[PaQSO] Discussion item

[Jimk8mr at aol.com]

I know one shouldn't argue with the one who makes the rules and runs the  
contest, but the rules as published for 2005 did not seem to allow a multi-multi  
to enter as a rover, or at least did not allow M/Ms to be eligible for awards 
as  a rover. Says so under "Mobile & Rover Divisions"  -   "only single 
transmitter entries eligible for awards".
 
However, it makes a lot more sense to let a portable operate multi-multi  
than to call them a "Rover" when they never rove. Make the change you  propose.
 
 
 
If you are examining rules in the Rover area, I'd urge you to allow rovers  
to make qsos while mobile between stops.  
 
I operated as both a rover and mobile in the 2003 and 2004 parties.   Rover 
is a great class... it only takes a small fixed antenna ( a 40 meter  dipole up 
20 feet at the center) to be loud enough to run lots of guys on  SSB.  This 
is usually not possible as a mobile.  With such a setup I  passed out a lot of 
qsos from places like ARM, BED, INN, FOR, JUN, SNY.  A  lot more than I could 
have done with a seven foot mobile whip.
 
But presently a rover can't do anything while driving between stops.   Very 
boring, and it doesn't contribute much to the contest.  Yes, in  '03 and '04 I 
actually did make qsos as a mobile between stops, but my efforts  got divided 
up between two scores.
 
You may want to include something to prevent a last minute conversion  from 
mobile to rover, such as a maximum of 22 counties (an average of one per  hour) 
as a rover.  Or you could just keep the rules simple and trust  people not to 
abuse that possible loophole.
 
Thanks for your consideration,
 
 
Jim   K8MR
 
Team (W3)USA  2005
K8MR/M & W3DAN/R  2004
K8MR/M & K8MR/R  2003