[PaQSO] Rover vs. Mobile....

[Michael Coslo]

On May 10, 2007, at 3:39 PM, Jon wrote:

> An excellent question!
>
> I did notice in the rules that being a Rover stipulated that you  
> were to use a portable antenna...
> It's just my opinion that the antenna should have to be set up,  
> broken down, and taken with you from place to place.

	While someone could make a case for operation of a truly mobile rig  
as a rover, it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense, and the mobile  
would be competing with some "Home class" signals from the real rover  
stations.

	The intention of a rover station is that the station uses an antenna  
that is put up and taken down at each stop. The rover station is not  
a moving station. It is in one place during operation.

Looking at a breakdown of the "location" parts of the party, we have:

Home station - this means a station that operates from a fixed, and  
permanent location. It doesn't have to be an actual living quarters.

Portable - This is where the station is of the temporary sort.  
Typical is a campground or cabin. The antenna is usually similar to a  
home station. That is to say, Dipoles, beams, trees and whatever  
support can be used - can be used.

Rovers can be very similar to Portable stations, but the antenna  
setup is geared more toward rapid setup and tear-down. Does someone  
want to put a beam on a portable tower with their rover station? If  
it can be set up and torn down and then moved to another location,  
sure! That is pretty inefficient though, because while the station  
using such an antenna will put out a big signal, they won't be able  
to do it in very many locations. Which is to say that they won't be  
getting those nice 500 point bonuses per location.

Mobile stations are capable of operation while driving legally. IOW,  
driving down the road with a normal screwdriver antenna is legal.  
Trailering a  tower with a steppir on it is not.

> I don't think an antenna fixed to a vehicle should qualify as a  
> portable antenna.

	Generally not. But we don't dictate the actual antennas in use.  
Using a mobile antenna for rover operation would be a real  
disadvantage, so while it makes for interesting discussion, W  
probably won't see too many people doing that.


> Also I noted in the rules that a Mobile:  "Must truly be mobile"   
> Does that mean you have to be moving? or does that mean that your  
> station is wholly contructed around your vehicle?


	The mobile entrant must have a station that is capable of operating  
mobile. It does not have to be moving, but must be capable of moving  
on state roads in a manner that doesn't violate any vehicle laws.

	A fellow a few years back asked if that meant that he could hook up  
a dipole and run the lead to his car, and drive around in circles  
under it and therefore qualify as a mobile.

	The answer is yes - but only if you can drive down the road like  
that legally.  which is to say that the trees that your dipole is in  
have to go down the road with you..... 8^)


-73 de Mike KB3EIA -