[NLRS] What's the problem with UHF (& microwave) contesting?

[Paul Husby]

Back in the 80's when I was getting my multi-op station going, things 
were really taking off all over.  We had saved a slot at 222 (just had 
to re-crystal from 220), a new band came in at 902, KK7B developed the 
'no-tune' transverters, and W3HQT made them available to all by starting 
up DEMI.  Things were looking great!

Then we were given the "Limited Multioperator" category, and you could 
field a competitive station with just 4 bands.  At first, that at least 
meant you needed 1296, but nowadays you wouldn't think of substituting 
1296 for 222.  So, forget the hassle and expense of anything for 
902&up.  Multiops can really drive activity in a region, and I know it 
hurts that we don't have one around here these days.  Always finding at 
least one signal calling on a band makes a big difference.  Multiops 
take the lead, and if they aren't on the higher bands, why should the 
little guy?

Then we got the "Limited Rover", and ditto to most of the above. Top it 
off with the "3-Band Station", so you aren't even encouraged to get on 
the fabulous 222 band.  A station with 432 and not 222 is almost 
ridiculous to fire up for the UHF Contest, since practically nobody 
calls CQ on 432 anymore.  And if you built up your multiop with nothing 
above 432, then the UHF Contest isn't going to be a big thrill for you 
either.  So we have encouraged a collection of single-ops, multi-ops and 
rovers that are discouraged from operating a UHF Contest.

The constant theory has been that these new categories increase activity 
by encouraging stations with limited resources.  It was never clear to 
me that we were ever discouraging those stations!  I don't think many 
people seriously get on for the contests to collect the wallpaper or to 
see their call higher up on a list.  Heck, since the complete results 
dropped out of QST, how many people ever actually look to see where they 
ended up?  I think most people get on just to have fun making contacts 
on these rare occasions when activity is guaranteed.

If the changes we make don't result in more contacts on all bands, and 
if they don't promote growing your station, then we are not headed in 
the right direction.  The demise of what was a very fun UHF Contest is 
the most clear proof of that.  The lagging activity in the September VHF 
Contest is further evidence.  Only the June contest is in good health, 
and that thanks to the huge influx of HF contesters who found their new 
radios all reach 6 meters.

One change that seems to be helping is the opening up of spotting and 
internet chat forums.  That is especially valuable on 222 & above, where 
sharp antennas make it so difficult to find contacts randomly.  Yet we 
were barely given a chance to try it out, let alone develop it, in the 
UHF Contest.

Gregg is right, we also need a simpler and less expensive means to reach 
these bands.  The technology is out there, but that is another subject.

73
Paul W0UC