[UK-CONTEST] VHF Contesting Activity

Tue Dec 9 12:26:33 EST 2008

Hi Dave,

With all respect, comparing VHF Contesting and HF Contesting is same as
comparing buses and airplanes.
They are both doing similar stuff but are diametrically different.

No, in VHF Contests you do not plan when to take day hour off, you just
don't as there is no such a think as grayline etc. You never know if Es
will show it's face and unless you run and try, you wont get answers. 
Also, I can assure you that having 600-800km QSO on 10GHz is just about
same excitement as working west coast through pile up on 80.
I just have feeling from your posts that HF is only place for big boys
and VHF is for CBers. Well, if it's so easy then go on and win some.

If you want to talk about facts, then very simple facts are that
population of UK is much larger than in S5,9A,OK,OM with much more
licensed hams.
Entries for VHF Contests, mainly for ones running along with IARU Region
1 major contests are very limited. If you compare about 40 entries in
144 MHz trophy/Region 1 VHF Contest against 400+ with entries only from
OK/OL, then you might get better picture.
And if you look closely, you will find out that HF is similar in
numbers.

What are we missing then?
It's approach. I don't think it's fault of rules but most of us just
settle for excuse like: well, it's not winnable from UK, or why to
bother for 50Qs.
That's completely wrong and is against whole point of Amateur Radio
contesting. We suppose to have fun at first pace and get more
competitive. Not just moan and do nothing. When there is problem, we
should challenge it.
I heard that there is lift on vhf/uhf and I always wanted 23cm QSO to OK
where I was born. I packed up, took a small 21el yagi and 10W rig and
went on top of hill and worked it. Exactly same feeling as being called
by VA7XX on 80m in middle of summer.

So if you say that being competitive in CQ WW is different league
compared to VHF you are wrong. You are talking about different game but
idea is same and skill sets differs. But they are not smaller.

All the best,

Jiri

-----Original Message-----
From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of David, G3YYD
Sent: 09 December 2008 16:24
To: uk-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] VHF Contesting Activity

Ray

With the changes made it does not answer the problem of challenge and 
reward. HF contesting provides a really rich environment to work in. The

levels of skill needed to be a reasonable contester are much much 
higher. Let us take CQ WW contests. There are 6 bands of propagation to 
juggle with, knowing when to run and when to S&P. When to change band. 
Understanding how to maximum scores not just QSOs. When is the best time

to take time out and have some sleep/refreshment for a SO. With multi 
ops when do I schedule which operator to get the best result with all 
their different abilities and skills. What category should I enter. What

are the technical aspects I need to have in place? I can make well over 
1,000 QSOs in a HF weekend contest and the top SO2R ops probably above 
2,000 QSOs.

How do you get that sort of skill demand and activity level in a VHF 
contest? Basically you can't for a straight VHF contest.

I was at this year's HF convention and a contest university was run, it 
was packed to standing room only.  OK many were experienced contesters, 
but most were not. Is there a VHF and above equivalent? If there is, I 
have never heard of it. How about holding contest universities for VHF 
and above?

I take the point about within UK contests. Judging by what I hear on 80M

then within UK HF contests are very popular with attendant high QRM 
levels as the band does not have enough bandwidth and that is also part 
of the challenge. How can we get an equivalent on say 2M? How about the 
guys who have excellent QTHs and dominate the results? Why not like 
BARTG RTTY contests have a compulsory expert category for those who made

a top ten position in any of the last 3 years- incidentally I am the 
only G currently in that BARTG category. This then gives a chance to the

guys with poorer QTHs to do well in a category.

I take the point about weak signal work, yep I can get about 2200KM from

my QTH with enhanced propagation may be a little more if I am lucky to 
2500KM. Most of the time there is no enhanced propagation so I am 
limited to about 500 to 600KM on troposcatter. Quite frankly that is 
nothing compared to what can be done on HF and even on 160M where I can 
exceed that maximum VHF enhanced range every night. What is the 
incentive for me to use my 2M station for DXing when I find 160M DXing a

much greater challenge then the simplicity of 2 metres with its low 
activity levels?

There may be a lot of clubs around, but unless the members find 
contesting interesting the clubs will not do it. Amateur Radio is a 
voluntary activity and to get people to do things the "landscape" needs 
to be gardened to enable them to have enthusiasm and drive in that area.

The VHF contesting activity speaks for itself about how people are 
responding in the current climate. So how can the climate be changed and

I for one would suggest need to start looking at why within UK HF 
contests are so popular and how to link with those contests to encourage

VHF contest activity. May be initially as gaining bonus point alongside 
an HF club/team contest? We need to think creatively and step outside 
the VHF/HF silo mentality.

David G3YYD

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