Hi Dave,
Perhaps we are looking at the contest woes all wrong. Since the expansion of
the rules to 14 pages seems to have demotivated VHFers, maybe there are just
not enough rules and regs yet, so I propose more changes to expand the breadth
of diversity and inclusion. Here goes:
Scoring- count a quarter point for every station heard but not worked. If that
station was on CW, make it a half point. This will lower boredom during slow
times and encourage timid newbies and SWLs to participate.
Make a scoring choice subcategory that leaves it up to the participant to
choose classic or anti-digi, and texts and chat room assistance or not.
Encourage CQing. Score one point for every 10 CQ’s in a row without an answer.
Bonus points that can be claimed if you fixed something or improved your
station since the last contest. Suggestions for the list are welcome.
Personalized category overlays. You can create your own when submitting your
log. For example, “single op, low power. Windows 10, Middlesex county, 5
antennas or less”! Wow, I am sure to win a printable certificate now. Everyone
will be happy.
Any others?
73,
Chet, N8RA
-----Original Message-----
From: VHFcontesting
<vhfcontesting-bounces+chetsubaccount=snet.net@contesting.com> On Behalf Of
David Olean
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 7:12 PM
To: NEWSVHF@mailman.qth.net; vhfcontesting@contesting.com
Subject: [VHFcontesting] The 222 MHz Fall Sprint K1WHS Summary
Hi 222 Fanatics,
I just participated in the Fall 222 MHz Sprint for four hours, and actually
exceeded my 222 MHz score for the entire ARRL September QSO Party that takes
place over a 33 hour period. There was no difference in band conditions. Both
the weekend and this past Tuesday night had typical conditions with no
enhancements out of the immediate area. It was a good comparison, so why did I
do better in four hours vs the 33 hours that were available to me in the ARRL
contest? I think it demonstrates that we have serious problems in the
implementation of the ARRL contest. Between switching between all the bands,
we also have switching between frequencies in the analog vs digital realm.
Throw in all of the categories available now and things really get interesting.
Gee, I can enter this category with four bands, or these categories with three
bands needed. What should I do this time? I have never been in favor of
adding new entry categories. I call it the Balkanization of VHF contesting.
All of these rule changes have brought us to the point where experienced VHF
ops do not even want to participate anymore. I can cite one anecdotal example
right in my back yard. I have a 100 ft tower with four big seven element yagis
all mounted on TIC Rings. They are fed with four phase matched lengths of 7/8"
heliax feedlines with a phase switching matrix indoors that can control beam
patterns and elevation angles. There is a nice 3CX3000A7 single band amplifier
that can supply 1500 watts of RF in an almost Class A arrangement. It all has
sat idle for a few years. The reason is that the June and September contests
are not fun for anyone who has been brought up in a contesting environment.
No one wants to operate it anymore. I am thinking of giving the entire setup
away. One of the reasons that SSB and CW activity has diminished in contests
is because the contests do not bring excitement or fun into the equation like
they used to. VHF is hard enough with poor conditions. Most HF contesters do
not see the point of being there with a 12 per hour rate. Anything below 100
per hour tends to incite boredom. Experienced VHF ops are a bit more stoic I
think! By reducing the FUN factor of VHF contesting, now the experienced VHF
ops are sitting out those weekends. THEY ARE BORED.
Activity breeds activity. I believe that an entire new regimen is needed to
bring the contests back in popularity. It is not an easy task as the pool of
operators has shrunk as old and experienced VHFers pass on. No one takes their
place. That also has to change or we are doomed. K1PXE had a good take on that
problem. We need younger hams interested in VHF.
I ended up with 50 QSOs in 23 grids. I almost had 24 grids as I came awful
close to completing a meteor scatter QSO with K9MRI at the end of the evening.
Joe needed only a final RR from me, but it did not happen.
I figure that another two or three minutes and it would have worked. Other good
QSOs were made with the same folks who can always be worked on CW at the
extreme distances. VE3ZV EN92 752 km 55 on SSB, W8ZN FM09
785 km 539 CW, WA3EOQ FM09 805 km (very weak on CW) I had some good results
with the rising Moon. It rose at 23:00 in Maine and was coming up across the
country as the Sprint went along. I caught W5EME with his single yagi in
Louisiana and EM32 on his Moonrise. That was easy. He was actually quite loud!
WQ5S also heard me well in EM13, but I was not hearing him. Other contacts
were made with W7JW and K3SK in EN82 and FM07. I did not experience any
enhancement out to the West. The RI and Cape Cod stations were quite loud, but
no other good conditions arose for us here in the Northlands.
A look at the missed grids is very disappointing. To my NE I only nabbed
FN54 and 53 with K1DY and K1HC. To my SW I missed FN24, FN23, FN21, FN15,FN14,
FN11, FN10, FN02, FN01, FN00, & FM28 among others. Throw in the empty grids to
my NE and there were about 30+ grids easily available with any station who
would go there. I am hoping to help improve things by sending a complete 222
MHz station to some deserving VE1 amateur. The problem is that no one wants it
up there. I am still looking.
How about a contest with FT8 allowed but worth 25% of a SSB or CW contact. That
would make FT8 good for adding grids but terrible for adding QSOs. All regular
activity would be on voice. Some elusive DX could be FT8. Then throw in
activity periods that will discourage running the bands. I am not sure how to
implement that, but a complete re write of rules seems necessary. Some HF
contests limit band changes.
A similar rule could be employed in VHF contests. Say that once you make a band
change, you have to stay on that band for one or two hours. Such a rule would
apply to single operators and not multi operators or Rovers. Such a rule
change would discourage running the bands. It would also make having activity
hours a viable way to achieve a maximum contact rate and make things exciting
in areas with some activity..
Remember that there are 33 hours available. Software would be required to
check the logs. Remember that areas of the country with almost no activity
get their bread buttered by having rovers trying to cover as many grids as is
humanly possible. They all work the same few stations in a Bazillion grids. It
is called "Run 'N Gun". Rovers would have to be able to contact single op
stations on all their bands in a short time, so they can move on to their next
spot. It does get complicated. One problem is determining who is a multi muti
and who is a single op. Rovers all sign /R so that can be determined. Do
multis become /M?
Anyway this is all food for thought and off the top of my head. One problem in
the June contest is that no one would get off 50 MHz in hopes that it might
open up. More thought is needed.
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