[PaQSO] Progress !!!

[Ron Notarius W3WN]

Well gentlemen, I'm sorry, but I strongly disagree with your position.

One of the hallmarks of the Pa QSO Party is that it's fun.  And I find
chasing the bonus station(s) part of that fun.

A bonus station activating multiple counties is more challenging, but again,
not only is that part of the contest, but it's enjoyable to see how many
times and modes you can catch them on.

I would further strongly disagree with the notion that "last year's bonus
station let the cat out of the bag."  No -- N3SH did not.  The W3UU Bonus
Station out of Harrisburg a few years back gets full credit for the
multi-county bonus station idea, we just picked up the ball and ran with it.

Remember that since they're not supposed to be eligible for the awards
(although I know of one former Bonus Station that proudly displays their
winning county certificate in their shack), they're allowed to bend some of
the rules.  So I don't see the point of the "ruling" that Herb asks for.

And since he mentions Field Day:  In contrast, I would point you to the IARU
Championship, where some of the "bonus" stations -- the IARU Headquarters
Stations -- routinely operate from multiple locations on different bands
and/or modes.  So there is ample precedent.

Not all clubs are as fortunate as K3YTL, W3KWH, W3PIE, K3MJW, K3HKK, and
many others to have a permanent shack and/or location.  And many of us in
the urban and suburban areas don't have access to the real estate to erect,
even for a weekend, the multitude of antennas for a true multi-multi
operation.  Of those who do, well, some aren't exactly enthusiastic about
this contest; I know of one big gun mult-multi contest station that backed
out of being the bonus station a few years back, almost at the last minute.
I don't recall what the "official" reason was, although I've heard that
station owner put down Pa QSO as pretty much beneath him in the past... (one
of the reasons I now avoid him as much as possible at Dayton).  So if you
manage to persuade the Nittany ARC Board to restrict the manner in which the
bonus station can operate, don't be at all surprised if you see much less
activity from, and interest in activating, the bonus station -- almost to
the point where you're back to the one year where the bonus station was
virtually unheard by most throughout the contest.

Remember:  Part of the agreement that a club now makes with the Nittany ARC
to host the Bonus Station is that they are to do their best to put forth a
big effort and maximize the number or opportunities that the participants in
the contest can contact the BS for additional points.  Now what's a better
way to accomplish that, try and put one station on from one location with
all bands and modes (and at this point in the sunspot cycle, limited
effectiveness above 20 meters), or put multiple stations on the air from
multiple counties to take full advantage of whatever the propagation gurus
give us?

Restricting the bonus station severely will destroy the effectiveness of
having one, which might eliminate it all together.  Or is that the idea
here?

This reminds me all to well of a mobile operation in the Breezeshooter's
Groundwave contest several years back.  This station was DQ'd immediately
after the contest -- because the two operators operated mobile and activated
multiple multipliers (the geographic squares centered on the Point).  Why?
Because of the way the rules were written, because it never occurred over
the years to update the rules for the possibility of true mobile operation,
it was actually pointless for a "mobile" to operate mobile!  Is THAT what we
want to do to the bonus station?

Sorry.  I have respect for many of the people who are griping about the
bonus station (like you Grump), as I have respect for many who were upset
about the addition of the digital modes last year (like W3HDH).  But IMHO
you're mistaken.

Keep the bonus station flexible, and keep it fun.

73, ron w3wn