[PaQSO] Rover vs. Mobile....

[Mark J. Schreiner]

Thanks, Mike for the definition, pretty much what I had thought as well. 

If anyone does the "abandon" method as suggested (commented on, at 
least) by K3YD, please let me know where the used bits can be found and 
I'll make sure to do proper recycling plan for those old antennas.  HI H!

I operate portable QRP about once or more per month and consider fishing 
line used to launch sinkers over tree limbs as well as twine used to 
hoist wire to be "expendable" items.  I used to try to keep it tangle 
free and reuse it but for the price it just isn't worth it in most 
cases.  I never leave those bits behind, though, and take them with me 
to be discarded in proper trash containers later, usually at home. 

I have another question, though, regarding the operation of Rover versus 
Portable versus Mobile.  I understand those definitions as described by 
Mike.  Technically antennas in use for a rover station can be a "mobile" 
antenna and don't have to be a dipole in the trees or something not 
movable with the vehicle.  Nothing in the rules says the same antenna 
(or station configuration) has to be used at each location, either.  
Further, there is no limit, either upper or lower, to the number of 
counties which a rover or mobile station operates.  Presumably a 
portable is only from one county only, otherwise they may be considered 
rover I suppose.  Okay, all that being said, on to a bit more setup and 
then finally the question.  Say I operate from temporary location with 
antennas (say dipoles in the trees) going into the vehicle, and operate 
from inside or near the vehicle (not a cabin or tent or house or 
whatever that would be used for a portable location, although maybe a 
tent could be for either rover or portable).  Now say I operate for most 
of the contest from that one location, but several hours before the end 
of the contest I tear down and start heading home, but still want to 
participate in the contest.  If I'm driving (or having somebody else 
drive while I operate) and making QSOs, I would be a mobile at that 
point.  Would I enter the contest in two different categories with the 
same callsign, such as Portable for the first part and Mobile for the 
second part?  If I only operate when I stop somewhere along my route 
back home and operate but don't take the time to set up antennas but 
just use the mobile antenna, could I technically still be a Rover at 
that point, just continuing my Roving contest now that I'm actually 
heading to a second (and third and fourth, etc. county)?  I don't mean 
this to be some strange hypothetical question like the situation of 
somebody driving around in a small circle with their coax dangling from 
a tree mounted dipole and trying to get away with being mobile, I'm just 
curious the best way to enter this fine event given an "almost portable" 
operation for the first 80% or so of the contest and then operating 
while heading home.  Two separate categories (portable and mobile, 
maybe) or one "stretched" interpretation of rover or maybe "just don't 
bother operating on the way home 'cuz all it does is confuse everyone" 
or what?  I guess everyone would be confused anyway if I switch 
categories from Portable to Mobile half way through the contest, in 
which case it would be best to use a second callsign to do that, however 
as a single operator it may be difficult to do that (unless I use a club 
callsign if authorized to do so, I suppose).  Any ideas on this sort of 
situation?  Have folk out here done this and if so what have they done?

Mark, NK8Q

k3yd at aol.com wrote:
> My understanding is that a MOBILE station is capable of operating 
> while in motion, but for safety sake is usually better operated while 
> parked--unless the operator is NOT the driver. The antenna(s) are 
> mounted on the vehicle and move with it.
>
> A ROVER is a station which temporarily deploys/uses antennas which are 
> not attached to the vehicle (i.e., a dipole in a tree, a beam on a 
> pipe mast). The station can be in the vehicle or set up on a table or 
> whatever. When the ROVER moves to another location, the antenna is 
> typically taken down and then erected at the next location. I suppose 
> you could abandon antennas at each ROVER location, but some might call 
> that littering, and it would become expensive after several counties.
>
> Anybody have a different spin on this?
>
> 73 de k3yd
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: n3zip at hotmail.com
> To: paqso at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Thu, 10 May 2007 3:06 PM
> Subject: [PaQSO] Rover vs. Mobile....
>
>
> Mike, et. al.,
>
> Just wondering if you would be so good as to post the difference(s), 
> whether by rule or matter of opinion, between operating in the Rover 
> vs. Mobile categories? My take is something like this: Operating 
> 'Mobile' is driving and operating from the vehicle, mostly but not 
> entirely while in motion, and picking up counties as you go; whereas 
> operating 'Rover' would be driving to a location, setting up a 
> station, making contacts, breaking down, and going to the next county, 
> etc. Although I realize some rovers (especially serious VHF guys) tend 
> to have most of their station constructed around their vehicle, they 
> still must stop and deploy for maximum effectiveness, while a mobile 
> installation, in my take on it, is designed around operating "on-the-go".
>
> All opinions are welcome, and please bear in mind that I have not sat 
> and compared the rules for each category side-by-side.
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