Hi Ev,
I can see your point but eliminating grid squares at this time might be
more problem than it's worth. I think the idea was a good one to start
with. If you live in New England, it's easy to get multipliers with the
states as mults. It's more difficult in Illinois and even more so in
Texas!
So do we completely eliminate grid squares, keep them, or modify contest
rules so the grid square is merely an indication of your location?
With a distance-based scoring system, I can see problems in scoring if you
have no idea where the other station is located. Maybe HE doesn't even
know where he's located. Latitude and longitude are a bit too much to be
exchanging over a VHF+ path with only marginal conditions. Maybe we
should go to 12-character grid exchanges? That'll make a contester out
of you! Just KNOWING your 12-character grid would be challenge enough!
:-) Actually, the 6-character grid may be sufficient for scoring, and
it's relatively easy to determine and to exchange over the air.
Otherwise, I'd hate to see Rovers go by the boards, but what kind of rules
would we establish for them? A Rover has to move 50 km before working the
same stations again?
Actually, a rule like that might just eliminate grid circling even with
the existing grid square system. It would at least add more time into the
equation. Now that I think about it, that might be a very good solution.
73, Zack W9SZ
On Thu, 4 Aug 2005, Radiosporting Fan wrote:
> The problem: Grids as multipliers (if you don't have
> 'em, you can't circle 'em) and human nature to exploit
> vulnerabilities to personal advantage. The playing
> field is *not* level and the rules reveal that.
>
> As long as Grids are multipliers, there is an
> "artificialness" that is built in to VHF
> radiosporting...an "artificailness" that is
> exacerbated by increasing complexity in the rules.
> Step back and realize that the rules grow in
> complexity because of the "artificialness" of what
> grid squares really are...a human notion (RF doesn't
> care).
>
> Solution? DX-based scoring (ok...maybe based on
> Grid-6 or Grid-8 location) with no multipliers and no
> "fudge factors" what so ever. If the QSO takes place
> over a distance of 1-km, then you get 1-point. THAT
> is a level playing field (it also levels it for those
> who are not fortunate to live within LASER distance of
> an invisible gridline, btw).
>
> Go to a 4-square intersection and circle all you want.
> Those 1-km QSO-points are all you deserve.
>
> One makes contact with as many others as possible
> simply by building a station that is capable of
> communicating over greater and greater distances or by
> establishing contesting methodologies that allow you
> to reach more stations within your existing range.
> You want a bigger score? Get an amplifier, improve
> your station and learn the skills of the radiosport;
> but don't expect the world to create a special
> category or rule to make you feel better. Alas, that
> is what we've done, and the reason for the dilema we
> are faced with.
>
> Ev, W2EV
>
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