[CQ-Contest] Open Letter to VE Contesters

[Ed Richardson]

It seems several times a year there is a discussion on this forum about leveling the playing field. Based on past years scores for ARRL DX, the field seems pretty level already, as long as you happen to live on the east coast of North America. As Mentioned by Kelly and others, the remainder of us geographically challenged folks accept it for what it is and enter contests to have fun, improve our skills, work some DX and have fun. To limit the phone bands for VE/US stations to match the US sub bands would spoil a lot of the fun for many of us. 

In reality how many VE stations operate below 14.150, 21.200 and 7.125 simultaneously. I am guessing less than 10 at any one moment. I know your comments were not meant for the VE4-VE8 stations, but I don't feel the rules should be changed because of an apparent perceived advantage for some far east coast stations. 

Usage of those frequencies allows Europeans to work many VE multipliers that they would not otherwise be able to find. Likewise it allows VE statiosn to work some of the sub 100W stations they would not be able to work. This increases the fun for many participants. 

You are not suggesting that DX stations should be discouraged from operating split on 40m are you? They clearly take advantage of receiving in the less crowded 7.2-7.3 MHz band. 

I believe a rule change would not alter the outcomes of who wins and loses but would impact the enjoyment of many participants, both DX and W/VE. 

Ed VE4EAR 



----- Original Message -----

From: "Ed Sawyer" <sawyered at earthlink.net> 
To: cq-contest at contesting.com 
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 6:23:55 AM 
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Open Letter to VE Contesters 

With the upcoming ARRL SSB contest, why not see if you can actually beat us 
this year by voluntarily abiding by the US Phone Sub bands. Its really kind 
of silly to think you have won something (other than the other similarly 
minded VEs) to sit on 21195 or 14145 and 7120 and CQ all day undisturbed 
while the rest of us fight it out above you. Don't you think? 



I personally think that this should become a rule change for this contest. 
But getting the ARRL to change the rule is not going to be easy. And a 
survey is kind of a joke since I would expect that virtually every US 
responder would agree and last I checked, the ratio of US to VE is about 
10:1. 



Nothing being done wrong by continuing practice.the rules do not speak on 
this issue. But it would feel so much better to win and know you did it 
this way. 



73 



Ed N1UR