I wouldn't disagree with Jeff about the "Iron Man" aspect of DX contesting.
Staying in the chair is a big reason the top scorers end up where they are.
However, I would have more incentive to stay in the chair if there was
something to do during the times when we don't have any propagation.
For a lot of us, the DX contest consists of several short openings with a
lot of dead air in between. From 0800Z to local sunrise there isn't much
of anything to do from here, other than listening to the guys in the
Carribean. Same thing during the day after Europe closes down for us,
around 1800Z. "Iron Man" means rates of 12 an hour and tuning around
looking for a new LU or PY call on 10 meters. This isn't much fun, and all
you're really doing is burning yourself out whiloe waiting for a better
opening later. As a point of reference I operate from W0ZT's station with
stacked Yagi's and phased verticals on the low bands. Hardware really
doesn't matter. When the bands are dead, they're dead.
A 36 hour rule would be very attractive to me. It would add an element of
strategy to the contest and allow me to avoid periods of time during the day
when we don't have DX propagation. Oh, and I freely admit to having plenty
of grey in my beard :-)
73 Steve K0SR
----- Original Message -----
From: <K1ZM@aol.com>
To: <CQ-contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2004 10:26 AM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Response to K5ZD's Comments
> Hi Gang
>
> There has been some discussion here about possibly reducing the time in 48
> hour Dx contests for single operators from 48 hours to something else. A
number
> of variants have been suggested - 24 hour running time, 36 hour entry
> classes, etc.
>
> I would suggest we NOT change the current rules because one of the most
> challenging aspects about these contests as the presently exist is one's
ability to
> HANG IN THERE and gut it out for as close to 48 hours as one can manage.
>
> The TIME IN THE CHAIR element in a DX contest is its one IRON-MAN element
and
> without it, would have a totally different and somewhat diminished contest
in
> my opinion.
>
> Sure, I am now 57 and finding even 46 hours in the chair tough to manage
> these days, but I would not like to see that element removed from the
contests
> just so I do not have to work so hard to stay awake and compete.
>
> It makes it a challenge to try to go the distance and those who can hang
in
> there and gut it out for all 48 hours deserve to win if their talents
otherwise
> and their stations enable them to garner a winning score.
>
> I would vote to LEAVE THIS ONE ALONE.
>
> Thanks for the opportunity to voice an opinion - and CU in the contests.
>
> 73 JEFF
>
> K1ZM/VY2ZM
>
> K1ZM@aol.com
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