[Rover] Fwd: [VHFcontesting] ARRL VHF+ contest proposals: input invited
Michael Urich
[email protected]
Mon, 23 Feb 2004 17:21:52 -0800 (PST)
I'm sure most of you on this list has seen this already but just in case you haven't.
73
Mike
--- Tom Frenaye <[email protected]> wrote:
> Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 14:16:28 -0500
> From: Tom Frenaye <[email protected]>
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] ARRL VHF+ contest proposals: input invited
>
>
> To VHF+ contesters:
>
> For the last year or so the ARRL has been studying ways to increase interest and participation
> in VHF+ contests (and awards). It was a good sign that participation was up in last June's VHF
> QSO Party, and we're looking to encourage more participation, especially those who have
> multi-band transceivers.
>
> Our recommendations had several basic goals. Changes to the contest rules and awards programs
> should:
> 1) encourage more people to work more other people
> 2) encourage QSOs made over longer distances
> 3) encourage more people to join in and participate
>
> Major recommendations
> 1) Changes in the rover rules
> 2) QSO point changes
> 3) June VHF QSO Party 50-1296 only
> 4) New categories in Jan/Jun/Sept
> 5) Expanded Microwave contest based on 10 GHz Cumulative - UHF contest dropped.
>
> These major recommendations, and a number of minor ones, are still just recommendations. We
> felt it would be important to have further input from the VHF+ contest community at this point.
>
> After you've had a chance to read through and think about the proposed changes, we'd like to
> hear from you. Please send any comments to [email protected] - we'd like to have
> your input by March 7th.
>
>
> January VHF SS and June/September VHF QSO Parties
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> 1) Change Rover Rules
>
> After considerable discussion about the impact of the present rover rules and comments from both
> rovers and non-rovers, we have recommended reverting to the rover scoring rules originally
> established in 1991. The text of the original rule is "The final score consists of the total
> number of QSO points from all bands times the total number of multipliers from all grid squares
> in which they operated." This change would encourage rovers to go to rarer and more distant
> grids instead of staying closer to metropolitan areas.
>
> Because rover scores can be so large under the original rover scoring rules, they can distort
> the club competition scores. To solve this major problem with the original rules, we propose
> that rover station scores should not be counted towards club competition scores. Rovers would
> continue to contribute substantially to increasing the scores of club members by providing
> numerous QSO points and activating new grids.
>
> Finally, we believe it is time to be more definitive and state unequivocally that grid circling
> and captive roving are highly undesirable practices and that no rover station should engage in
> them. We recognize that due to the great disparities in population and geography, hard and fast
> analytical tests for these activities may not be possible but both these practices are well
> understood.
>
> Grid circling has been observed quite clearly under both the original and present rover rules
> two or more rovers congregate at the intersection of four grid squares and then circle each
> other around that corner making short distance QSOs with each other. Operating practices that
> look like grid circling are easy to detect and will result in review of the log by the contest
> managers.
>
> The term "captive rover" refers to stations whose primary activity is to increase the score of
> one fixed station either single operator or multi-operator, and who never, or seldom, work
> anyone else in the contest. These may or may not be people who are part of the same team or
> group. Again, this is easy to detect during the log checking process and will attract the
> attention of the contest manager.
>
> 2) QSO Point changes
>
> The current rules provide for increasing QSO points as contacts are made on higher bands plus
> additional multipliers on each band for each new grid. We propose to change the values for QSO
> points for all three contests. Regardless of band you would receive two points for QSOs with
> your own grid and any adjacent grid, and three points for each QSO beyond that. QSOs with rover
> stations would count one QSO point each, regardless of distance.
>
> This change would reward those who can make more distant QSOs, and it would make a volume of
> short range microwave QSOs somewhat less critical to the final score although microwave grid
> multipliers would still be crucial to an all band entry. It would also tend to make QSOs with
> casual participants and newcomers more appealing than constantly running from band to band.
>
> 3) June VHF QSO Party 50-1296 MHz only
>
> It seemed to us that at least one of the "big three" VHF+ contests ought to emphasize the VHF
> bands. We thus recommend that the June VHF QSO Party be limited to 50-1296 MHz only. June is
> often the time for sporadic E openings on 6 meters - as was the case in 2003. We would
> discontinue the Limited Multi category in the June VHF QSO Party only.
>
> 4) New categories in Jan/Jun/Sept
>
> Getting started in VHF+ contesting can be a bit daunting, and we wanted to find ways to attract
> the many people who have purchased multi-band transceivers that include VHF bands like the
> IC-706 and others.
>
> We recommend the establishment of a new Limited Single Operator category designed with the
> newcomer in mind - 50-144-432 MHz only, with low power operation only. For those who are "real
> estate challenged" because of antenna restrictions or topography, we also recommend a new 6-hour
> QRP Hilltopper category. This latter category should also be appealing to QRPers with radios
> like the FT817, one of the more rapidly growing segments in Amateur Radio.
>
> 5) Other recommended changes (Jan/Jun/Sept)
>
> a) Simplify the limit for low power operation to 150w for 50-144-222-432 MHz.
> b) Allow DX-to-DX contacts for QSO point and multiplier credit, but the DX station must
> make at least one QSO
> with W/VE on each band for which QSOs are submitted.
> c) Eliminate the rules that allow Multi-Operator stations to work their own operators on
> 2.3G and up.
