[NLRS] NLRS Discussion - Promotion of Rovermania &
LimitedRoverCategory
Baker, Donn B
Donn.Baker at UNISYS.com
Tue Nov 14 14:29:03 EST 2006
What IS this "spend Donn's money" nonsense, anyway ?
Jim, you started this... and you're in trouble... DEEP trouble !!!
73 Donn
WA2VOI/0
-----Original Message-----
From: nlrs-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:nlrs-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of John (JK) Kalenowsky, K9JK
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 12:52 PM
To: nlrs at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [NLRS] NLRS Discussion - Promotion of Rovermania & LimitedRoverCategory
Hello NLRSers,
While this is "Monday Morning Quarterback" analysis, and WITHOUT benefit of a "Limited Rover" category having been promoted, here's some data about Number of Bands that Rover Entrants have indicated over the last couple of years in the UHF Contests (Hmmm...how does JK have info about 2006? And just HOW MUCH time does JK have on his hands?).
These don't line up with a variable width font but I think the idea is there (and if you have an option in your mail reader to view in a fixed-width font, even better).
ROVER -----------YEAR-----------
Bands 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002
1 1 3 1 3 5
2 2 3 2 5 1
3 10 4 9 4 2
4 4 8 7 3 0
5 2 0 2 0 1
6 4 3 4 1 2
7 5 2 1 5 5
8 4 6 7 4 6
9 2 3 2 2 1
10 0 0 0 2 1
Total 34 32 35 29 24
%<=3B 38% 31% 34% 41% 33%
Best
<=3B 9th 10th 11th 8th 13th
Finish
The two rows below the "Total" row show some further info about what percentage of Rover entrants had 3 Bands or less and the highest place that the Score of a 3-Band or less Rover was ranked.
Since I had this data in Excel and could just as easily extract information about another class, I did the same for Single-Op, Low Power. (And with the same comment about variable versus fixed width font.)
SOLP -----------YEAR-----------
Bands 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002
1 25 21 22 15 18
2 28 21 25 20 27
3 13 14 14 11 9
4 8 11 4 3 11
5 1 4 3 3 5
6 2 2 4 4 5
7 3 3 0 1 2
8 3 3 2 2 2
9 3 1 2 3 0
Total 86 80 76 62 79
%<=3B 77% 70% 80% 74% 68%
Best
<=3B 9th 9th 6th 6th 9th
Finish
I find it interesting that a higher percentage of Single-Op, Low Power entrants enter with three bands or less BUT the finish positions of such stations are generally "higher" in pure "rank" AND, given the higher number of entrants in SOLP, at a significantly higher percentile position than as compared to the Rovers.
So...what is my point?
I agree with the idea to support Rover Mania with this "Limited Rover"
plaque proposal (especially if we are in agreement to spend Donn's money ;-). Since "Rover Mania" HAS BEEN a big boost for NLRS in recognition and HAS encouraged participation and activity among ALL classes in the "Midwest"
area (and a little beyond), this IS certainly "putting NLRS's (Donn's? ;-) money where our mouth is" and I believe it has a good chance of extending that area to more than a little beyond.
However, might there also be benefit in offering similar encouragement to the SOLP stations who are limited in bands...to encourage and honor their continued participation by offering something similar for this very popular entry class (typically 40-50% of all entrants in the UHF Contests)? Just a thought.
73, JK
----- Original Message -----
From: <jcplatt1 at mmm.com>
To: <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 11:24
Subject: [NLRS] NLRS Discussion - Promotion of Rovermania & Limited RoverCategory
Hello NLRS land.
I will try to keep this as note as short as I can. Many of you may
remember how the ARRL UHF contest was on the brink of extinction, but in
part through the efforts of the NLRS (and surrounding clubs), through the
creation of Rovermania, that we have shown positive growth. I am not
going to bore you with data .... the data is there for those whom may
challenge this position so please go look for yourself before you ask any
questions. A big part of this growth, and oh ya, fun, has been because
of the rovers. We all know that roving makes ANY contest more fun as it
breeds activity. This is a subject that I could go on about for hours,
but oh ya, I'm trying to keep this short ! Bottomline is that we need to
encourage roving.
How do we encourage roving? What makes a rover rove ? There are
many reasons .... again, far to many to get into in this short email.
However, one of those reasons is recognition and "winning". However,
can a new rover, a newbie, perhaps one with few bands, really expect to win
? I have reviewed the ARRLs UHF contest data from 2002 to 2005 looking
at the highest rover finish versus the number of bands that a rover may
have. From 20002 to 2005, the highest placed finish for a rover that has
three bands or less is ninth place, yet this same group represented 35% of
ALL rovers. Slightly more than 1/3 of all the rovers that we want/need to
rove have absolutely no chance to win. The result is that its difficult
to entice a newer rover, perhaps one with three bands or less, to rove
knowing that they will get trounced by rovers with many more bands .....
why try ?
Given that as the background, here is my proposal. I would like to see
the NLRS sponsor a first place and a second place plaque for the ARRL UHF
contest (Rovermania) in the Limited Rover category. The Limited Rover
category is OUR design and OUR definition. This award would be given by
the NLRS nationally, not just to a NLRS club member (unless of course they
win !). The generalized rules, to be fully defined with the full
proposal that will follow and based on your inputs & comments, would be:
That you must have submitted a log to the ARRL for the UHF contest.
The 1st and 2nd place winners would be determined by the data in the
ARRLs Scores Database. No extra submission by anyone is required.
The full ARRL UHF contest rules apply.
The Limited Rover shall operate with no more than three bands of their
choosing.
That the winners shall have demonstrated fair Rovermania practices by
not overtly grid circling and not roving in packs. Application of this
rule would be at the discretion of the club's officers (Pres, VP,
Secretary/Treasurer) and who's decision is final.
I anticipate that our annual NLRS club expenditure for this award would be
$75 (estimated cost for two plaques). My motion would include this as
the cost ceiling (ie; ".... not to exceed $75 .... ").
Following our interclub discussion on this, and assuming its a GO, I
would like to then use this NLRS sponsored Limited Rover award as an
opening to approach all VHF clubs nationally. We would use this award
(Limited Rover Award) as a way to continue growth through encouraging the
smaller and potentially newbie rover as well as to energize and mobilize
local clubs.
Comments & discussion welcomed.
73, Jon
W0ZQ
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