It's probably worth pointing out that computer gaming in almost any form
(PC, console, mobile) FAR outweighs ham radio in popularity (and
financial support) across all age groups, but particularly among the
younger folks we hams keep saying are critical to the future of our
hobby. I happen to enjoy and indulge in both ... ham radio for the
"radio" of it and online gaming for the fun and convenience of it ...
but "radio" doesn't have the appeal to young people for whom it mostly
represents really old (and really expensive) technology.
I've said for years that for radiosport to appeal to youngsters that it
needs to adopt some of the aspects of computer gaming. Easier access to
a competitive station. More real time competition ... preferably
one-to-one and certainly not having to wait weeks or months to find out
how you did. Ideally some sort of graphic display representing the
"battle". More sophisticated scoring than simply how many contacts you
can make, such as points earned both offensively and defensively, or for
multiple objectives (besides just points and multipliers). More ways to
win that don't depend upon how long you're able to sit in a chair. More
direct real time social interaction among participants in a multiplayer
environment.
Most contesters turn their noses up at any similar suggestions, which is
why we get repeated laments that the hobby doesn't attract enough new
blood. I'm not saying that the new distributed M/M category does
everything right, but at least it seems to have generated some
enthusiasm among folks who wouldn't have otherwise been as engaged.
When is the last time anyone can remember that happening?
I'm not the cleverest person here by far, and I have as difficult a time
as anyone else coming up with actual ideas for how to accomplish any of
the things I mentioned above. But for example, imagine a radio contest
with every participant connected to the internet (I think I just heard
EI5DI gasp all the way here in Arizona) just like the zillions of real
time score submitters, assisted participants, and propagation trackers
already do. Imagine a logger interface that displayed a (zoomable)
colorful map of the world populated with dots representing EVERYONE
online at the time, and maybe with the ability to see the callsign of
those you hadn't yet worked by mousing over their dot. Imagine earning
more points by working a particular station earlier in the contest (both
run and S&P come into play here). Imagine getting a better multiplier
for a station worked further away instead of for which country they were
in. Imagine real time reporting of scores, and actually real time
confirmation of scores since everyone would be reporting online in real
time. The strategies required to win would be far different than simply
how many people you were able to work. You'd actually be "on the hunt"
all of the time instead of blankly transmitting into the ether.
Selection would be more important than quantity.
As I said, I'm not the most creative person when it comes to this sort
of thing and this wasn't intended to be as much a proposal as it was an
illustration, but I'm convinced that there are people out there who are
a lot smarter than I am and who could turn an alternative radiosport
environment into reality. I guarantee that the technical capability to
do all of it and more exists right now. It wouldn't have to replace
existing contests, either.
Unfortunately, I think the inertia in the hobby is such that it's
unlikely ever to happen.
73,
Dave AB7E
On 4/2/2021 8:50 AM, Yuri wrote:
Exactly. That's probably where the main difference lies.
We, "old farts" (per Mike, VA3MW), are still looking at HAM Radio as
at AMATEUR RADIO, where radio is the main word. We still have fun
building some of the equipment, antennas, we like experiment with
them, etc.
The "other guys" are looking at it as at some kind kind of computer
game, sometimes having no idea what RF or even antenna is. Somebody
else (a business venture) is offering emulation of HAM Radio for them.
Different angle views.
Yuri VE3DZ
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