[Wswss] Survey on ARRL EME Contest rules

[Wayne Overbeck]

ARRL's VUAC is considering revising the current rules for the ARRL
International EME Contest, and we would like your input.

Effective with the 2009 contest, assistance is not allowed per rule 6.3 as
follows:

6.3 During the contest periods, no contest entrant, in any category
--single-operator or multi-operator-- may use non-EME means for the purpose
of self-spotting, solicitation or coordination of QSOs or attempts to make
contact; nor may any entrant use assistance or provide assistance in the
form of frequency spotting or use any form of DX spotting, Packet Cluster,
Ping Jockey, email, telephone, etc. Exception: liaison to coordinate
band-by-band activity is explicitly permitted for the bands2.3 GHz and
higher.


VUAC members have received numerous messages from many of you folks
regarding this change; some in favor; some opposed. We are considering
making further changes to the rules to address your concerns, and we would
like to hear from the EME community on this.

Several proposals have been put forth, such as:

1.  Reinstate the rules regarding assistance as they existed in 2008.

2.  Establish a new class of operation called "Coordinated". Entrants
in this class would be allowed to post ONLY their call-sign and calling
frequency via the internet or other methods for other entrants to see. Any
station posting or viewing this information would be considered to be in the
"Coordinated" class.

3.  Let the current rules (non-assistance only) apply to one of the
two weekends for 50-1296, and let assistance be used on the other 50-1296
weekend.

4.  Run a separate EME contest for 50-1296 using assistance on the
weekend reserved for 2304 and up.

5.  Don't make any further changes. Let the rules remain as they are
now.


The VUAC would very much appreciate hearing from you concerning these
proposals. Where do you stand on this matter? Which proposal do you prefer,
and why? Feel free to modify any or all of this as you deem best.

Please respond to this survey to your VUAC representative AND to Army
Curtis, AE5P (ae5p at arrl.net) . A list of VUAC members can be found at
http://www.arrl.org/contests/vuac.html . Comments must be received no later
than February 17, 2010 to be considered by the VUAC. If you do not have a
VUAC representative, please respond to Jon Platt, W0ZQ (w0zq at aol.com ) AND
to AE5P (ae5p at arrl.net ).

When you respond, please indicate what bands you have made EME contacts on,
and if you have ever participated in an EME contest.

Please let us hear from you.