Coming from one who does both HF and VHF contests, I think of the difference
as the difference between drinking beer (HF) and sipping scotch (VHF). The
volume is a lot higher on HF; you have to savor every drop on VHF. But done
right, at the end the result is the same (satisfaction, I hope!).
The rules about use of telephones happened after VP2KC did a multi-multi in
the 1979 CQWW SSB, which included a lot of calling people around the world to
ask "hey, can you get on 21205 and give us a call right now". Not viewed as
sportsmanlike, and at that time it took a heck of a lot of money, especially
calling from a third world QTH. I believe there was some use of the same
tactic from OH0 before it was finally banned.
A great video skit was done not too long after that, by the Kansas City DX
guys at their suite at Dayton. (AB0I was one of their big gun multis at the
time) :
CQ Contest from Alpha Bravo Zero India
(Noise, QRM, Etc)
QRZ, AB0I
(More noise, QRM, etc.)
(phone rings) Hello.... what's that... Oh!!!!
(Back on the radio): Oscar Hotel Zero Radio you're five nine oh four
(More noise, QRN, QRM, etc)
Oscar Hotel Zero Radio, QSL, Thank you very much, QRZ from Alpha Bravo Zero
India
The rules (on VHF) far predated the time when anybody out in the field,
whether roving or mountaintopping, would have even dreamed of having a
telephone
available. Not to mention that long distance calls actually cost money back
then.
73 - Jim K8MR
In a message dated 1/29/2008 8:48:01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
w4wa@alltel.net writes:
Hi George
Coming from both a HF and VHF contesting background as well, I agree with
Marshall. The way I remember it, HF contesters were the primary reason the
rule concerning the use of phone calls during the contest was created. Many
HF contesters were calling buddies around the world on the phone to get
multipliers. Somehow the rule got pushed into the VHF contest. The reason I
remember it, is because I never agreed with it in VHF contest then or now.
(This was long before Internet and packet)
The difference is that on any HF band you camp on with little regard to
where the antenna is pointed and frequency, you can make contacts, On UHF
and up, the antenna direction, time of operation and frequency is very
important to make a single contact. To me, this seems to play down the use
of higher freqencies during a contest which is something that needs to be
promoted.
The rover guys seem to be affected by this rule more since many are only in
a grid for a short time. The use of cell phones by the rovers will continue
to happen regardless of the rules, there will always be a buddy that will
get the grid. I see the map idea to track rovers as a way to help eliminate
some of the buddy contacts and make things happen more random.
The next thing you guys will be discussing is eliminating the use of
computers to log the contact and insisting on going back to paper logs.
Lets focus on making the contacts and not complicted rules.
Ron W4WA
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