JK & The Group,
I hope that my question wasn't offensive. I wasn't trying to avoid reading the
rules...I had read them but wasn't sure of how to interpret them. I did as you
suggested and reviewed them again. I'm not the judge and jury on this, but
here's my two cents worth.
1.. 3.3.1. 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).
My take on this is even if you're just carrying an extra HT, you're technically
transporting another "station". Though to be honest, it's a pencil thin line in
my book. So it's ok, if I build and equipment a ham with a complete "microwave
in a box" station but if I hand someone an HT, I'm in trouble? I'm not sure
that passes the common sense test.
It does seem clear that you could not retrieve the HT and use it again and
again with each ham you meet along the way.
2.. 3.3.2. A rover may not operate with more than one call sign.
No problem here, except that you're "transporting the station".
3.. 3.3.3. Rover vehicles must transport all the equipment, power
supplies, and antennas used at each operating site.
Well, you are doing that for sure. The problem is that you may be viewed as
transporting more than one station.
Now, if I have my wife follow in our other car, and it's filled to the lid with
HT's...then I'm all good right? (Ha, Ha) I still like the idea of carrying some
extra gear and allowing ham visitors to work me. Even if the points don't
count, they may get excited about VHF and/or contesting. I know it was a huge
thrill for me to make my first QSO on 10ghz...many hams never get on bands that
high in their entire amateur careers. My guess is that for most, it would be
their first and only contact on 900mhz, or 1.2ghz...so it's good PR if nothing
else.
At the risk of sounding like Major Garret at a White House Press
Conference...can I ask a "follow up" question? Assuming that the rover is
within his 150 Km radius of his home station, wouldn't these roadside contacts
count as new grids for VUCC assuming they are at 1.2ghz or lower? In other
words, if I'd have been smart enough to hand one of those hams my TH-F6A and
make a 222 contact while in EM73, I'd have a new grid for that band right?
(Darn it, I really need EM73 for 222!) Same for 902, or even 1.2ghz. I think
I'm gonna run out and buy a couple of more HT's!
Thanks for the entertaining discussion, if nothing else guys.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF
EM63nf
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114
From: John (JK) Kalenowsky, K9JK
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 9:11 PM
To: Les Rayburn
Subject: RE: [VHFcontesting] "Handing Out" radio rules/ethics
Les,
Take a look at Rule 1.3 in "General Rules for ARRL Contests on Bands Above 50
MHz" and maybe you can advise "us" of what the rules/ethics are/should be.
73, JK
> From: les@highnoonfilm.com
> To: vhfcontesting@contesting.com
> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:10:01 -0500
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] "Handing Out" radio rules/ethics
>
> During my first ever rover trip, I was approached by local hams at three of
> the four stops that I made, including one that was pretty remote. In all
> cases, they recognized the loop Yagi's & microwave dishes as being a VHF/UHF
> rover and stopped to observe, ask questions, etc.
>
> I try never to miss a chance to recruit new VHF operators, so I tried to
> spend some time with each. I always asked if they had a mobile rig or HT with
> them. One did, but no antenna along. The others had no equipment with them.
> (Am I the only ham who things this is just plain wrong?)
>
> After the contest, I started thinking about the experience. It occurred to me
> that I had a perfectly good Kenwood TH-F6A in the truck that puts out five
> watts on 2, 440, and 222. Would it have been legal and/or ethical to simply
> "hand" them the radio and invite them to participate in the contest by
> working me on the spot? Carrying that logic one step further, what if I
> carried a 900mhz Kenwood HT converted to ham frequencies, or one of those new
> Alinco HT's with 1.2ghz FM? Or even better a Kenwood VX-8R which has 6M, 2M,
> 440, and 222.
>
> Instead of those hams being somewhat of a handicap (wasting valuable
> operating time answering questions) they could have been points in the
> contest. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has thought of this, so forgive me
> if I'm wasting bandwidth rehashing old ground.
>
> As always, I appreciate the advice from the masters.
>
> 73,
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> EM63nf
> 121 Mayfair Park
> Maylene, AL 35114
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