times where there has to be as many categories
> as entrants in EVERY contest, so we don't upset those with a tribander that
> has a busted tip on the reflector and a hollow state transceiver with a
> noisy rf gain control...kinda like the teachers who cannot give kids bad
> grades, after all they might feel bad about that!
>
> SOME categories are good...but a few years back someone opened the flood
> gates - doesn't anyone besides me compete with himself, and occasionally
> enjoy seeing that by besting themselves they have bested a few others, too?
>
> If we are so obsessed with beating someone else, why do we get on in every
> contest...even a K1TO or N5KO does not win EVERY one?
>
> My wallpaper, with a few exceptions is in a drawer...it is not what
> motivates me...does it really motivate someone to win a category with no
> competition? That seems to be what we have with a plethora of categories...
>
> Lets start by deciding we want to increase the number of different
> participants, then figure a way to get them to turn on their radios on that
> weekend - FOR THE FIRST TIME, once the hook is set, the rest does
> itself...the readership of this reflector knows that in their heart of
> hearts!
>
> Read my lips...No New Categories!
>
> ....hmmmmmmm
>
> 73,
>
> Jim, K4OJ
> k4oj@arrl.net
>
> Dude, its less than two months until the Florida QSO Party, check out the
> details at
>
> http://www.qsl.net/fqp/
>
> Proud member of the Florida Contest Group, visit our website at:
> http://www.qsl.net/fcg
>
> The Florida Contest Group thanks K1ZZ and the ARRL for the opportunity to
> host W1AW/4 in the 2000 IARU HF Championship.
>
> ---
> The Florida Contest Group http://www.qsl.net/fcg/
> FCG Message Board http://db.4w.com:8080/~10
> Hosts to W1AW/4 in IARU/WRTC-2000
> Submissions: fcg@qth.net
> Subscription/removal: fcg-request@qth.net
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