Thank you Sean. I would like to ask a follow up. Please understand that I am
not asking this as a way of looking for ways around the rules. I've been
careful lately to be very conservative about this so I ask this only for
general information.
Rule 2.3.1 seems to make a distinction between a "rover" and a "rover vehicle".
The rule seems to allow a "rover vehicle" to carry more than one "rover" if
the people in the vehicle are related. Inside that vehicle, could be two
licensed individuals, using different transmitters, antennas and operating in a
contest with different callsigns. As long as those two people only operated
with their designated equipment and calls, it appears that the rule does not
forbid them from contacting each other for score.
Because rule 2.3.1 is discussing the vehicle and not the transmitter gear, the
reference to rule 3.5 under general rules doesn't make sense. Rule 3.5 is
about sharing of transmitter gear and not where that gear is located.
Let's look at it another way. If a family is operating out of their home, and
they had different radios and antennas, could they contact each other for
score? Is the physical structure over their heads considered part of the
station?
The spirit of the "family rule" is obviously to allow immediate family to share
operating gear in a contest. The way 2.3.1 is worded, it looks as if the
vehicle could be the only shared gear. It would be similar to two friends
driving to the same locations during a contest but because the two people in
question are family, they would be allowed to share a ride. At least that's
how this rookie read it.
Again, please believe me that I'm not looking to get around this. My
girlfriend will be my co-operator for June under my callsign. The more I look
at it, the more I realize that the current wording could be exploited. Based
on the responses here, it looks like this hasn't been done yet so maybe its not
a concern.
Steve
-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Kutzko, Sean, KX9X" <kx9x@arrl.org>
> Hi folks-
>
>
> The Rules for All ARRL Contests on Bands above 50 MHz state:
>
> "2.3.1. A rover vehicle may transport only one station using a single
> call sign. An exception is provided for in "General Rules for All ARRL
> Contests" number 3.5 (Family Rule)."
>
> The Unlimited Rover category is subject to Rule 2.3.1.
>
>
>
> As to the Family Rule (General Rules for all ARRL Contests 3.5), I am
> sorry, the person you are dating does not qualify for the Family Rule
> exception.
>
> "3.5. A transmitter used to contact one or more stations may not be
> subsequently used under any other call during the contest period, except
> for family stations where more than one call has been issued, and then
> only if the second call sign is used by a different operator. (The
> intent of this rule is to accommodate family members who must share a
> rig and to prohibit manufactured or artificial contacts.)"
>
> In addition, all rover categories are subject to Rule 2.3.2, which
> states: "2.3.2. A rover may not operate with more than one call sign."
> According to the new rover rules they are only exempted from rules
> 2.3.3 and 2.3.8.
>
>
>
>
> As far as the question of an Unlimited Rover working their own operators
> on bands above 2.3 GHz, the rover categories are completely different
> from the Multioperator categories. The Contest-specific rule being
> referenced reads:
>
> " 7.3. Multi-operator stations may not include QSOs with their own
> operators except on frequencies higher than 2.3 GHz. Even then, a
> complete, different station (transmitter, receiver and antenna) must
> exist for each QSO made under these conditions."
>
> It applies only to the two Multioperator categories, not the rover
> categories. In addition, while multioperator stations can work their
> own operators on bands above 2.3 GHz by that rule, you can't simply
> "pass radios" around to one another. General Rule for All ARRL Contests
> 3.5 quoted above clearly states a radio used under one callsign during a
> contest may not be used under any other call for the duration the even,
> with the exception of the 'family rule'.
>
>
>
> 73,
>
> Sean Kutzko, KX9X
> Contest Branch Manager
>
> ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio
> 225 Main Street
> Newington CT 06111-1494
> Telephone: 860-594-0232
> Fax: 860-594-0259
> email:skutzko@arrl.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> VHFcontesting@contesting.com
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