By John Lindholm, W1XX, CTRI Contest Group Contest Manager
For the past two years CTRI has sponsored the Ocean State 2-Meter FM Simplex Challenge. It has provided an opportunity especially for stations 2-meter FM bound to get a taste of contesting. As in EC in RI EmComm, I see this is a potential plus for furthering the skills of RI’s ARES operators. If it has accomplished this, I would have to judge only modestly so. In last year’s Challenge, were it not for W1WBB (w/KW2G), KA1BNO, and myself (as KA1RI) operating rover stations, activity would have been relatively sparse. An EnComm shout-out by K1NPT in Newport also did much to activate East Bay. This is a CTRI sponsored event. Do we want to continue? Is it worth continuing?
Before I get too negative, I want to throw out an idea in the positive direction for consideration. But before I do that, I want to caution that all ideas are not good ones. I have seen a tendency for the club in the past to embrace any wild concept thrown out there….maybe not to hurt someone’s feelings. So before you say “Yeah, let’s do it,” please ask yourself will you participate and also realize that some work needs to be done in advance to give it a chance to be successful.
So here goes. CTRI is not just an “Ocean State” club. Although it has tentacles that reach out to Vermont, Arizona, western Connecticut and God knows where else, it is primarily a Rhode Island and eastern Connecticut based club. So why not expand the contest to include Windham and New London Counties in Connecticut and rename the activity the CTRI 2-Meter FM Simplex Challenge? There are 21 city/towns in New London County and 15 in Windham County. This would almost double the number of multipliers. Besides a commitment of substantial activity from our CT brethren in the club, we would need to get some positive signs from other sources in CT such as the SEC and SM. Mobile (rover) activity is essential for success not only in CT but also in RI.
I welcome your thoughtful comments on the reflector. Please be sure this does not in any way divide us as CT vs. RI. Please observe my admonition regarding “good ideas.” This could be discussed at our next meeting. 73!!!
