[ILQSO] portable operations

[Mark&Sherry]

As previously discussed over the years, we've been operating under the 100yd
rule, again with safety utmost.  And no rivers used as a county line.

Today's wx would have been preferable too!

73
Mark 
KF9TL

Subject: RE: [ILQSO] portable operations

There are various issues involved in defining "portable" and "county
line" and "close enough".  I doubt that we will ever resolve all of them
to the satisfaction of all interested parties.

I think the reigning ILQP ruling has been "as close as possible, keeping
safety uppermost in mind.  No, we don't want anyone parking on bridges.
We don't want anyone draping antennas onto the property of one of the
land-owners if that person objects.  I'm not sure we want people sitting
in a boat in the middle of the barge channel in the Illinois River,
either....

Is there a problem with allowing a county line operation that sets up on
one side of Macoupin Creek and tosses a dipole across the creek into the
next county?  Probably not.

Having said that, neither do we (okay, "I"...this is just me...) want to
dilute the concept of multiple counties to the point that half a mile,
or a mile, is "close enough".  At least, I don't think so.  Some groups
have a VERY closely-defined description of a "county line": if you are
mobile, you have to have a portion of the vehicle in each county.
Period.  Some of those same groups do not recognize more than two
counties per contact.  I think we can land somewhere in between and
still have fun.  Do we define "close enough" as a certain number of
feet? I don't think so.  This is a hobby; at some point, we have to rely
on the honor system and the intent of the rules as they are written.  

In the county corner operations I've done, in each case a portion of the
antenna system was located in each of the 3 (or 4) counties.  My own
opinion is that that's about as good as one can do and claim more than
two counties for the operation.  Others may have a better way.

That's my 2.2 cents for the day (adjusted for inflation)....

73, Jim N9JF

-----Original Message-----
From: ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:ilqso-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Hank Greeb
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2006 1:39 PM
To: Illinois QSO Party
Subject: Re: [ILQSO] portable operations


Jim:

As you say, many folks go out for the fun of portable/mobile operation, 
not to win.  That's what I did, but I also went out for the fun of a 
four corner operation!  From looking at the previous scores, I figured 
there was no way I'd win against the folks who go multi-op and get 300K+

score.  But, the thought of getting 250 "real" contacts, and 1000 "log 
contacts" intrigued me.  Plus, when N9FN reported a conflict, I decided 
to drive an additional 90 miles or so to be sure I'd have no trouble 
with permission to operate!

Might the "wet lines" issue might be covered by expanding the existing 
rule of "closest practical site next to the actual corner" for a two, 
three, or four county operation?  I was told, informally, that 200' is a

"generally acceptable distance" from a county line  by many county 
hunters, though the ILQP rules seemed to be quite flexible on the 
subject.  I set up my antenna with one wire at approximately 175' from 
the road, and the other at an angle closer to the road. 

Now, if the river is 500' wide, and the nearest usable land is 100 feet 
from the riverbank, then couldn't actual location be 300' from the 
riverbank and still be considered the "closest practical site next to 
the actual corner.?"  Not knowing the history of the "west county line" 
prohibition, I surmise that it is/was to prohibit folks from being a 
traffic impediment while parking at the exact middle of a bridge 
spanning the river/county line.  This prohibition could be delineated in

the rules as well.  And, a "maritime mobile" might be a lot of fun for 
the boating enthusiast!

73 de n8xx Hg

James Funk wrote:

><snip>
>We're still thinking about the "wet lines" issue....
><snip>
>
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