I couldn't agree more with Marshall, K5QE and want to applaud the new CQ VHF
Rules as a step in the right direction.
The notion that VHF Contesting is just the same as HF Contesting is the most
illogical assertion that I've ever heard. It may be true in the Northeastern
United States, but for those of us in the fly-over
states, it's nonsense. Nearly every contest that I participate in is
followed by a ragchewing session the next day on 2 Meters. Inevitably during
that session, someone will say something like, "I was on for about five
hours on Sunday...but I didn't hear you".
Usually this is a comment from someone who is well within my normal
back-scatter range, but with our narrow beamwidth antennas, we simply passed
each other like ships in the night. Does that happen on HF? Hardly. Listen
to the bands during a major HF contest at 4 AM and you'll hear tons of
signals...but listen during the June VHF Sweepstakes and you'll most likely
hear noise. To say that HF and VHF Contesting are the same, and should have
similar rules is just nonsense.
Anything that generates activity during a VHF contest is fine with me.
Self-spotting, Internet Clusters, cell phone calls from rovers, digital
modes, who cares! I'm on the air to make contacts, something that isn't
always possible on VHF during non-contest periods. If you allow spotting,
then the same big guns will still win. Nothing changes, except that we all
work more stations. Why on God's green earth someone would complain about
that is beyond me!
Bravo, CQ Magazine. Common sense prevails over the nonsense from Newington
again. Wake up ARRL.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF
EM63nf
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114
6M VUCC #1712
Grid Bandit #222
Life Member Central States VHF Society
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