[VHFcontesting] comments on proposed VHF+ rules changes

[Nate Duehr <nate@natetech.com>]

Dear proposal committee,

As someone who has only participated in two June contests grand-total 
after being invited to a friendly multi-op station (W0KVA - THANKS 
GUYS), and who would like to now build a good rover station -- I'm one 
of those people you're claiming you want to attract.  I thought I'd 
send a few comments about the proposed changes.

From my analysis, the proposed changes do not meet the stated goals of 
the committee.  Has anyone else noticed this?  The proposal is not well 
thought out, and I have doubts that the reasons stated are really being 
addressed.  There are also many folks saying the comment period feels 
"rushed" -- what's the hurry?

I contest in Colorado.  We simply don't have the population density out 
here that other areas enjoy.  EVERY BAND AND EVERY CONTACT IS 
INTERESTING.  Adding a band is a BIG DEAL for ANY station out here.   
People still congratulate each other on "getting a new band working".  
I'm sure many in rural areas feel the same way.

With the current rules -- we all feel we still have challenges to work 
for.  New rigs and stations to build and test.  Things to try with 
antennas in the microwave bands.   Take away the upper bands and 
where's the challenge to learn and grow?

The loss of bands during the "big" June contest and the changes in the 
rover rules are both NEGATIVES which simply don't need to be done.  
Once an Amateur out here operates a basic VHF/UHF station, the only 
thing left to do is a) build more bands into your station, b) go rover. 
 You're going to be talking to the same ten people next year anyway, so 
why not do both?

When you mix the loss of bands in the June contest and the changes to 
the rover rules, there will be virtually no motivation left to build a 
rover station.

I would love to build a nice rover station (something that can 
literally take years to do) but if the rules change and take away all 
motivation for roving, what's the point?

With the current rules, at least at the multi-op site we could try to 
lash together some microwave gear and send me or another guy "over to 
the next mountain" and try to work it... taking that away above 2.4 is 
also counter-productive.

BUT MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE FOLLOWING:

As far as taking bands away from the June contest, it seems VERY 
suspicious that the League would EVER sanction taking bands away from a 
contest that is on such unused bands.  Why donate to the Spectrum 
Defense Fund if the contest managers are going to clip bands off of the 
largest contest of the summer season above VHF, thus DISCOURAGING 
people from USING them?  That seems very very wrong.

With the pressure of unlicensed devices into 2.4 and 5.8 GHz already, 
taking ANY of these bands away from ANY contest seems horrendously 
counter-productive and completely against what the League itself stands 
for.

Directors, are you really allowing this?

I'm very concerned about the big picture -- VHF+ is ALL under frequency 
allocation pressure.  We can't stop being vigilant about the VHF+ bands 
while we fight BPL on HF.  The front needs to be unified.  Our contests 
should do everything possible to encourage operation on ALL bands above 
6m MORE THAN ONCE A YEAR.

It's virtually impossible to find another ham above 70cm out here 
(other than a couple of 1.2 GHz FM repeaters) except during contest 
season.  We need as much activity as we can get.

The only part of the proposal that seems sound is in ATTRACTING new 
contesters by creating categories that people without microwave gear 
can participate in.  Honey is good.

Demotivating or discouraging operators we already have operating 
microwave gear out here -- which is effectively what most of the other 
proposed changes do -- is just silly and shortsighted.  Both from the 
"fun" standpoint and from the overall spectrum management goals of the 
League.

I would ask the contest managers to please reconsider any action which 
would cause there to be LESS activity above UHF during any contest for 
any reason.

I would also ask the League Directors to make it vitally clear to 
contest managers that contest rules should reflect the spectrum 
preservation goals of the League itself.  Removing bands does a) not 
attract new operators to the contest, and b) doesn't send the right 
message in general to the people that want our spectrum.

My $0.02 from here,

Nate Duehr, nate@natetech.com - WY0X

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