> d) Offer plaques for the January and September contests, in addition to June. Work to find
> individual, club or corporate
> sponsors. Otherwise offer plaques to national and regional leaders at cost.
> e) Make sure the rules indicate certificates are awarded for low power entries in January,
> and for top DX entries.
> f) Resume promoting suggested times and frequencies for "activity hours" on each band.
>
>
> New Microwave contest based on 10 GHz Cumulative - UHF contest dropped
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> We recommend expanding the format of the successful 10G and Up microwave contest and expand it
> to cover from 2.3 GHz and up. The August UHF Contest would be discontinued after 2004. It
> never reached a critical mass of support and entries.
>
> 1) Add one more weekend in April or May to the existing two-weekend cumulative contest.
> 2) Include 2.3G, 3.4G and 5.7G bands.
> 3) Have four basic categories - 2.4/3.4/5.7G, 10G only, 10G and up, and all band (2.4G and
> up). Each major category would
> include portable and home-based categories.
> 4) Perhaps call them the X-band contests to increase interest.
>
>
> EME Contest
> -----------------
>
> 1) The Contest department should work to establish the dates for the EME contest weekends
> as early as possible,
> and include them with the contest calendar as the yearly summary is released.
> 2) Change the multiplier to include US states and Canadian provinces instead of call areas.
> The report remains the signal report.
> 3) Drop the requirement that stations operating outside of their traditional call area sign
> with a portable designation.
>
>
> Changes Already Implemented
> -------------------------------------
>
> 1) Allow digital QSOs in the EME contest. Implemented for 2003 contest.
> 2) Work to establish an Internet template for entry of small and medium sized logs.
> Implemented in January 2004.
> 3) Add a club competition to the June VHF QSO Party. Implemented for 2003 contest.
> 4) Work to find good authors and to encourage more regional reporting of VHF+ contest
> results. This had been in place for more
> than a year now. Staff is working hard to identify authors and would welcome
> volunteers, particularly experienced contesters
> 5) Encourage Logbook of The World development to be supportive of VHF+ awards, like the
> VUCC. Implemented in September 2003.
> 6) Encourage more activity by developing a high-quality grid square map of the United
> States. A very nice laminated, color grid
> square map covering North America was released in June 2003.
>
>
> Awards
> ----------
>
> 1) Change the entry-level steps for VHF+ awards so more people will be able to get started
> in the VUCC, WAS and DXCC
> using VHF+ frequencies. Consider changing the steps for different level awards to
> a smaller increment.
> 2) Establish a VUCC challenge-type award, similar to the one used by DXCC.
> 3) Create a new award or awards to appeal to entry-level or rover/portable operation, such
> as a grids activated or miles per
> watt award. Consider GCR certification rather than card checking.
> 4) For VUCC awards on 50 through 1296 MHz and Satellite, all contacts must be made from a
> location or locations within the
> same grid locator or locations in different grid locators no more than 200
> kilometers apart [the approximate distance between
> the corners of a grid square]. (Currently they have to be made from the same grid
> square or from distances no more than
> 50 miles apart.)
>
>
> How we got here
> ---------------------
>
> The number of logs submitted to ARRL VHF+ contests has generally been decreasing for several
> years and the perception is that activity is not increasing in spite of the advent of commercial
> HF/VHF/UHF radios. After a number of discussions, ARRL Board members voted (January 2002) to
> have the Membership Services Committee review the existing VHF, UHF, and Microwave contest and
> awards programs and make recommendations on ways to increase interest and participation. The
> MSC established a subcommittee of K1KI N0AX W5ZN and N7NG.
>
> The early work included a survey in September 2002. The survey, intended as a way to gather
> ideas, not to measure exact opinion on issues, was a great success. Some 250 people provide
> valuable input. Initially, the subcommittee produced recommended changes for the VHF+ awards.
> That progress report was given at the January 2003 meeting of the MSC.
>
> At this point, to increase the expertise relating to the VHF+ contests it was recommended that
> the MSC-VHF subcommittee be expanded to include several knowledgeable VHF+ contesters. The
> subcommittee was expanded (K1JX K2UA W3ZZ AA7A KM0T and N1ND were added) and started work in
> April. Over the past several months the original discussions were reviewed and new ideas culled
> from discussions with friends, from the major VHF+ reflectors and from participating in on the
> air contest activity lead to modifications and new recommendations. The recommendations
> detailed above are the result of this process.
>
> Again, we'd like to hear from you about the proposed changes. Please send any comments to
> [email protected] - we'd like to have your input by March 7th.
>
> -- Tom Frenaye/K1KI
>
> MSC VHF-UHF Contest and Awards Subcommittee
>
> Tom Frenaye, K1KI, chairman
> Clarke Green, K1JX
> Joel Harrison, W5ZN
> Rus Healy, K2UA* (Atlantic Division Contest Advisory Committee member)
> Mike King, KM0T
> Wayne Mills, N7NG (Membership Services Department manager)
> Ward Silver, N0AX (Northwest Division CAC member)
> Ned Stearn, AA7A (Southwest Division CAC member)
> Gene Zimmerman, W3ZZ (also QST VHF column editor)
> Dan Henderson, N1ND (Contest Department manager)
> * unable to participate for the last few months
>
> =====
> e-mail: [email protected] ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/
> Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444
>
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=====
Mike Urich, KA5CVH
Amateur radio ~ IS ~ a contact sport!
http://www.ka5cvh.com
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