At the Southeast VHF Society this past weekend, this topic came up for
discussion as part of the VUAC forum. The informal response of attendees
indicated general approval of the change, and I believe most people recognized
this as a good way to draw FM users into the contesting and begin their
exposure
to weak signal modes.
As a result, the SVHFS will investigate amending the Fall Sprint rules to
provide for an FM category this year, based on what we will be able to support,
even though the ARRL rule changes won't take effect until next year. While the
specifics still need to be worked out, we will be publishing our dates for the
Fall Sprints somewhat earlier this year in order to set some "target" dates for
those who might want to work with some of the FM folks to get them enthused and
geared up.
We'll also be publishing some FAQs and provide some other aids for those folks
when we get the rules up and posted. I think it's important for us to get out
there and promote contesting among repeater and general ham radio clubs as
previously stated by others, and draw them to the next level.
Kos, N4NIA
________________________________
From: Les Rayburn <les@highnoonfilm.com>
To: JAMES FRENCH <w8iss@wideopenwest.com>; VHF Contesting Reflector
<vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Cc: vhf@w6yx.stanford.edu
Sent: Thu, April 26, 2012 12:30:54 PM
Subject: Re: [VHF] RE: ARRL creates "shack-on-ur-belt" contesting
James makes some great point. Club presentations about the new FM
category will be needed to get the
word out. One concept that will be vital to teach is the notion of
"moving" a contact from 2 Meters (were
most will originate) to the other bands.
It will be interesting to see how the ARRL implements this category. One
strong recommendation that I would
make would be to ALLOW the use of national simplex calling frequencies,
including 146.520. There is virtually
no simplex activity here, and I suspect it's that way nationwide. If
anything, the contest might spur some activity
on that front.
Failing that, I think the league needs to publish a recommended calling
frequency or frequencies that participants
should look for each other during the contest. This is especially
important on 2 Meters.
An opening on 6 Meters with more FM activity would be chaotic. So it
might be best to recommend at least
three "channels" for 6 Meter activity.
I'd also love to see CQ Magazine add an FM category to their VHF
Contest, which would make my favorite
contest even better.
73.
Les Rayburn, N1LF
*
*
On 4/26/2012 10:49 AM, JAMES FRENCH wrote:
> As Les has mentioned, its not a bad idea to get the FM crowd into the game
> and then CONVERT them once they have been bitten and want to do more than
> local contacts :)
>
> That is where we as a sub-group need to start to talk things up BETTER and
MORE
> at clubs in general and making presentations to those same clubs and talking
on
> those split frequency devices in the upper portions of 2m, 1 1/4m, and 70cm.
>
> We need to teach the 'greenhorns' what is acceptable and what should be done
> where and how. Show them that they can do more with just a little change of
how
> they have their antennas, coax, opening up the squelch and turning off that
>tone
> board. Show them that you can use the NOAA transmissions as a propagation aid
> to knowing when conditions are good even for that Frequency Modulated mode.
>
> So when was the last time any of us have done a presentation for a local club
>or
> a forum at your clubs hamfest? I attended a club breakfast a few weeks ago to
>give
> a friend bearings for a rotor he was rebuilding for me and the tupperware
>container
> that I had them in also had parts and boards for a few of the W1GHZ 'cheap
>transverters'
> in it. That started a good discussion about what I know was happening locally
>on
> the lower halves of 6m, 2m, and 70cm along with my exploits into the Microwave
> regions. That last the whole time I was there for the breakfast and was
>enjoyable.
> Planning on the next time I go, to have the rover decked out to show it off.
>
> So who is going to be the first to say they have scheduled a presentation at a
> local club(s) or a forum at their small hamfest(s) in the next couple of
>months?
>
> As my Microwave elmer NE8I says:
> "We make Activity HAPPEN!!!"
>
> James W8ISS
> =====
> ----- Ralph Parker<rparker@dccnet.com> wrote:
>>> ... create a Single-Op FM-only category (100 W max, 50/144/222/440 MHz)...
>> Let's hope they all don't set up shop on 50.125!
>>
>> Ralph, VE7XF
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