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SM0JHF

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A contest reminder
« on: October 21, 2022, 11:02:34 AM »

A Contest Reminder

The last weekend of October 2022 can mark the start of The Great Reset, Not the brainchild of the ambitious ruler from Davos, though. I hope the time has come to revise the paradigm of global Amateur Radio contesting. Many so-called ”world-wide” competitions implement obsolete definitions of geographical locations for scoring purposes. The 40-zone concept was accidental and served a purpose 60 years ago, coined by a publisher of a ham-radio magazine. This publisher has been balancing on the verge of bankruptcy for decades now, failing to deliver subscribed magazines, violating copyright laws and changing owners. Yet, they claim to be ”The Authority on Amateur Radio”. Well, they ain’t (unless they are owned by BlackRock or Vanguard). The true global authority on Amateur Radio is The International Amateur Radio Union. The IARU is our voice in the International Telecommunication Union. In order to avoid chaos and anarchy in the radio and satellite spectrum, ALL have to comply with the ITU rules - we too. The only and official world zones that we should implement in contests, awards and in general, are the ITU Zones. There are 75 zones covering land areas - islands and continents, with an additional dozen or so, zones covering the oceans.

The second definition in global use, but truly outdated, is ”the countries list”. This listing, which started almost a century ago, is both political and controversial. The United Nations has some 190 member states, but the ”countries list” shows some 340 of them, and still counting. The definition of ”a country”, or ”entity” is as easy to understand as the Tax Code. Why some places, never inhabited by humans, are ”countries”? Why the largest Greek island is, while the largest Italian island is not? Why a self-declared republic within Serbia is ”an entity”, while a self-declared republic in Eastern Ukraine is not? I could show dozens of other questionable ”entities”. Add the confusion identifying a ”country” by a call sign - some countries issue the same prefix to stations located in very distant locations, for instance the TO prefix can be, in among others, Mayotte, Martinique or Guyana.
Using Maidenhead Locator System instead of ”countries” is politically neutral, gives approximate location of each station, enables instant calculation of antenna heading, distance between the station and so on. This system has been in use in VHF contest for decades, and in recent years the automated digital modes on HF have this information embedded.

The Ham Spirit Contest

A small group of experienced contesters from Siberia have announced a novel global contest with easy to understand rules, fair scoring and equal opportunity approach. Please read the rules first  https://www.hamspiritcontest.com/
Just a few words highlighting the good points, in my opinion, of the contest rules,
Midwest (USA) stations get 3 points for contacts with California and New England, for example. Stations in Siberia (UA9-UA0) can make plenty of 3-point contacts as the Asiatic Russia has a dozen, or so, ITU Zones. Even without DX propagation everyone can find ”something to do”.
The rare-multiplier pile-ups will not be as massive as in other world-wide events. You have to copy the contest exchange first in order to know what multiplier it is. No need to guess the country status whether it is a legally licensed station in Northern Cyprus or a Kon-Tiki raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Contesting is Art

Not everyone can become a contest operator, one has to have talent. A small percentage of all active licensed operators get ever involved in contesting. Of the thousands participating only a part can be considered artists. Virtuosos who enter a trance state, totally absorbed in the space of sounds coming from the radios, withstanding the physical and mental fatigue and stress. I come to think about a few such persons, that I have had contact with - Alexander, 4L5A - Jose, CT1BOH or Fabian, DJ5CW. You can’t learn to be a super-contester if you don’t have the gift for it. But every active radio amateur should try contesting, at least a few times in the lifetime. It is an excellent opportunity to improve one’s operating skills. Hams can build and maintain radio stations, but also should be proficient in using them for reliable communication. The most expensive and advanced piece of equipment is useless when you can’t handle it.


