[WSWSS] Initial comments on the proposed Contest Rules from a rover.

[Rodney J Johnson]

Dave,
   I pretty well agree with you on most of your points.
   I don't know about if there is a "captive rover" problem down there,
but I don't think there is in our area.  Most of the rovers in our area
are ready willing and able to work everyone who calls them. 
    There may occasionally be a pack of rovers that don't have adequate
equipment to support much of anything but very localized communication. 
This makes it very frustrating to hear of the multiple contacts being
made between the pack, but knowing that they cannot hear you when you are
within 'normal' communications range.   I don't consider it a 'problem'
however; because it also means that they are missing out on many possible
QSO points as a result of the limited equipment capabilities.
   My biggest complaint is with the recent ruling on submitting scores
based upon some specific diameter of circle drawn on a map. 
   I like to drive, and I have been roving since 1978 or 79.   In those
days, I'm not sure there was even a Rover category.  I think we sent in
results as portable stations, with separate logs for each location, but
I've covered as many as 19 grid squares in one event, and I know several
others ( Randy Simons and Tim Marek are two) have done more.   With the
current rules, I can exceed the maximum operating radius in just a few
hours, and for the effort, I must sort my log and then submit separate
logs which contain only those contacts which are not too far from the
center of my operating area.  
     A few years ago ( I think 12 to 14) , there was a scoring system
which made rovers count points and multipliers in each separate grid
independently,  and then add the grids together. There might have been an
additional multiplier fro each grid activated, but I'm not sure about
that at that at this time.  Even though I disliked that method,  it
allowed a rover to count points from any grid activated. Two measly
contact in a rare grid didn't do much for the score, in relationship to
the effort expended, but at least they did get counted.  that system did,
however, reduce the total number of multipliers, and therefore reduced
the total points count submitted, and I think it reduced the total number
of rovers on the event also.  
  The point is: (And you alluded to this)-why should Rovers not get
credit for contacts made from grids that are far flung from major urban
areas, and who is going to put those grids on the air if Rovers don't?  
It is a MAJOR plus for fixed stations and other rovers alike.  One rover
in a rare grid adds a lot of interest, and a lot of points to any fixed
station score, if the contact is made.  I've been in situations where
there were no contacts to be made on any band, from a particular grid-and
that is really frustrating, but I chalk that up mostly to a problem with
my rover station.  
   I'm not willing to spend the time and effort to upgrade my rover
station, if we are not going to be granted some incentive for making the
effort.
   I'm not particularly worried about whether each contact is one point
or two.  We are not scored on the same basis as fixed stations and each
event is more of a competition between other rovers, or between yourself
and your previous personal best.   I mainly just like the opportunity to
get away, see different places and operate the radios I have with me, be
it one band or seven.  
  I kind of like the idea of a 1.2 GHz and up, or a 2.3 GHz and up event.
 I think it would provide much more interest, but I've never attempted to
participate in one of the 10 GHz events, due to lack of equipment.  I'm
sort of on hold in that regard, having kits for the GHz bands languishing
on the bench.
   I did not actively participate in any event this last year,  mostly as
a direct result of the geographical boundaries placed on the scoring and
resultant necessary effort to determine, in many cases, exactly where the
contact was made, and to edit the logs as needed to remove any
questionable contacts.   For a rover, in some locations, it means having
a GPS, and having to log the exact location of many contacts.  This
becomes too much of a burden for me.  It is difficult enough to keep
track of grid square boundaries in dome localities. 
   I submitted a question to a well known reflector once; which referred
to looking for logging software that would be easy for a rover to
operate, especially when swapping back and forth in and out of grids.  I
got an answer back, to the effect that the operation of changing grids in
the software should not be an issue,  because rovers only do that a few
times, and "they never go back into the same grid once having left it".
Needless to say, I was very surprised at that response.   I was beginning
to think that maybe all roads in the midwest were one way roads. HI! HI! 
Out here, we have to return to a previous grid in some cases,  just to
get back out of a choice operating position.  The CN86,96,87 and 97 grid
corner is a good example.
  I've rattled on long enough.
  Rod Johnson
  WE7X  (ex KA7YOU)
  Issaquah, WA
  
   
     


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