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Author Topic: What is this Leader Board Thingy?  (Read 2213 times)

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What is this Leader Board Thingy?
« on: March 10, 2008, 11:35:46 AM »

When I first started working DX towards DXCC (in 2001 after a 20 year hiatus from ham radio), I mis-understood the DXCC rules as far as "counters" are concerned. I though that you get credit for every band and mode slot that you work. I thought I would get a point for say, 80M CW and 80M SSB, plus 40M CW and 40M SSB - for four points. Of course, I was wrong - I saw so many "Duplicate Band Mode Slots" in my ARRL DXCC applications in the beginning.

At first I thought "OK, just DXCC, then I'll quit for another 20 years". But the durn DX bug hit, and next I thought - OK, DX Challenge, but only go to 1500 - since I'm bored in between DX-peds and am tired of putting up and taking down antennas every other week. Honor Roll might be nice, 8BDXCC, etc. [I already know what I will try soon - Honor Roll with 5 watts. Heck there's a new cycle a brewin' - right? Get rid of that !@#$%^ amplifier. Maybe get a K3 or K4 or K5 when I finally get to Honor Roll (#1)???]

But I digress . ..

I am still a little confused about this "Leaderboard" thing - with most of the recent big DX-peditions. I figure, since you only get one point per band, and one point per mode, why try to work all band mode slots?

I think the answer is because it is an incentive that helps a DX-pedition make more Q's - and gets them to their goal and maybe even break a few records - like VP6DX did. And heck, for those guys who have the time and get to sit by their radio more than I do - more power to them - they have fun and help the DX-ped. They even can get their 15 minutes of fame on the "Leaderboard Marquee".

Am I understanding this whole "LeaderBoard" thing correctly?
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AA8LL

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What is this Leader Board Thingy?
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2008, 11:50:49 AM »

I used to worry about being a "QSO Pig" with the DXpeditions.  The Leaderboard says, "Bring it on, we can handle it."  And I believe they can!
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NS5M

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What is this Leader Board Thingy?
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2008, 01:38:35 PM »

I think the Leader Board may be an ego-massager for the ops who just hafta have every band & mode, but it's kinda fun to see who the big guns are. I'm not a competitive DXer, but would guess that those who are really like to see their stats up there, compare them with their friends, etc.

I kinda like the check-box-in-the-band-slot log. By not posting dates & times, it makes the ops get their logs right, which will help in reconciling busted calls. I think of it as a tool for those chasing single-band, 5-band or single mode DXCC. The check-box is also a nice incentive to get it once, get it right, check the log and move on ...

Hope yer havin' fun ...
Jim



 
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What is this Leader Board Thingy?
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2008, 01:49:45 PM »

I do like the Leader Board by the way - its fun to watch the guys who are into it compete with each other. Its kind of like the leaders battling it out for the DXCC Challenge.

I really like the log search for TX5C, and love the picture of the op that comes up with the band mode slot. It really adds a personal touch.

Kudo's to the developer of their check box QSO display -  5B4WN/G0WWW

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NI0C

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What is this Leader Board Thingy?
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2008, 06:01:34 PM »

I like the fact that dupe QSO's count negatively in the "leaderboard" scores.  Although I'm serious about DXCC Challenge, I only work CW these days, and am just not into keeping score by band-mode.  

I do know a couple of local hams who get in the pileups looking for every band-mode, with TWO callsigns each (their main callsign, plus an additional "club" callsign).  I personally think this is over the top, but what the hey-- our local DX club mascot is the "DX Hog."

73,
Chuck  NI0C  
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NU4B

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What is this Leader Board Thingy?
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2008, 07:38:34 PM »

"I used to worry about being a "QSO Pig" with the DXpeditions"

I think there's a difference between working many different bands/modes slots versus making many QSO's on the same band and mode.

As a QRPer (and I'm not complaining, its my choice to operate at this level and I don't expect anyone to look out for me) I noticed that the Peter 1 expedition actively solicited people to call as many times as possible even if they were band/mode dupes. I didn't get to work them. However I don't seen to run into a problem with the leader board idea where people are concentrating on as many band/mode slots as possible.  It may actually help as people are concentrating on many different band/mode slots, somewhere a band gets worked out and the little pistols get a chance.

 In my slightly biased opinion, I not sure what the purpose of making multiple contacts on the same band and mode accomplishes. Of course much depends on the availabilty of updated on line logs and many other factors.

 Working many band/mode slots help with the DXCC challenge award. The leader board concept is a nice challenge for the big guns (and the rest of us) that generates alot of QSO's. The number of QSO's is also important to corporate/club sponsers as they look to fund future DX'peditions. And funded future DXpeditions are important to all of us as the costs to put on one of these shows is enormously expensive and not getting cheaper.

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NS5M

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What is this Leader Board Thingy?
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2008, 10:10:16 AM »

KY6R: "I really like the log search for TX5C, and love the picture of the op that comes up with the band mode slot. It really adds a personal touch."

Yup - I really enjoy that too. I got a kick out of seeing that my 20m QSO with TX5C (also the tuffest so far) was same op as both of my 3B7C's, Arnie NH6C, and will be sure to send him an email about that. Very nice touch.

Jim N5VT
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