[Fourlanders] Looking For Constructive Feedback

[Jim Worsham]

Hello everyone.  As many of you know, I am a member of the VUAC representing
the Southeastern Division.  I have been monitoring many of the recent
discussions around the rover and eme contest rules.  I would like to get
some feedback from Southeastern Division folks on some ideas that are being
floated.  Again, these are just ideas at the moment so don't go around and
tell everyone you know that the VUAC is doing X.  We haven't decided on
doing anything yet and even if we do the Publications & Services Committee
has the final say and they don't always go along with VUAC recommendations.
I am looking for constructive input.  Those of you who know me know that
long rants and other non constructive input will be ignored/deleted.  So
here is what we have at the moment:

 

Further fine tuning of the rover rules.  Specify that the limited rover is
for only the lower 4 bands (6, 2, 222 and 432 in January, June and
September.  222, 432, 902/903 and 1296 in the UHF contest).  Alternative
proposals are to just specify 3 bands (6, 2 and 432) with the option of a
forth band of the rovers choice or just the 3 bands.  I am kind of leaning
towards the four band proposal myself since it would encourage activity on
222 and 902/903 but I am, as always, open to input on this.  Decrease the
number of Qs that a limited or classic rover can make with another rover.
The existing limit is 100 Qs.  There seems to be good consensus that number
is too large but there are lots of ideas around what it should be.  Some
feel that the number should be different for limited and classic rovers.
Something like 10 and 25.  Some feel that we should not limit Qs but the
score.  This has the effect of not just limiting the number of Qs but the
number of grids also since score = Qs X Grids.  Another proposal is to also
limit the total score that can come from contacts with other rovers to 50%.
I really like this idea myself.  In all cases if the rover exceeds these
limits they will be reclassified as an unlimited rover.

 

EME rules.  This is where I really need some help.  The proposal is to
eliminate the assisted category from the EME contest because of claimed
abuses (I say claimed because I am not an EME guy and have no first hand
knowledge).  My first reaction was to say fine, if that is what the EME guys
want to do then who am I to argue.  The one thing that bothers me though is
that many contests have an assisted category.  There has even been
discussion in the VUAC of adding an assisted category to the VHF contests
for those who want to use the internet, rover APRS, etc. since there seems
to be a strong demand for that.  So while on one hand the VUAC is discussing
an assisted single op in the VHF contest on the other hand we are talking
about eliminating it in the EME contest.  Kind of makes me feel conflicted.
I would really be interested in hearing from EME folks about this.

 

That is all I have for now.  I have copied W4OZK for his input.  Greg, feel
free to provide me with your input and forward this to anyone who you feel
can provide me with some good input.  The time frame on this is rather short
since we have to have our recommendations together by December 15th for the
next meeting of the Publications & Services Committee.

 

73

Jim, W4KXY