i.e.: Get people on the air.,,,,
I haven't heard a lot about this on this reflector or the other email lists, BUT.....
Isn't it really ridiculous to have 13 (or is it 14) entrance categories for the VHF contests? With decreasing participation it's getting to be that some of the categories only have only one (or NO) entries!!!
Not to play the "old guy" card, but I will anyway (Hi Wayne!!) In the 50's 60's when I started contesting there were only 2 categories, single op, multiop. The participation was at an all time high then. now, what's the deal?? everyone gets a trophy??? OR.. no one wants to get on the air unless they are guaranteed to win??>
All that being said, I will get on for the contests no matter what because it's fun. I don't have any pretense of being able to WIN.. I just like to be able to work the guys.. and operating when other stations are on the air is FUN!
back in the day we made an occasional phone call to get someone on the air... We still made the actual contact "on the air".
I totally embrace the rover category. I think if I had my way there would be THREE entrant categories, SO, MO, Rover. but realize this brings up new issues.. can we just start to get SANE about this? Does anyone really think 13 or 14 entrance categories is good for VHF contesting???
bill, K1DY (ex w3HQT)
From: rick1ds@hotmail.com
To: k2txb@dxcc.com; packrats@mailman.qth.net
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2015 12:33:10 -0500
CC: hwardsil@gmail.com; w1msw@arrl.org
Subject: Re: [Packrats] What N0AX says about "Assistance"
Everyone is a bit confused at this point as to what these new categories of "unlimited"
or "assisted" stations can or cannot do. Additionally, if this applies to MAP65 for EME,
does this also create new categories for the EME contest? Patience--hopefully we'll all find out
when Ward andor Matt make this clearer on the VHF reflectors and answer some questions we have.
From: k2txb@dxcc.com
To: rick1ds@hotmail.com; packrats@mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [Packrats] What N0AX says about "Assistance"
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2015 08:54:11 -0500
Hi Rick & all. That paragraph is hard to understand in the context shown, and even in context. The
context is that it applies to the Single Operator Unlimited. However when it says “not
physically locat4ed at the station is permitted”, that is very unclear at least to me. Does that
mean one could use cw skimmer if it is not located at the station, but could not use it if it was
located at the station? Very poorly written rule, I think. Also the exception, “spotting
information obtained from any source
outside the station boundary via a closed or dedicated communication
link may not be used.”. So does that rule out the internet if connected via a wire line? How about if you
are receiving internet via satellite…? I suspect that that exception is trying to say that one cannot set
up a private link to a remote receiver and use that for spotting (or for other contest purposes I would presume),
but why not say that? Well, just my two cents… I don’t like assisted classes for contests
anyway… 73, Russ K2TXB From: Packrats [mailto:packrats-bounces@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Rick R
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2015 9:56 PM
To: packrats reflector
Subject: [Packrats] What N0AX says about "Assistance" In the absence of
alternative rulings from HQ about what constitutes the
boundary between SO and SOU, I would use the following from the HF Rules
(http://www.arrl.org/general-rules-for-arrl-contests-below-30-mhz):
*2.2.1.*Use of spotting assistance or nets (operating arrangements
involving other individuals, DX-alerting nets, packet, multi-channel
decoders such as CW Skimmer, etc) not physically located at the station
is permitted. (Exception: spotting information obtained from any source
outside the station boundary via a closed or dedicated communication
link may not be used.)
Before anybody gets cranked up about HF rules in VHF+ contests, remember
that the original recommendation was only to create SOU in all ARRL HF
contests and it was the P&SC which extended it to VHF+ without any
additional discussion. So the original recommendation was based on
2.2.1 as above. That definition needs to be broadened and made less
dependent on specific technology but it will suffice for now.
73, Ward N0AX
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