Steve - I understand your frustration. But I think it is misplaced.
The question "What is accomplished?" can be applied to all of us, and
probably has been at one time or another. What is accomplished by
straight (non-circling) roving? Well you and I have an answer to that;
it is fun, rewarding, and technically challenging, but I suspect that
much of the population will go "So what?" when they hear that I spent
an entire weekend and drive 710 miles to make 87 contacts, many with
the same people. One would probably get the same reaction for amateur
radio contesting in general by the general population. It all boils
down to different strokes for different folks.
You and others in the northeast corridor are blessed with an amateur
radio population density that is quite active at VHF/UHF and hence
have a lot of stations to work in contests. Much of the rest of the
country is not, including Southern California, believe it or not. Grid
squaring creates a high population density of VHF active hams. Simply
put, grid squaring gets people out and active that otherwise would not
be. One an argue that it is artificial, but it is effective.
Now one can argue that the scoring should be adjusted so that regular
stations are more competitive with these stations. And that is a fair
argument. But I think that the argument should go deeper than that.
Grid squaring (circling) is only part of the problem. The scores in
the limited rover category by the grid circlers are inflated by the
additional QSO points for the microwave bands. The grid circling
scores would be in line with the rest of the limited class if the
additional microwave points were not added in.
In short, I think that the scoring and reporting should be revisited
so that the contest is interesting to everybody and no one's specific
interest is eliminated.
There are several solutions to this problem, if you think that this is
a problem. We have covered all of these at one time or another. The
VUAC has suggested that the new rules are a trial balloon and will be
in place a while before additional changes are made. Here are some
suggestions that have been put forward before.
1. Score and report all entries by grid square. This makes sense as
the grid square is the exchange. Report contest results by grid
square. Rovers would compete with other category (single op, QRP
single op, multi op) stations in each grid they operate from. In
addition Rover scores from the separate grids would be aggregated for
a separate Rover competition.
2. Use distance based scoring, as in the 10 GHz contest. Give 100
points for each initial contact with a station, and 1 point per
kilometer of distance between stations worked. Exchange 6 digit grid
squares. Stations can be reworked if one station has moved a
reasonable distance. say 50 or 60 kilometers. Nobody grid circles in
the 10 GHz contest.
3. Several years ago, K5AM suggested a two tier approach for
categories that went something like this:
Low Bands (6, 2, 1.35 and .7)
1. QRP
2. single op low
3. single op high
4. Multi op
5. Rover classic
6. Rover unlimited
High bands (all bands above 902MHz)
1. QRP
2. single op low
3. single op high
4. Multi op
5. Rover classic
6. Rover unlimited
A station can enter in the low category, the high category, or both.
Other changes that are equally viable, but that may be viewed as
unfairly punitive (and are in some cases) include:
4. Require a minimum distance, say 1 km, for QSOs between rovers.
5. Set time limits, say an hour, on a Rover making additional QSOs
after revisiting a grid square.
6. Eliminate the extra QSO points for microwave contacts. All QSO
points are worth 1.
7. Change the QSO limit from 100 per rover to 100 total with other
rovers.
8. Change the rover limit from 100 per rover to a smaller amount, say
30 or so.
9. Ban grid circling outright.
There are 3 VHF/UHF contests and a UHF contest. There is no reason why
the rules need ot be the same for all. In fact, a diverse set of
competition may be more attractive to participants than the same old
thing one after another.
So, a modest proposal that the VUAC might consider is:
1. Leave the June contest as it is, essentially a free for all.
2. Implement distance based scoring in the UHF contest and in the
January contest.
3. Institute K5AM's suggested categories in the September contest,
along with scoring and reporting scores by grid square.
Or whatever may be better suggestions from others?
By the way, although results are not officially out, it looks like you
won the September VHF contest limited rover division. Congratulations!
- Duffey
--
KK6MC
James Duffey
Cedar Crest NM
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