[PaQSO] Rovers vs. Mobiles

[Jimk8mr at aol.com]

Excuse the non-timely response, as I just ran across this while cleaning  
out my incoming mail folder.
 
 
 
There is a way a rover with mobile operation can game the system, but it's  
not as described below. It is a battlefield conversion of a mobile station 
who  after operating most of the contest as a real mobile, realizes he is 
losing and  "stops" to operate as a rover. He may actually set up a fixed 
antenna, though it  would not be verifiable if he in fact did not.
 
If this is a concern, one way around this would be to place a limit on the  
number of counties a rover could operate from, for credit. I'd suggest 22, 
i.e.  one county per hour of the contest. Since most counties can be crossed 
in 30  minutes, that would imply an average stop of 30 minutes in each 
county, which is  certainly enough to distinguish from a bona fide mobile. 
(Don't DQ a rover who  might operate from more places, just don't count the extra 
counties). 
 
If the weather cooperates, a rover operation does not take that much  
effort. I have developed a very effective and quickly deployed rover antenna - a  
33 foot wire fed against the car body, supported by a push up fiberglass 
mast  (DK9SQ or similar) held up by a tripod base. I can put it up by myself, 
or take  it down, in about five minutes. It's 2-3 S-units better than a 
mobile  antenna on 40, and with a loading coil (which adds a couple of minutes 
to  setting up) 3-4 S-units better on 80. That is a huge difference.
 
What a good rover operation does contribute to the contest is workable  
stations on SSB from rare counties. While a 40 meter mobile antenna produces  
enough of a signal to work guys on CW, band conditions permitting, such an  
antenna just does not cut it on SSB. Sure, a mobile guy might tune around  
calling the loud fixed stations, but he will never attract enough attention to 
 work those SSB guys who themselves are mostly tuning around calling guys.
 
A rover operation with one operator and a non-ham/non-operating driver is a 
 much better proposition that a similarly staffed mobile. The frequent 
stops  allows the driver breaks from driving, a more desirable situation than  
expecting somebody to spend 12 hours behind the wheel, especially at  night.
 
73  -  Jim  K8MR     
 
 
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 9/28/2015 1:29:11 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
mcoslo at comcast.net writes:

Thanks  for all the input, folks. I try to not influence things one way or 
the other,  but want to have some input on this important Rover and Mobile 
issue.  

When I look at modifying classes, I need to try to see all of the  
unintended consequences that can happen.

It’s why we went to the  mobile-multi and mobile single. The singles, just 
about universally operate  stopped, so they do not cover as many counties as 
those who have a driver. So  while I’m not always worried about the “
playing field”, there was just a huge  disparity between the two modes of 
operation.

But what I have to do is  take an idea, and then think of all the ways I 
can fail the idea. Some times  it seems like pessimism, but in reality, it’s 
just trying to be certain I  don’t gum up the works.

There’s a dilemma with trying to have rovers  operate as mobiles between 
stations. It’s no secret that there aren’t all that  many people who operate 
rover. It’s a class that takes a lot of  effort.

But I’ve looked long and hard at the idea of allowing rovers to  operate as 
mobiles between stationary locations, and it has one big problem -  it can 
be gamed, and gamed heavily. 

I could have my first location set  up as a rover, stationary antenna and 
all, say in Chester County. I could make  contacts from there, and then start 
moving to my next stationary location. In  Erie County. And I hit Erie 
County on Sunday afternoon. And I have operated in  20 counties in between on 
Saturday and Sunday. Operating perfectly within the  rules.

And there lies the problem with blurring the distinction between  the 
Rovers and mobiles. The two classes become almost indistinguishable. The  station 
gaming the system ends up with an immense advantage over the station  that 
operates with mostly fixed antennas - which after all, is the reason why  
there is a rover class. Better signal, although at the expense of mobility.  
Likely more QSO’s, with less bonus points. That’s the concept.

Anyhow,  I do thank everyone for their suggestions, and encourage more  
suggestions.  As usual I can’t implement all of them, because not all  
suggestions are compatible with each other, and I have to take everyone into  
consideration.  But I do listen, and if something can work, we might just  use it.

-73 de Mike N3LI -

> On Sep 28, 2015, at 10:08 AM,  n2cu at roadrunner.com wrote:
> 
> Traditionally, a rover sets up at  a location, operates, and then tears 
down the setup for the move to the next  county. Technically, there is no 
tear down if you operate during the move. I'm  not trying to diminish the fun 
factor for any rovers, but what about the  single-op rover who can't operate 
while moving to the next location? he now  has a diminished chance of 
winning the category because he has no driver.  Keeping the rover rules the way it 
is levels the field. Just  sayin'.