>Perhaps my perceptions (for ~25 years of VHF contesting) of what VHF
contests were in years past is off. I always thought, perhaps >naively, that
skeds weren't commonly used, or simply were not used for many of the Q's
that ops made. So why now? Yes? No?
>Duane
Duane
I don't want to take what you meant to sound out of context so if my
response is not correct let me know.
Making schedules has always been a big part of VHF and UHF operations in and
outside of the contest events for a very long time. When you ask someone to
qsy from 2 meters to 432 during the contest or non contest time, you have
just made a schedule. Before the internet creation, there were VHF groups
that met, and still do, on 20 and 80 meters to make schedules. Hams still
call other hams on the phone to make schedules, I do. How else am I going to
get someone on during a band opening to work them on 902 or up. I would
waste years trying to catch them on random and to have our antennas lined up
to make a non solicited contact. I am sure that many WAS awards were earned
using schedules. I am sure that many VUCC awards were earned using
schedules.
HF contesting scheduling actually caused the rules to be changed to
eliminate calling people on the phone during a contest. It had NOTHING to do
with VHF operation at the time but the CAC was made up of HF contesters and
did not know scheduling played a big part in 50mhz and above. The contesting
schedules during the event were actually a carry over from the normal dx
operation on VHF until the CAC guys stopped it. Now all the contest
schedules are supposed to be made prior to the contest using any means
available, just like HF.
Now we come to the assisted category. This came primarily from internet dx
spotting nets. Again a carry over from HF normal dxing into contesting. The
internet spotting was created to help people find the dx station when they
came on the air. Before that, it was phone calls during the night by hams
networked together to get the dx stations in their logs. So now we can say
schedules played a big part into many of the DXCC awards hanging on the
walls of hams around the world. Again this spilled into contesting and many
without the internet seen it as an unfair advantage so a new category was
created so you would have a choice.
I know that Marconi, Percy 1AW (ARRL) and other radio pioneers made
schedules to complete the famous contacts that is the foundation of our ham
heritage. I still care about this heritage and want to see it preserved.
Schedules has always played a big part in radio communication, in the
military, NASA and civil service. The way we set schedules up has changed
with technology but you still have to make the contact if you want it to
count in a contest or to be able to communicate accurate coordinates for a
bomb to hit its target. That is my perception of what Marshall is saying in
his e-mail on philosophy.
If you like tuning around a dead band hoping to make a contact and that is
your bag, go for it. I don't think anyone will find any fault in the way you
operate.
Ron W4WA
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