[Lowfer] 2018 ARRL grid operating event

[John Langridge]

Good morning:

Some of you may have seen the announcement yesterday that the ARRL is
sponsoring a year-long operating event in 2018 based on four-character grid
squares similar to the  NPOTA event a few years ago.  The idea is to get
people on the air and communicating.  While I have been very critical of
the ARRL in the past, I can get behind an opportunity like this one.

The press release left mixed messages as it indicated all bands except
60-meters were permitting but digging a bit deeper the rules said something
completely different, excluding "600-meters" and not even mentioning 137
kHz.

I've had a few emails with Bart Jahnke at the ARRL today and it seems the
exclusion was based on his assumption that LoTW had not integrated 137 or
472 kHz which I have since clarified with him.  LoTW is alive and well on
both bands.

Bart indicated that the ARRL would re-evaluate the situation since we have
6-weeks before the beginning of the event but it might be helpful if both
communities wrote respectful emails to Bart at Contests at arrl.org and give
them some encouragement.

Since one of our goals is two-way communications on a variety of modes, an
event like this one would go a long way to exposing new, prospective
operators to what we do and incentivize activity.

Thanks for your consideration.  I will be including a transcript of my
email thread with Bart in my 472kHz daily summary later today.

73,

John KB5NJD..