Didn't there used to be a 600 award for 6 meters,
where you earned points based on QSOs you made? I
figured it was killed by the VUCC. Maybe it is time
to bring it back. Anyone remember the rules for it?
I especially like the idea of the VUCC challenge,
which is similar to the DX Challenge. You just total
grids for all bands. I was discussing a similar idea
with other local VHF operators more than a year ago.
That would definitely encourage adding bands to your
existing station. Maybe start off with a 200 level or
so. After all, the 6 meter VUCC isn't that difficult,
other than getting 100 QSLs in. Now the 2 meter VUCC,
that is tough. 100 grids on 2 really takes an
understanding of propagation, and being in the right
place at the right time, although high speed meteor
scatter has really helped.
And the 222 vucc is tough due to lack of activity on
the band.
73s John NE0P
73s John NE0P
--- Bob K0NR <k0nr-list@rwitte.com> wrote:
> Most of the discussion about awards in VHF contests
> has been focused on the
> awards for winning some particular category/region
> in the VHF contest.
> Another motivation for working contests (VHF+ or HF)
> is to accumulate
> contacts for other awards. For example, if I am
> working on DXCC, I might
> make it a point to work the ARRL DX contest to pick
> up a few more countries.
> Similarly, I might work VHF contests to pick up new
> grids for VUCC. Note that
> for this to work well, it helps to have consistency
> between the contest
> exchange, contest scoring and the award criteria
> (e.g., the grid square is the
> exchange, the scoring multiplier and the basis for
> the VUCC award).
>
> The subcommittee report addresses this:
>
> **** Start of excerpt from report ******
> Awards
> -----------
> ** Change the entry-level steps for VHF+ awards so
> more people will be able to
> get started in the VUCC, WAS and DXCC using VHF+
> frequencies. Consider changing
> the steps for different level awards to a smaller
> increment.
>
> The actual number of VUCC awards issued is
> relatively small. We think that
> offering an entry point requiring fewer grid
> squares, or offering a "pre-VUCC"
> award would be a good way to get more people
> interested in trying to work
> longer distances on VHF+ frequencies (i.e. try
> something besides repeaters and
> simplex FM operating). [This will likely generate a
> new award, not a revised
> VUCC]
>
> ** Create a new award or awards to appeal to
> entry-level or rover/portable
> operation, such as a grids activated or miles per
> watt award. Consider GCR
> certification rather than card checking.
>
> A lot of VHF+ activity is made possible by those who
> operate while mobile
> (rovers) or go to hilltops. An award that rewarded
> their activity in putting
> remote grid squares on the air would encourage even
> more activity during
> contest and non-contest times.
>
> **** end of report (some parts edited out)**********
>
> I see merit in both of these approaches. The first
> one is to offer an entry
> level award that is "pre-VUCC". Don't dillute the
> existing VUCC. One idea is to
> have a "VHF Plus" grid award, that is awarded based
> on total number of grids
> worked, counting all bands above 50 MHz. So an
> operator could combine grids
> from 6M, 2M, 70 cm to meet the minimum grid count
> required. Perhaps the entry
> level award could be something like 50 grids, with 5
> grid increments after
> that. Having a minimum grid count considerably less
> than 100 and the use of
> multiple bands should make this award very reachable
> with modest (but non-zero)
> effort.
>
> The second idea is to offer an award for the rovers
> and portable operators.
> I've activated lots of rare grids and have been
> pleased to give out the contact
> and confirm the QSO. But this effort doesn't help
> much with pursuing VUCC since
> the effort is inherently distributed across
> different grids. An idea here is
> allow accumulation of grids worked when operating
> from different grids. (uh,
> oh, another heated rover scoring debate?). This
> "Rover VUCC" could have some
> exclusions such as "working the grid you are in
> doesn't count" and "a minimum
> contact distance requirement" to keep the award from
> just being a long distance
> driving test. This requires some careful design. The
> County Hunter community
> does a good job of making sure there are awards out
> there to recognize the
> brave, committed (and maybe a little wacko) folks
> that get out and activate
> rare counties (grids).
>
> And, no, new awards will not solve all the problems,
> but they are a tool that
> can be part of the solution.
>
> 73,
>
> Bob K0NR
>
>
> =====
> Bob Witte K0NR
> Email: bob@rwitte.com or k0nr@arrl.net
> ARRL Technical Coordinator, Colorado Section
> http://www.k0nr.com/ts.html
> Personal Web Page http://www.rwitte.com
> _______________________________________________
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