No one plans, plots, coordinates and schemes better than Rovers when it comes
to unique ways to generate more points from a grid corner. When I first read
this proposal I liked it. I would love to add a couple more bands and not have
to go to SOLP.
Then I got to thinking about the purpose of the FM category: A place for new
hams, non contesters and casual repeater users to get a foot hold in VHF/UHF
contesting. None of them are going to have those bands so such a proposal
would only serve to push the insane (like me) who would add FM uW to even
higher scores and further isolate the majority of FM only Hams who are by far
and away the biggest population of license holders from any chance of winning a
little piece of paper. Adding bands they would only use on contest weekends 3
times a year to mainly help boost the scores of rare uW rovers is not going to
motivate a lot of folks to go out and buy additional radio's and antennas.
Reflecting on this weekend very few on FM were chasing paper, they were out to
have fun, and they did, at least in my area (see previous post). Adding a few
"Captive uW FM" rover support stations is not going to threaten the fun that
99% of FM participants are having, they dont care about scores, they dont
submit logs and they dont chase paper. The scores that a "Captive uW FM" rover
support station (6 bands, 8 grids, 6 rovers in a pack) is not a threat to the
scores of FM stations that serve a "wider audience" since we too would add
those bands, assuming the Rovers would talk to us.
I like the idea of adding 902 and 1296 FM to the FM only category. Its not
only a new challenge but will serve to bring a few more people into the uW
world increasing the available stations for SOLP, SOHP and Multi Ops,
73 JohnKM4KMU
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Spencer <mark@alignedsolutions.com>
To: James C <jabeco@gmail.com>
Cc: vhfcontesting@contesting.com <vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Sent: Mon, Jan 18, 2021 5:54 pm
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Prpposal: change SOFM to allow more bands
Yep.. I carry a 1.2 GHz HT, an Alinco 222 / 927 HT, and a 50, 144, 432 HT with
me on almost every rove I go on. They get enough use to make it worthwhile to
charge up the batteries and pack them up each contest.
73
Mark S
VE7AFZ
mark@alignedsolutions.com
604 762 4099
> On Jan 18, 2021, at 2:43 PM, James C <jabeco@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> +1 on this idea Greg.
> Lots of FM 1.2 gear out there (and Alinco 902 HH & flashed Kenwood 902
> mobiles).
> I support your effort to increase SOFM to all bands.
>
> 73 .-James K7KQA
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 18, 2021 at 2:36 PM Gregory Winters <greg_winters@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> While we are pondering proposed changes to SO3B, why not also consider
>> updating one of the most underutilized classes as well: SOFM.
>>
>> I like idea of SOFM, but its typically limited to just the lowest 4 bands:
>> 6, 2, 222, and 70cm.
>>
>> Perhaps the SOFM was initially a good idea with those bands, but 6m in
>> particular gets very little play on FM. SOFM gets such little participation
>> in the contest overall, even a small score can win a division--and I say
>> that having done so (!).
>>
>> But on 900MHz and 1296 there is considerable FM equipment in the amateur
>> community, as well as gunnplexers that never see voltage anymore. Can we
>> change that?
>>
>> I propose either opening SOFM to all bands, or if that isn't palatable
>> opening it to a max of 4 bands (and the op chooses which 4). That way even
>> 10 and 24GHz gunn units and perhaps even FM-ATV units can be part of the
>> fun?
>>
>> I haven't formally proposed a change, but rather wanted to facilitate the
>> idea to see if there is any support.
>>
>> 73 de Greg, K3RW
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> VHFcontesting@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
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