Don't feel bad Herb. I'm in the same boat. I am a VE9..have been since
1993 when they split, NB, NS and VY2 into various distinct prefixes.
I live in New Brunswick. (a real Province). Prefix VE9
In 98% of all contests, where S/P/C are mults, I get to send "NB", but in SS
and I believe the ARRL 160, I have to send "MAR", so
I don't get to compete against other VE9's...I have to compete against VE1,
VE9 and VY2's..you figure out how to solve this,
please let me know. It's like all 3;'s, 4;', or 5's have to compete against
all the states in whatever # they're in, because someone decided
it was RAC sections. Until someone at ARRL mans up to get with the times I
think we'll be long covered in dirt before these rules change.
Do what I do and don't participate in SS, ARRL 160 and the CQP (though I am
not sure if CQP affects you or not)
I won't be on this weekend. I am sure (ahem) "MAR" will be well
represented.
Mike VE9AA..proudly in NB..covered in snow.
That's correct but under these rules, the VI is not DX and counts the same
as a W/VE two-pointer. Navassa which is certainly rare, especially on 160,
is counted as KP2. Desecheo KP5 is counted the same as KP4. Sort of weird
wouldn't you agree? This is unfair when VP2V on 5 miles from KP2 is
counted as DX. Also, all the rare DXCC US entities in the Pacific like
NMI, Wake, American Samoa, and Guam all count for Hawaii. The ARRL is set
in their ways and claims the 160-meter contest is supposed to be like SS
for 160. They only add DX contacts when ARRL President W0DX and VP2VI
demanded he should not be excluded from operating in a contest he
envisioned in the first place. The bottom line is that the statins in the
U.S. Territories cannot be competitive and are seriously discriminated
against by the Contest Committee who refuses to visit this issue. I
challenge you to look up the results over the past two decades. Stations
in the U.S Territories are never even mentioned no matter how well they
have done in the ARRL 160 contest.
Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
Mike, Coreen & Corey
Keswick Ridge, NB
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