Survey Results #3 – Multi-Single

The Multi-Operator Single-Transmitter category covers a wide span of interests.  At the lower levels, it is a few friends enjoying radio together for the weekend.  At the top levels, it combines all of the strategy, competitive drive, and expense of Formula 1 car racing! With such a broad range, we wanted to understand how the participants feel about the current rules.

Q.  Have you ever operated in the Multi-Operator Single-Transmitter category in the WPX Contest?

Answer	Count	Percent
Yes	1275	32.8%
No	2614	67.2%

It was bit suprising to see such a large difference.  This could be a result of only sending surveys to the email address of the log submitter and not to each operator in the team.

Q.  Should the rules for the Multi-Operator Single-Transmitter category be changed?

For this question, we looked only at those who answered Yes to operating in the multi-single category.

	Count	Percent
10-minute rule with multiplier station (no change)	496	38.9%
10-minute rule	151	11.8%
Band changes per hour	433	34.0%
Don’t care	132	10.3%
Other	63	4.9%

An interesting result!  One that shows a lot of momentum in keeping the current rules, but also shows there is interest in a simpler alternative.

Comments

• The rule should be only one transmitter. Not transmitted signal. Enforcement is tricky but that is true on a lot of things.
• Having a multiplier station available to operate makes it much more interesting for the team as a whole. Going to a pure single Tx model would be a backward step.
• Only one transmitter connected and operational at any time — additional transmitters allowed on the premises but must be disconnected from power and/or antenna.
• The operation per hour brings more security against cheats, with outcomes that can be more real.
• Dump the second xmtr – ‘single transmitter’ should be single transmitter. Then you can dispense with any band-change rules.
• I lean toward keeping rules as simple as possible.
• 10 band changes/hr = 6minute rule
• This can be confusing in the heat of the moment
• I range between “10-minute-rule w/ mult station” and “10-minute-rule”. Reason: if “w/mult station” then the M/S category needs a setup like a M/2-station, and real Multi-OP-Single-TRANSMITTER (only one trx at all) are handicaped. I’d prefer a clear possibility for single TRANSMITTERS and then the M/2-Class. But on the other hand, the M/S-Class as is right now is very interesting also, and it would be pity to lose this class. This is a difficult decision and I hope you will find a good solution.
• 10-minute rule with multiplier station is the best improvement since previous rules change. Very good thing for strategy and active band scanning for second operator.
• Band changes / hour provide much flexible operation.
• When we say Multi-Operator Single-Transmitter, you mean many persons & 1 TR. By saying multiplier station you give the right to every body to have 5 stations looking all together for multiplier. When you say Single-Transmitter, I mean ONLY 1 TR and not 2nd-3rd-4th-5th stations for multipliers.
• Abolir regla de los 10 minutos, libertad de cambios en bandas para la multiplica-dora
• Time to get rid of the 10 min rule period! SINGLE TRANMITTER is just what it says.
• MultiSingle with Mult station is a 2 TX Multi
• This is all to complicated to keep up with so would never try to operate this category
• I love the logistic for all our operators to fullfill this rule 
• Why limit band changes at all??? I never understood the reasons for this rule.
• SINGLE TRANSMITER means just that — NOT TWO RADIOS. If the entrant wants to use two radios great— just put them in a different category.
• I can live with any of them, though band changes per hour is probably easier to keep track of than the current rule.
• My wish: After M/2 was introduced, M/S should be changed to *one* radio only. Small stations with only one operating position can´t compete in the M/S category right now. Stations with two operating positions should change to M/2, which is more fun anyway…

As you can see, there are very strong opinions on all sides!

The WPX Committee is carefully considering a change to the Multi-Single category rules for 2010. We believe that the addition of the Multi-Two category several years ago has created an imbalance.  There are essentially three multi-transmitter categories! There is currently no place for a station with only one radio to compete.  Almost any top level Multi-Single station can easily step up to the Multi-Two category. This gives us the opportunity to make an adjustment in the rules to create more opportunity for more stations.

The choice is:

1. Keep the multi-single rules as they are.  [A run station and a multiplier station each on its own 10-minute timer.]

2. Change the multi-single rule to allow 8 or 10 band changes per hour. [Only one transmitter which could change bands xx times during each hour. This would also match the rules for the WPX RTTY Contest.]

Please add your comments below or write to me (k5zd@cqwpx.com) before November 1. I want to hear your opinion!  Rule changes for 2010 will be announced before the end of November 2009.