Distance scoring?
On Wed, Sep 18, 2024 at 4:12 PM David Olean <k1whs@metrocast.net> wrote:
> Hi 222 Fanatics,
>
> I just participated in the Fall 222 MHz Sprint for four hours, and
> actually exceeded my 222 MHz score for the entire ARRL September QSO
> Party that takes place over a 33 hour period. There was no difference in
> band conditions. Both the weekend and this past Tuesday night had
> typical conditions with no enhancements out of the immediate area. It
> was a good comparison, so why did I do better in four hours vs the 33
> hours that were available to me in the ARRL contest? I think it
> demonstrates that we have serious problems in the implementation of the
> ARRL contest. Between switching between all the bands, we also have
> switching between frequencies in the analog vs digital realm. Throw in
> all of the categories available now and things really get interesting.
> Gee, I can enter this category with four bands, or these categories with
> three bands needed. What should I do this time? I have never been in
> favor of adding new entry categories. I call it the Balkanization of
> VHF contesting. All of these rule changes have brought us to the point
> where experienced VHF ops do not even want to participate anymore. I can
> cite one anecdotal example right in my back yard. I have a 100 ft tower
> with four big seven element yagis all mounted on TIC Rings. They are
> fed with four phase matched lengths of 7/8" heliax feedlines with a
> phase switching matrix indoors that can control beam patterns and
> elevation angles. There is a nice 3CX3000A7 single band amplifier that
> can supply 1500 watts of RF in an almost Class A arrangement. It all has
> sat idle for a few years. The reason is that the June and September
> contests are not fun for anyone who has been brought up in a contesting
> environment. No one wants to operate it anymore. I am thinking of
> giving the entire setup away. One of the reasons that SSB and CW
> activity has diminished in contests is because the contests do not bring
> excitement or fun into the equation like they used to. VHF is hard
> enough with poor conditions. Most HF contesters do not see the point of
> being there with a 12 per hour rate. Anything below 100 per hour tends
> to incite boredom. Experienced VHF ops are a bit more stoic I think!
> By reducing the FUN factor of VHF contesting, now the experienced VHF
> ops are sitting out those weekends. THEY ARE BORED.
>
> Activity breeds activity. I believe that an entire new regimen is
> needed to bring the contests back in popularity. It is not an easy task
> as the pool of operators has shrunk as old and experienced VHFers pass
> on. No one takes their place. That also has to change or we are doomed.
> K1PXE had a good take on that problem. We need younger hams interested
> in VHF.
>
> I ended up with 50 QSOs in 23 grids. I almost had 24 grids as I came
> awful close to completing a meteor scatter QSO with K9MRI at the end of
> the evening. Joe needed only a final RR from me, but it did not happen.
> I figure that another two or three minutes and it would have worked.
> Other good QSOs were made with the same folks who can always be worked
> on CW at the extreme distances. VE3ZV EN92 752 km 55 on SSB, W8ZN FM09
> 785 km 539 CW, WA3EOQ FM09 805 km (very weak on CW) I had some good
> results with the rising Moon. It rose at 23:00 in Maine and was coming
> up across the country as the Sprint went along. I caught W5EME with his
> single yagi in Louisiana and EM32 on his Moonrise. That was easy. He was
> actually quite loud! WQ5S also heard me well in EM13, but I was not
> hearing him. Other contacts were made with W7JW and K3SK in EN82 and
> FM07. I did not experience any enhancement out to the West. The RI and
> Cape Cod stations were quite loud, but no other good conditions arose
> for us here in the Northlands.
>
> A look at the missed grids is very disappointing. To my NE I only nabbed
> FN54 and 53 with K1DY and K1HC. To my SW I missed FN24, FN23, FN21,
> FN15,FN14, FN11, FN10, FN02, FN01, FN00, & FM28 among others. Throw in
> the empty grids to my NE and there were about 30+ grids easily available
> with any station who would go there. I am hoping to help improve things
> by sending a complete 222 MHz station to some deserving VE1 amateur. The
> problem is that no one wants it up there. I am still looking.
>
> How about a contest with FT8 allowed but worth 25% of a SSB or CW
> contact. That would make FT8 good for adding grids but terrible for
> adding QSOs. All regular activity would be on voice. Some elusive DX
> could be FT8. Then throw in activity periods that will discourage
> running the bands. I am not sure how to implement that, but a complete
> re write of rules seems necessary. Some HF contests limit band changes.
> A similar rule could be employed in VHF contests. Say that once you make
> a band change, you have to stay on that band for one or two hours. Such
> a rule would apply to single operators and not multi operators or
> Rovers. Such a rule change would discourage running the bands. It
> would also make having activity hours a viable way to achieve a maximum
> contact rate and make things exciting in areas with some activity..
> Remember that there are 33 hours available. Software would be required
> to check the logs. Remember that areas of the country with almost no
> activity get their bread buttered by having rovers trying to cover as
> many grids as is humanly possible. They all work the same few stations
> in a Bazillion grids. It is called "Run 'N Gun". Rovers would have to be
> able to contact single op stations on all their bands in a short time,
> so they can move on to their next spot. It does get complicated. One
> problem is determining who is a multi muti and who is a single op.
> Rovers all sign /R so that can be determined. Do multis become /M?
> Anyway this is all food for thought and off the top of my head. One
> problem in the June contest is that no one would get off 50 MHz in hopes
> that it might open up. More thought is needed.
>
>
>
>
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