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The second definition in global use, but truly outdated, is ”the countries list”.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