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| 2013 Russian DX Contest |
Russian DX Contest
This weekend is the Russian DX Contest, and I'm of the opinion, this event is one of two leading the way into the modern era of RadioSport.
First
I recommend participation, first and foremost, because of international goodwill and it's good karma to return a favor especially to those who continue supporting North American international DX events such as the ARRL International DX franchise.
Second
The Russian DX Contest, is approximately 24 hours beginning Saturday morning and ending Sunday morning. This event allows enough time for family related responsibilities, socializing like going to a movie with your wife, or athletic activity like working out for the endorphin buzz before butt in the chair time.
I have taken care of mind and body before interfacing wetware with hardware with software in preparation for the ultimate ham radio experience.
Thrid
There are 11 competitive categories to choose from the menu of CW-only, SSB-only, or mixed mode (combining CW and SSB into one ultimate experience). I recommend at least an hour in the gym if considering mixed mode. Additionally, you can enter two different band categories, for example operate 10m in the morning leaving the afternoon open, then if you are a midnight owl operate 80m before Sunday sunrise -- then submit two different logs doubling your probability of an award.
Spotting Networks And Cluster Zombies
Fourthly, I recognize this as a RadioSport hot button issue and the hot button isn't going away, anytime soon. It's a dart board for darts. However, the modern era is here, and there is 'no' restrictive use of spotting networks for the single operator all band (SOAB) category. You can either click and log or spin and log while competing against single operator's with two radios transmitting plus logging on one wavelength while listening plus logging on another.
SO2V vs. SO2R
Potentially, with minimum station automation, an operator running two variable frequency oscillators (2 VFOs) which is the norm for most modern transceivers, I can call CQ on VFO A; track band map; click on band mapped multiplier using VFO B; log multiplier, then return to VFO A rate frequency?
The art of this strategy is all about timing much like our SO2R equipped competitors.
The difference between SO2V and SO2R has an SO2V locked out from calling CQ on the abandoned frequency. Additionally, when SO2V returns to the rate frequency, the pause should be enough to establish whether the frequency is now occupied or not?
Modern Era
Lastly, RadioSport's modern era is beginning to demand more from status quo distribution of points and multipliers. The debate is probably nothing new to our Radiosport statesmen however 21st Century solar cycles with concurrent sunspot counts may not reflect that of previous 20th Century counts?
Cycle 24 isn't epic, isn't classic, this cycle is making history because of lackluster counts and, if Cycle 25 hypothesis is determined as valid and reliable, then the game must change.
There is discussion about applying gaming theory into RadioSport as a result of sociotechnological pressures.
Evolving Attention Spans
The Russian DX Contest is one of two events applying a modern era point system capable of holding and maintaining my attention span. Remember, if you are in my cohort, we participated in the development of video games spawned by the likes of Atari. The success of games hate them or love them is points.
You were an immortalized teenage king if your initials went into the Top Ten score. The score especially a Top Ten'er was an important accomplishment within the peer group whether it was the Geeks, the Jocks, the Greasers, or the Burnouts.
Points It's All About The Points
The Russian DX Contest point distribution is fairly level for anyone who wants to participate. The 10 point count for logging oblasts is much like a bonus or unlocking a new HALO4 weapon to defeat the bad guys. Additionally, this event doesn't penalize anyone for logging a Q within their own country, however you can't win logging 2 pointers either.
In Sum
Concluding, RadioSport is well into the modern era, and I recommend having fun this weekend because the Russian DX Contest has a 24 hour format, flexible competitive categories, unrestricted use of spotting networks, and a point structure geared for most if not all participants.
Lastly, at least for me, it's all about international goodwill and giving back what was so freely given.
Contest on!
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