[CQ-Contest] Remote Site Contesting Rules

[Eric Hilding]

(RE-Threaded from Packet debate)

Tree, N6TR, wrote:

> 3.7. All transmitters and receivers must be located within a 500-meter
> diameter circle, excluding antennas.

In a discussion with a fellow NCCC member after our Annual Awards meeting last night, a mini-debate about "remote site" operations and "rules" necessitates a question with regard to this "500-meter diameter circle" stuff (a reference was made to Tree's Packet debate post content).

What about remote-site Contesting where all the "transmitters  and receivers" are located within the area as described, but the Contest op is sitting next to his home QTH fireplace on a snowy winter evening "operating" via a notebook computer in his rocking chair?  Umh, assumably there will be more "rocking chairs" in future use as Contesters continue to age :-)

If point-to-point gear is used for the home QTH to remote site connectivity, should these be construed as "transmitters and receivers" in the food chain, thus squelching any such Contest participation for Awards purposes???  Don't many forms of "landline" connections use some form of "transmitters and receivers" in places?

If there is no problem (on the surface), what may happen when others like myself now pursuing remote locations to mitigate pee-poor home QTH's invest tens of thousands of dollars (collectively, more like Millions) over the next 5 years,  only to get nuked by somebody's "new interpretation" of the rules that would ban such venues?

IMHO, the current rules **SHOULD*** be amended to clarify "All HF or UHF/VHF Amateur transmitters and receivers specifically used on the bands of operation involved in the Contest must be located within a 500-meter diameter circle, excluding antennas.", and remain cast-in-stone for perpetuity.

Personally, I think antennas deserve to be included in the entire 500-meter diameter circle mix.  

This is a real potential can of worms that needs to get ironed out now.

Inquiring minds would like to know (especially before writing out a bunch of checks).

Tnx & 73...

Rick, K6VVA