Contest Maniacs

People get addicted to most anything, radio contesting not excluded. I have met folks unable to talk about anything else, neglecting their health and family. Amateur Radio is a superb hobby, but should remain only a hobby, a spice in life. No spice should dominate a dish if it is to be tasty and healthy. Some dudes, as it is usually guys who fall in this trap, think that contesting is the meaning of life, a road to paradise and eternal happiness. The contest points will not accumulate on your pension fund account, the diplomas and trophies will most likely end up in the garbage bin since your inheritors won’t be able to turn them into cash. The benefit is only in doing it, like so many other things in life. Sportsmen and performers usually get a financial reward for their efforts in competitions - contesters do not, instead they spend huge funds on participation. It is one of the aspects baffling ”normal” people who consider us all weirdos.



Run Low Power - Save the Planet

This Ham Spirit Contest is probably a good chance for those running low power. Hundred watts of RF power and average directional antenna is enough to make almost any contact. There won’t be huge pile-ups of hundreds of kilowatts ERP to cut through. Presumably a side effect of simultaneous pumping of megawatts ERP in the ongoing global event on the opposite mode can stimulate the ionosphere to the advantage of an average station. I do not believe in saving the planet by running low power, but I believe in saving the wallet when the electricity bills, at least in Europe, are skyrocketing now.

The Times Are Changing

One hundred years ago Amateur Radio was a fascination that spread all over the world. A QSL card was invented since the postal service was reliable, although slow, while radio was still a mystery. Today the postal service is an expensive mystery, while wireless phenomenon is basically under control. Very few radio amateurs bother with printed cards, yet some active operators will insist on exchanging them. It is as outdated as sending telegrams by post.  Some private world zones and odd country lists should also pass to the realm of history of Amateur Radio. I know well that many active radio amateurs will, until their death, say 20 meters instead of 14 MHz (which is approximately 21 meters, not 20), believe that there are 40 world zones and that there are 340 countries. They might use 21st century technology, but passing certain mental barriers is unmanageable.

The bottom line

All things considered - the humane 24-hour format of this contest, transparent rules and a chance to take part in a historical event from the very start - it is absolutely worth giving it a try. The success depends on the participants, rational and modern. A contest for freethinking believers in the Ham Spirit.

Henryk Kotowski, SM0JHF
21 October 2022


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KC0W

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Re: A contest reminder
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2022, 03:47:11 PM »

 Welcome to a world where everything must be fair and equal for everyone.

 Those who have the fortitude to construct a large station must be penalized because they are not "equal" to guys using a $10 dipole up 15 feet. Running QRO? We CAN'T have that because you are not "equal" to the guy running 100 Watts. Can't have 48 hour contests because it will be unfair to those who can't stay awake past 7 PM. We also must level the playing field for people operating from DX locations. After all, it's an unfair advantage for the guy operating from Montserrat if he's the only person contesting from there.

 Perhaps we should limit CW contests to 20 WPM because some people actually took the time to become good QRQ operators. After all, it's unfair to the slowpokes when another operator can operate at 50+ WPM.....................So keep on dumbing things down so that everyone can be equal in everything. This will turn out just fine.


                                                                         Tom KH0/KC0W       

             
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W3WN

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Re: A contest reminder
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2022, 04:57:05 PM »

Henryk,

May I use this as an article in my club newsletter?
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KH6AQ

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Re: A contest reminder
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2022, 07:55:49 PM »

The Ham Spirit Contest rules are standard contest rules with just a variation in the exchange. The latest version of N1MM has this contest.

Single Operator Category:
a) SOAB - High Power: Total Output Power must not exceed operator’s license limits
b) SOAB - Low Power: Total Output Power must not exceed 100 Watts
c) SO Single Band: Low and High power - single nomination. Competitors may operate on all bands, but only on one of them can apply.

One person (the operator) performs all operating and logging functions.
The entrants may use QSO finding assistance technology or other source that provides call sign or multiplier identification such as CW decoder, DX cluster, DX spotting Web sites, e.g.
There is no limit on band changes.
Single operator stations are only allowed one transmitted signal at any given time.

Multi Operator, Single Transmitter, High Power
Only one transmitting signal is allowed at any given time.
Exception: One, and only one, other transmitted signal may be used if it is on a different band from the run transmitter and the station worked is a new multiplier.
There is no limit on band changes.

