[Wswss] VHF contest operating etiquette

[Ron Patterson]

I would like to put in my 2 cents worth. I agree that the clustering of 
stations on 144.200 is silly. Everyone needs to spread out and call cq. If 
you are "searching and pouncing" you need to tune and move those antennas! 
I myself will be calling on 144.230 from DM04 if it is not in use.

That being said, calling people lids and and other names will turn people 
off to contesting just as fast as anything else. In addition, the most 
productive way for single op stations to work dx (I am talking real weak 
signals here) is to take the dx up the bands. When I operate single op, I 
have all the antennas on one mast. I have made many 1296 contacts this way 
that I would not have made otherwise. So until there is a 15 minute rule, 
this practice will continue. It is up to the dx what he does. It is very 
efficient to take a group up the bands. I have done this many times. If 
you want a 15 minute rule, I suggest you bring this up with the ARRL.

I agree with you on people butting in and taking over a frequency. That is 
plain rude.

73 and good luck in the contest,

Ron W6FM
Multi op from Frazier Mt. DM04


On Thu, 10 Jun 2004, Kent Tiburski wrote:

> OK, So how do we fix the situation?  Seems to me if we continue to operate
> the way we do in VHF contests, the downward trend of participants will rise.
> Pretty soon it will only be the "Lids" in the contest.  What fun is that?
> Now how do you get the DX station to move off the calling frequency when all
> he/she can hear is the thirty or so folks dropping their call there for who
> knows who?  We (VHFers) need to learn better contest techniques and cease
> the BS we've come to know the last few years "as VHF contesting".  It's
> inefficient, frustrating and downright stupid!  Spread out, the small guys
> will have more of a chance and that brings up another subject.  Remember
> this is a weak signal part of the band and that there WILL be weak signals,
> so be patient and listen carefully for them.  Yours might just be one of
> them!  The business of taking folks off of a band to another is pisser for
> me.  Wish there were a 15 minute rule here.  So frustrating to finally get a
> word in edgewise only to hear K6Butt-in-ski, Do you have 432 or 1296?  Who
> cares?  He's on this band, work more folks instead of QSYing, except is it's
> really that dead.  If the other station has the other bands, listen there
> for him when he's ready to QSY.  You want your own frequency, there plenty
> of bandwidth here, don't steal another guy's freq and start working stations
> there, that's not being "competitive", it called RUDENESS!
> 
>   Since I was cutoff last night during the 2 meter net, I reiterate, STAY
> THE F#%* OFF THE CALLING FREQ!!!  Any questions?  That means you too Ralph.
> 
> 73, Kent, K6FQ, DM12
> 
> 
> 
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