[VHFcontesting] Vhf Contests

[Larry Lambert NØLL <n0ll@ruraltel.net>]

Tom,  I'll bet u are getting all kinds of comments on the 
recommendations and goals concerning the three ARRL VHF contests.  Some 
guys have some pretty strong feelings about this.
Out here in the sticks where we have more jackrabbits coyotes and deer 
than people the rovers used to be a large part of my score.  Especially 
in January and September.  When the rover scoring rules were changed in 
say 1995 the rover Q went down darmacicly.  Before 1995 I might have as 
many as 200 rover q from my single operator station.  Last January 2004 
the rover contacts were 13.  That has really made a deference and the 
deference is not good for contest activity.
I was serving the Midwest Division on the Contest Advisory Committee  
back in the 90s.  The CAC voted 11 to 3 to change the rover scoring 
rules back to the pre 1995 rules.  When our recommendations got to the 
Membership Services Committee at the League this was rejected. Several 
good Rovers out here who hadn't already quit rovering quit then and most 
have never returned to the road.  It sounds now like maybe we the CAC 
people knew best all along.  Otherwise I really don't feel much needs to 
be changed in the rules.  Change is hard for me so whatever happens 
happens but I remember that rover scoring change in 1995 discouraged  
activity during the contests.  In fact some of the Colorado guys are 
still upset about this. N0LRJ our 20 grid contest rover has basically 
went QRT completely.  I also have to think the 1 point per rover q won't 
work.  It may be different on the East or West coast but it is not a 
good idea out here.
Of the last 90 or so ARRL VHF contests I have won in Kansas in the class 
entered all but say maybe 4.

73s Larry N0LL

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