Alternate CQs on two or more frequencies using the same band is prohibited.
Output power (PEP) is limited by the terms of the owner's license.

All operators must comply with the rules governing the operation of amateur radio stations in their country.


Contest Exchange:

Exchange number consists of a signal report RS(T), number of their ITU zone and QTH locator square Field.
Examples: 599 27JN, 599 28JN, 599 42MM, 599 42MN, 599 32NO, 599 32OO. The ITU zone and
Squares Fields should not have separation to put them into log.

Scoring:

The QSO with station in your own ITU zone, regardless of the square, count one (1) point.
The QSO within your continent but with a different ITU zone count three (3) points.
The QSO with a different continent and ITU zone count five (5) points.
The QSOs with /MM stations count three (3) points regardless of where they are.

Multipliers:

The multipliers on each band are various combinations of ITU zones and Squares Fields. Examples: 27JN, 28JN, 42MN, 42MM, 32NO, 32OO are six different multipliers.

Final score:

The final score is a result of Total QSO Points multiplied by the total sum of worked multipliers.


CW Ham Spirit Contest:
Start: October 29, 2022 at 06:00 UTC.
End: October 30, 2022 at 05:59 UTC.
Bands: 160m, 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m.

SSB Ham Spirit Contest:
Start: November 26, 2022 at 06:00 UTC.
End: November 27, 2022 at 05:59 UTC.
Bands: 160m, 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m.
« Last Edit: October 21, 2022, 08:06:30 PM by KH6AQ »
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N4OGW

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Re: A contest reminder
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2022, 07:09:09 AM »

"Midwest (USA) stations get 3 points for contacts with California and New England, for example. "

Only if they are lucky. Many midwest USA stations are in zone 8 and will only get 1 point for New England. While a station arbitrarily a little west in zone 7 will get 3 points. VE3 is zone 4 while NY next door is zone 8, etc.

If you are going to the trouble of using squares for mults, why not use them to determine qso points instead of the arbitrary ITU zone/continent boundaries?
 

Tor N4OGW
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AF5CC

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Re: A contest reminder
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2022, 08:38:05 AM »

"The 40-zone concept was accidental and served a purpose 60 years ago, coined by a publisher of a ham-radio magazine."

What makes ITU zones any better than CQ zones.  As N4OGW pointed out, they are also completely arbitrary.  Illinois is split between 2 zones.

Still, I like the idea of competition with the CQWW on their weekends since I don't agree with their idea of banning certain countries from entering their contests.  That is not in the ham spirit.

73 John AF5CC
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KH6AQ

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Re: A contest reminder
« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2022, 09:36:07 AM »

CQ contest policy as of August 31, 2022:

The updated policy follows, which supersedes that published in the September issue of CQ. – The editors

 1) Effective with the upcoming CQ WW RTTY DX contest on September 24-25, 2022, and all CQ contests going forward, we will resume accepting Russian/Belorussian log entries as regular logs, publish their scores and credit QSOs/points/multipliers in all related logs.

 2) However, plaques will not be awarded to otherwise-eligible Russian/Belorussian stations. In the event that one of these stations has the top score in a given category, the plaque will be awarded to the top-scoring non-Russian/Belorussian entry in that category.

 3) Online certificates will not be awarded to any Russian/Belorussian entry, either as a participant award or based on ranking.

 4) CQ will identify partners with which to initiate a humanitarian program to support the people of Ukraine. This effort will occur either in collaboration with current activities or be entirely new. Details of this program will be announced as they develop.

 5) Specifics of this policy are subject to future review as developments may warrant.

 


https://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com/2022/08/updated-cq-contest-policy-relating-to.html
« Last Edit: October 25, 2022, 09:41:04 AM by KH6AQ »
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N1UR

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Re: A contest reminder
« Reply #7 on: October 26, 2022, 01:46:47 PM »

And in amazingly nice "ham spirit" the decision by the organizers is to have the 2 modes on the exact weekends of the biggest contest of the year.  Sounds like "in your face" not "ham spirit".

