There seems to be two themes here. One is SS is dying and we need to
make changes, and the other is "I love it the way it is, the new guys
should get on board". Perhaps I've oversimplified, but maybe the rules
can be tweaked to meet both themes. I suggest that the rules include
recommended slow speed CW band segments where it is encouraged for the
calling stations to match the sending station's speed. Second is to
add a local club competition category to encourage participation with
"every little bit helps". This just might get some of the newcomers to
give it a try without messing with the status quo. --73, Mike, WV2ZOW
On Mon, Mar 19, 2018 at 1:42 PM, Joe <nss@mwt.net> wrote:
> As someone that SS was his first contest ever done. Way back in 1975.
>
> I can not believe all the crabbing about this. Wow, they complain about it
> being slow on Sunday. I do not ever remember hearing anyone complain about
> it being slow 20/30 years ago. Whats changed?
>
> All the fancy computer logging, and spotting systems. They Make it sooo much
> easier to work everyone. Maybe that's it? Because it is soo easy now, maybe
> everyone is found quickly and worked leaving only the non contesters left to
> work on Sunday?
>
> How about average number of QSO's made? today vs 20/30 years ago? Maybe the
> Sunday dolldrums is simply we have worked everyone quickly in the first half
> of the contest! All that is left is the non contesters.
>
> A quick look at the results from 1995 till now, the overall number of Q's
> made is pretty steady not varying a whole lot. And thill withinn a few
> hundred of the total Q's.
>
> I wish there was a way to see year by year what QSO Rates were for the whole
> contest. Maybe it was pretty even rates 20/30 years ago, through the whole
> contest, so Sunday did not seem so bad. But Niow ones ability to get them
> all in the first 12 to 16 hours leaves nothing to wirk on Sunday? a
> Thought?
>
> To help being in New people to the CW weekend,,,,,
>
> How about a overlay class? We have say "SOLP" How about "SOLPS" :-)
>
> Single Op Low Power SLOW. Where just like a QRP rule where you can not run
> at any time more than 5 watts. But in this overlay, you can not at any time
> run your code speed say at 10 WPM or or more. Good for the beginners!
>
> Joe WB9SBD
> Sig
> The Original Rolling Ball Clock
> Idle Tyme
> Idle-Tyme.com
> http://www.idle-tyme.com
> On 3/19/2018 10:02 AM, W0MU Mike Fatchett wrote:
>>
>> I don't receive the NCJ so I have not read the article. What I gather is
>> that most people feel that the SSB part of the contest is ok but the CW part
>> is not. If most people feel that SSB fine the way it is, are people
>> suggesting we make sweeping changes to fix the CW portion and then possibly
>> breaking both?
>>
>> The exchange is long. It makes the contest different. This is good. As
>> stated by many we have plenty of rate contests where copying is not part of
>> the contest.
>>
>> I have heard of lots of ideas but none of them really address the issue
>> which is getting more people involved on the CW side. Their are plenty of
>> people trying CW or are proficient enough at slower speeds. Most of the
>> ideas allow more contacts from the same participants on other bands or by
>> using other callsigns. The reason the radio/callsign rules were put in
>> place as I understand it, that when the club competitions were fierce, I
>> don't thing they are as much any more, people would use other calls and only
>> work their club members. I get that. Good for them, but not good for the
>> overall health of the contest. I am sure people still do it, tough to
>> catch. SO2R changed much of contesting, tough to put it back in the black
>> box.
>>
>> Is the CW solution a simple as slowing down and encouraging new or less
>> competent cw ops to want to call you or is the goal to run at 45wpm and work
>> nobody and listen to endless CQ's? Will slowing down even help? Maybe the
>> ARRL needs to print some articles on encouraging people to try SS CW and
>> explaining it better?
>>
>> The last couple hours of SS can be pretty fun. Many people get on just
>> for that period.
>>
>> Who are we fixing the contest for? The top 50 or 100 that are the real
>> competitors or are we making it fun and better for all?
>>
>> What we could be doing is breaking down the classes and putting the SO2
>> elite ops in one category and then trying to figure out how to put the rest
>> in appropriate categories so we can do a better job at acknowledging them
>> and creating competition with similar stations and skills.
>>
>> NAQP is great for 12 hours. How would it be for 24 hours. I would
>> suggest that it would get pretty slow on CW. You can always milk SSB
>> contacts on open bands. Maybe the NAQP folks should give a 24 hour contest
>> a try and see how it goes. NAQP has been around a long time now if it was
>> be so great, why has it never been tried?
>>
>> Changing for the sake of change is not a good idea. Is the contest
>> really broke? I don't think so. Could it be improved? Maybe. Could we make
>> it worse? easily! Making large changes would change what the contest is. I
>> don't think that is a good idea.
>>
>>
>> W0MU
>>
>>
>>
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