An epic game is about to begin with slates wiped clean going into the New Year. I'm looking forward to the League's Diamond DXCC Challenge as one who likes a good challenge. The rules are straightforward based on the honor system reducing red tape and increasing one's ham radio fun factor.
The timing is perfect, according to DX World, one can anticipate coordinated efforts between two major DXpeditions scheduled for signal launching in January into February of next year.
Good morning, I'm in shackadelic enjoying my second cup of DxCoffee out of my Dashtoons' mug thinking about RadioSport reflector buzz. Our ARRL Contest Advisory Committee is considering a point structure change to a measurement of distance one's signal travels.
Is this about a level playing field? Is this about an improved measurement of station performance from high power to vapor power? Is this about a revolutionary, innovative change to RadioSport point structuring and Newington is leading the way?
Today's Point Structure
I'm positive my argument about the East Coast geographic advantage into EU and Africa cuts both ways. West Coast stations enjoy their signal advantage into the South Pacific, Asia, and Oceania as well. One can suggest continental advantage with an imbalance of multipliers to geographic region when considering the distance one's signal needs to travel.
The current point structure is fun, competitive, and satisfactory however can RadioSport leadership innovate a new, revolutionary point structure?
Tomorrow's Point Structure
One highly competitive sport has taken on the challenge of innovative, revolutionary change. I'm more than positive there are detractors shouting foul with an investment in maintaining the status quo of the sport. However, there are those with enough vision to see the future and that future is today's youth. This sport is executing its vision, right now.
I support re-structuring RadioSport's current point structure to one that measures the distance a signal travels in relationship to output power. Potentially, an innovative change like this has greater appeal especially for those at entry level operating at low power to vapor power in congested urban areas to the antenna restricted suburbs.
The goal is the future and the future is today's youth.
Innovative Change
I've always wondered why RadioSport has not adopted a grid square multiplier system much like the Stew Perry Distance Challenge? The effect is granular, detailed, and creates greater multiplier opportunities also imagine the visual effect for a visual generation.
I encourage Newington to lead the way and re-structure its point system. I'd add that it is a long term investment in the future, certainly, the payoff isn't the next quarter of RadioSport activity. Instead, it takes patience, perseverance, and fortitude that re-structuring is a good decision for the long term competitive health of RadioSport.
An epic game is about to begin and the game is a challenge for all of hamdom. The goal is work 100 with 5 additional levels for those who dare extreme achievement albeit high power, low power, or vapor power into rain gutters, wires, verticals, or heavy metal in the sky.
The game starts on the zero hour of 1 January 2012 and it is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).
Diamond DXCC Challenge
The ARRL Diamond DXCC Challenge is unrestricted, mixed mode, mixed band with the exception of 60m, no power categories, and one's achievement is based on the honor system.
The fee schedule:
US amateurs must be a member of the ARRL.
Diamond DXCC certificate is $12 including shipping within the US.
Diamond DXCC certificate is $13 including shipping outside the US.
Endorsement stickers are $1 including shipping within the US.
Endorsement stickers are $2 including shipping outside the US.
DRR Challenge
I'd like to challenge individuals and clubs world wide to consider and commit to financially sponsoring operators who are 21 years or younger. Additionally, it is an excellent opportunity for non-profits to include individuals to encourage, support, and mentor the future of DXing and RadioSport.
One may consider publishing their Diamond Challenge team efforts to include biographies, station configurations, or leader boards. My premise is capture imagination, ingenuity, and creativity then demonstrate the message through channels of Internet communication.
Adjudication is complete and my 2011 CQ WPX CW log is official. One's log check report is an excellent tool that augments RadioSport skill development. It's diagnostics reveal weaknesses while creating a set of self improvement targets when participating in the next event.
I have target areas to improve upon specifically the difference between an 'S' and 'H', a 'B' and 'D', lastly an 'M' and 'O'.
Seven callsigns were incorrectly copied resulting in a 14 Q penalty against my total score. Personally, it is a big deal for my pride and my apologies to other operators who consequently lost points as well.
Three stations were removed from my log because of incorrect exchange information subsequently; points are subtracted from my overall score.
Three stations were not-in-log resulting in an additional penalty of one removed Q for a total of six contacts removed.
Errors quickly add up and mine point toward listening in addition ensuring the contact is in the log. I lost 17,214 points because of my mistakes. It could be the difference between inside the Box or outside of the Box with consequences for the other operator as well.
I recommend studying one's official results, formulate target objectives for self improvement, and execute those objectives during the next RadioSport event. Lastly, maintain a record of the log check report for comparison against next year's event as a measurement to determine one's progress.