This sounds like politicians who claim to be for "unification" but they are actually for "better see it my way or we will label you an extremist".

At least there won't be any trouble finding a run frequency in this "contest".

Ed  N1UR
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KD6VXI

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Re: A contest reminder
« Reply #8 on: October 27, 2022, 12:56:13 PM »

And in amazingly nice "ham spirit" the decision by the organizers is to have the 2 modes on the exact weekends of the biggest contest of the year.  Sounds like "in your face" not "ham spirit".

This sounds like politicians who claim to be for "unification" but they are actually for "better see it my way or we will label you an extremist".

At least there won't be any trouble finding a run frequency in this "contest".

Ed  N1UR

This is going to create a mess for logging, unless both contests follow the same log format.


--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI
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KH6AQ

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Re: A contest reminder
« Reply #9 on: October 27, 2022, 02:43:49 PM »

The two contests use opposite modes during the same contest weekend plus the Ham Spirit contest is offset by six hours; the CW Ham Spirit contest takes place during the CQ WW DX SSB contest weekend and the SSB Ham Spirit contest takes place during the CQ WW CW contest weekend.

Ham Spirit
CW:  October 29 - 30, 2022
SSB: November 26 - 27, 2022

Starts: 0600 UTC Saturday
Ends:   0559 UTC Sunday

CQ WW DX
SSB: October 29 - 30, 2022
CW:  November 26 - 27, 2022

Starts: 0000 UTC Saturday
Ends:   2359 UTC Sunday
« Last Edit: October 27, 2022, 02:49:41 PM by KH6AQ »
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SM0JHF

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Re: A contest reminder
« Reply #10 on: October 28, 2022, 11:45:12 AM »

It is a free market and the Contest Calendar https://www.contestcalendar.com/ shows well over one hundred contesting events in October 2022 alone. God gave us free will and man, or woman, and the other 64 official genders, can choose what they want to do. No obligation to participate in any particular contest, no obligation to participate in any contest at all. The huge number of Amateur Radio contests shows that the ham radio community is affluent and have plenty of leisure time.
I have never said that any contest is fair and equal. In my opinion the Ham Spirit Contest seems to offer fair scoring based on ITU Zones and equal opportunity for all participants, probably better than many other world-wide competitions.
I don’t share the blind faith in 40 Zones and the Countries List. ITU Zones are official, established by an international body that is trying to regulate the global telecommunications to avoid a mess. The ITU decides also which frequencies Amateur Radio Service is allowed to use, so it is natural to accept the ITU Zones as binding, not some random map drawn by a small, private publishing company that is mainly interested in selling advertising space in their publications.
The Countries List, used as multipliers in a number of international contests, is obsolete and political. The rapidly increasing ham population in China will never accept Taiwan and Hong Kong as ”countries”. Many countries do not recognize Kosovo as a country. The Chagos Archipelago - listed as ”country” - belongs to Mauritius, but is occupied by military forces of another country and the inhabitants were deported by force. Northern Cyprus, populated by ethnic Turks and protected by Turkish forces, is not a ”country”. The Vatican is significant to the Roman Catholics, who are today a global minority. China has established a number of military bases on artificial islands in the South China Sea - will they count as ”countries”?
Obviously it is both neutral and logical to use the Maidenhead Locator System to determine the geographical position of a radio station instead of some biased list with vague criteria. It is a global hobby and specifying the status of territories creates tensions. Luckily, Amateur Radio is still a marginal recreation and we won’t start armed conflicts because of our rules. To keep this hobby sustainable, we must stick to the roots - self-education, learning, communication, friendship, no political nor religious agitation. This goes for many special-event stations as well.
I have nothing against all kinds of Achievement Diplomas - it is a free market and we have free will, we can still spend our time and money how we want. On the air we can chase entities, islands, mountains or celebrities.
I am picky about what and whom I give my support to, and I know I am not alone in this respect.
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N1UR

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Re: A contest reminder
« Reply #11 on: October 28, 2022, 01:31:25 PM »

In before the lock
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