[NLRS] New rover definition implemented

[Jon Platt]

You may have noticed that the ARRL Contest Update for January 5, 2022 announced a change to the definition of the VHF rover operating category starting with the 2022 January VHF contest.  Specifically, rule VCAT5.1.1 for rovers now states:

A Rover is a station that moves beyond the limits of a fixed location during the course of a contest. Rover stations may be worked from each four-character grid locator in which they operate.

The previous rover rule indicated that a rover must move to two or more grids during the contest in order to be classified as a rover.  Under this previous definition there had been some confusion as to how to log a station that has moved outside of a 500-meter diameter circle that defines what a fixed station is, is not portable, and has not moved to two or more grids.  Such a station could not legally submit a contest log.  Often, these types of stations are causal VHF operators who may be playing radio and handing out some contacts while mobile, walking, bicycling, etc.   With this rule change, as long as such stations comply with all the other rover rule requirements, stations may now log them as a rover and they themselves may legally submit a rover log.
73, JonW0ZQ

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