--- Ev Tupis <w2ev@arrl.net> wrote:
> Ron Hooper (W4WA) wrote:
> > Applying a reasonable time limit before returning
> to the same grid
> > would make grid circling difficult and still
> allow Jim's scenario to work as well.
>
> Absolutly true, Ron...and something that I would
> support. Maybe
> "reasonable" is 8-hours? The casual rover (as I
> think Jim is describing
> above) could work with that while severely limiting
> the Grid Circling activity that most of us abhor.
>
> I would still be curious to know if Jim's scenario
> was actual or
> theoretical. If actual, how many people fit that
> model? My guess is that few, if any at all, do.
I think that there are quite a few who do fit this
profile. Additionally there are the "run and gun"
style rovers who may be cruising along a highway that
takes them back and forth between two grids as they
drive. I don't think that they should be penalized
because of it. I want to see all rovers to be on the
air as much as possible, time limits to remain in grid
or before returning to a grid will not allow them to
operate as much as possible. Everybody loses.
There are also many rovers who fit a profile of
sitting at a grid boundary or corner handing out
Q's/grids to as many *fixed* stations as they can, and
they are *not* grid circling with another rover(s) at
all. It is not uncommon for them to move back and
forth between grids to hand out more Q's to as many
fixed stations as they can as the fixed stations come
across them. This activity is essentially the same as
"running the bands" with another station which is a
widely accepted practice. Wasn't one of the original
goals of the rover category to generate more activity
and Q's for fixed stations? Rovers do need the
flexibility to return to previously operated grids
unrestricted to allow them to best be available to the
largest number of fixed stations as possible.
As pointed out the rover behaviors that are most
disliked is the "grid circling" and the "captive
rover". Having time limits between returning grids
effectively penalizes all rovers (and fixed stations
too), not just those who participate in close-spaced
grid circling. From my perspective grid circling in
and of itself isn't universally bad, where it becomes
a real problem is when there is a group of rovers all
working each other (almost exclusively) in close
proximity, they can easily do this with very minimal
equipment. That minimalist equipment has little or no
chance of working other non rovers at any significant
distance. There is usually no genuine effort by those
participants to do so either. However is "grid
circling" around the outer perimeter of a grid equally
as objectionable? That kind of activity does require
decent equipment capability, - equipment that will
give them a far better chance to work non-rovers as
well. It still comes down to the focus of those
rover's activities, if they primarily seek to work
only their own small group then yes it is still a
problem at any distance. If instead they are focused
on working as many other stations (rover or otherwise)
as possible then I really don't see much problem with
it.
If the contest sponsors feel that they can now easily
detect grid circling and captive rover activity then
maybe that is the best way to discourage it. Therefore
the contest sponsor "refereeing" the activity may not
be nearly as subjective as it would first appear. Time
limits and other such rules do unduly burden the
rovers who do play by the original spirit and intent
of the rover idea.
Duane
N9DG
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