I am amazed that hams can go out and buy one of the new $10K rigs, put up
several towers, and then not spend money for something like CQ Magazine.
As far as Dx stations, I heard a UA4 with a Yaesu FT 9000...many use FT
1000's et al. It true some cannot afford a magazine such as CQ but I find
those are like the RW9 who sends in a log for the CQ 160 on paper who always
comments no PC where he is.
Its your choice to not subscribe to CQ but at least buy a copy of the
Magazine that has the results in it.
Remember CQ Communications is a for profit firm and 40 plus direct employees
depend on it for a living. It just does not make good business sense to
give away the scores on a web page at the same time the results are printed.
Several have asked CQ for a members only web page
where you can get results similar to QST. For now the WW and WPX results
are up on a web page with
a delay. I am looking for a web page to put the CQ 160 results but since
the results are property of CQ Communications I have to ask permission.
Perhaps CQ could print a results only listing like was done by Frank W1WY
before 1970. This might be sent to clubs worldwide and they could
distribute them in a limited way.
The cots of running a contest has grown dramatically in the past 10 years.
Postage for certificates and plaques have gone up 250% and lost mail has
increased 120%. With contestants demanding Low Power and QRP awards the
number of awards has doubled. As K1PX pointed out it takes time to print
all the certificates. The volunteers have jobs and families to worry about
and the time they do commit is volunteer time. They do not commit to full
time.
I don't see an army of new volunteers lining up either.
CQ provides the format, rules, and space for the results. CQ either pays
for the certificate mailings or reimburses the expenses. Plaques are done
by sponsorship (even at ARRL) so the money must pay for the plaque and
shipping. Who pays if its lost...the volunteer does. I am hold three
plaques from 2001 and 2002 as I do not feel that sending them by mail will
get there. If ones to CT3 and KH6 get lost what about one to UA9 or JA.
All of the CQ sponsored contests are growing (comments to the otherwise).
The CQ 160 CW is now larger than the ARRL CW SS (logs received). Activity
for the CQ WW covers the entire phone portion of 28Mhz when the band is open
(from 28.3 to well above 29 Mhz). In the 2004 CQ WW SSB Dx stations ranged
from 3675 to well above 3800. Bob Cox and crew do one helva a job just
getting the logs and scoring them in the time alotted.
If CQ did not sponsor their contests who would?
Please consider this...
73 Dave K4JRB
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