Steve, et al:
VUAC has considered, EXTENSIVELY, every one of the "proposed" rover rule
changes I have seen here on the reflector over the past several months. As has
been noted by others, each suggested rule change has it's good and bad points.
None, however, have been the "silver bullet" everyone seems to be looking for.
I'm afraid the only guy with a "silver bullet" is the Lone Ranger of
yesteryear...and, I don't think he's a contester!
In that regard, I have come to understand that there is no way rule changes
will make everyone happy, nor will they prevent some people from finding ways
around whatever rules are put in place. Yes, the "lunchbox brigade" can, and
probably will, find a way to win under any set of rules.
The fact is that ANYONE can win one or more rover classes (or fixed station
classes, for that matter) in a given contest, IF THEY ARE WILLING TO THROW HUGE
AMOUNTS OF MONEY INTO THE SOLUTION. (Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, are you
listening?) What is the point, however? If you simply "buy" a contest win
with a whole bunch of "lunchbox" stations passed out like candy, it would seem
to me to have little meaning. If your goal is just to get your name in QST,
you can save a whole bunch of money by buying an ad!
So, those of us who aren't willing or able to throw lots of money into setting
a up a whole bunch of "team rovers" and dedicated single-op stations simply
need to find other ways to compete. Set some personal goals and compete
against them. Compete for a class win in your section. Work with others in
your club to boost your club score. Head up to a mountaintop with your QRP rig
and compete in that class. Let those who are compelled to "buy" a certificate
do their thing.
The rover rule changes recommended recently by VUAC (30/50% and others) may
help sort out the unlimited rovers from the limited and traditional rovers, but
they will not "level the playing field." That is simply not possible due to
geographic and demographic differences in various regions of the country.
By the way, it is beginning to look like any new rover rules will probably NOT
be in play for the June VHF Contest. September is more likely. Anything can
happen, however, so "stay tuned."
Jim - W7DHC
-----Original Message-----
>From: vhfcontesting-request@contesting.com
>Sent: Feb 19, 2009 12:00 PM
>To: vhfcontesting@contesting.com
>Subject: VHFcontesting Digest, Vol 74, Issue 45
>
>Message: 2
>Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:07:00 -0500
>From: Steve Clifford <k4gun.r@gmail.com>
>Subject: [VHFcontesting] Lunchbox QRP
>To: VHF Contesting eMail Remailer <vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
>Message-ID:
> <cf8c8bec0902181407w69307f6am9c27cf483d7fb905@mail.gmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
>I've been on record as supporting the idea of the 30/50 solution that the
>VUAC has proposed. I still think its the best solution, but I have this
>nagging concern that I'm wondering if anybody else has really put their mind
>to.
>
>Could the Lunchbox Brigade establish QRP portable or SOLP bases to continue
>to dominate Limited and Classic Rover and then also take over yet another
>category? I don't think it can be done with the combination of 30 QSOs with
>individual rover and 50% with all rovers, but I'd like to hear speculation
>from others.
>
>I'm sitting here with a grid map and trying to figure out how they could
>game the new rules. Could they find a place within one or two grids that
>would give a QRP station or an SOLP station coverage into 6 to 9 grids?
>They really would only need to find one location that had good lines to a
>few of their grid intersections and set up three stations at the same
>place. All could aim to the same intersection at the same time.
>
>What would that do? If they found a location with a good line to two
>intersections, that would be 8 grids. If they had three stations at that
>location, it would mean the rovers would have 24 possible contacts per band
>used. For the Limited Rover guys, that's 96 QSOs, meaning they could go up
>to 192 total Q's per contest without bumping into Unlimited. If they could
>do it on 10 bands, that would be 240 contacts, giving them a possible 480
>for the contest.
>
>Those are beatable numbers. They are high, but still beatable. The bigger
>problem will be what happens to the SOLP and QRP guys. Let's say all 8 of
>the pack are operating as Limited Rovers in order to make it easier for them
>to stay under the 30 contact limit. They hit just 8 grids. That's 256
>QSOs.
>
>I realize that 256 QSOs on 4 bands and into only 8 grids is not enough to
>put a QRP station into the dominant spot, but its a hell of a Bogey. Change
>one or two of those Limited Rovers to classic or unlimited and the Q count
>and mults go through the roof.
>
>Maybe I am looking too far out. I would like to think that they will alter
>tactics to actually look outside their group and if they do, that's great.
>I'm all for it. I just have this nagging feeling that we might be setting
>up to allow them to dominate yet another category.
>
>That brings up the question as to whether or not th 30/50 rule will work. I
>think it will, but I wonder if 50% is too high or if we need to do what
>others have suggested and look to scoring changes for rovers.
>
>Just some food for thought.
>
>Steve
>K4GUN/R
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