Jim asked a lot of questions here about where to divide enterants.
The difference we are talking about Jim is the difference between station
enhancement and the operating practices of the competitors.
The ARRL clearly stated that they want have contestants to work as many people
as possible. However they also did not want to exclude those who operated in
convoys to only work each other. The compromise was creating a class for the
convoy rovers to compete in without doing harm to the other types of rovers.
The ARRL identified 3 types of Rovers, and I will speak to the issues in each.
The Limited which implies beginner. They re-enforced that implication of
beginner with a quick rule modification to allow only the bottom 4 bands
because it was being manipulated by non beginners in a convoy team roving
situation. (hats off to the ARRL on that one).
The Traditional Rover who can not work another rover more than 100 times, but
if a convoy of 8 traditional rovers go out together they are guaranteed 700
contacts each and all 160 grid square multipliers from a 16 grid/ 4 grid corner
rove before they even work one individual outside of their convoy. I will not
say this has been achieved to the maxim by any team but the possibility is
clearly there. This is why I think there should be a percentage rule in the
mix here. Even at a 50 percent mix. Each team member of a convoy would have to
work 700 non rover contacts to make this team work. If each member of the team
did that, it would be 5600 contacts to people in range of this rover convoy.
Now that would be a benefit!.
Unfortunately history demonstrates that many such participants in the convoy do
not pack equipment that can make long range QSOs while at the convenient
operating places of grid corners, nor many such convoy teams do not regularly
take the time to find elevation in impractical (non-circling) spots that can be
still be beneficial for contacts even with low power and compromised antennas.
I sure went out on a rant there but you can see why a team approach to roving
is different than a individual approach to roving and there has to be a
reasonable line drawn that can not manipulated by a select few.
I see 2 reasonable fixes a fixed percentage after the first 50 or 100 rover to
rover qsos. Say 25 percent.
Or you can only work and claim a score from other station up to 25 times.
Period. This helps with Captive rovers as well. The rest of the qsos go to a
check log and each station chooses the 25 most beneficial QSOs for scoring
purposes. This will encourage people to keep trying for QSOS on the higher
bands.
The unlimited rover would be free form all these rules and a place for things
like convoy roving to compete.
This is the difference between what Jim listed for separate categories and what
I have. Essentially its operating practices and not gear differences. That is
with the exception of the limited rover. Traditionally the ARRL has ignored
most gear related issues with the exception of power while focusing on
operational practices for recognition.
_________________________________________________________________
Bing™ brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. Try it now.
http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MLOGEN&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MLOGEN_Core_tagline_local_1x1
_______________________________________________
VHFcontesting mailing list
VHFcontesting@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
|