[KCDXC] CW Pile Up test

[M.Crabtree]

Based on my total Dayton experience, 20+ years of working in the suite in many roles including giving the Pile Up Test, by myself,  the last two years, I am certain that there are many DXers who come by our suite each year to take a shot at our test just for fun. They are generally older guys who have been doing this for 25+years. It is just part of the "Dayton experience" for many of them. Most of these  guys and gals are not really competitive and will score in the 25-30 range and have never won a prize for their score. 

Yet, the  group I speak of will be approximately 35-40% of the average total of takers each year. I know this because I gave the test the last two years. I am certain this group will want to use a pencil or pen and paper. They may have computer experience with logging programs, but they would choose a pencil every time over the computer for accuracy. Most don't type fast and still feel a little uncomfortable with a computer.

As I expressed in the meeting the other night, I think this group of older DXers(50+) who learned to copy code with a pencil will opt out not to take the Pile Up test, if it is "all computer". 

This will hurt the KCDXC . Numbers will decline .They will quietly stop coming to the suite and go on to another DX club's Hospitality Suite that better fits their needs.

Don't forget this group defined above is often the same guys who go on DXpeditions because they can afford to do it. They may not be the upper flight of CW ops anymore, but they are not that bad and they often are the ones who will give us all new countries and often have the connections necessary to get into some of the rare spots.

Let's not forget we are a DX club.


Just my 2 cents,
AB0X