[VHFcontesting] Pre-contest skeds

[Tree N6TR]

> True, but it doesn't put in in a different category on HF if a 
> zillion of my friends spot me, only if I look at who else is being 
> spotted. If I have a run going and am so busy because others have 
> spotted me that I don't need to check other spots I have the best 
> of both worlds. I get the benefits of spotting without the category 
> cost.

Well - as you have demonstrated, people that have this happen (for 
whatever reason), will be talked about after the contest.  The 
specific case you cite is interesting as the person who owns the
station got so upset at what happened during the contest, that he 
won't be receptive to other people coming down to operate.  

This is a good example of a "gray area" - very similar to the current
debate about schedules.  There is a lot of discussion about both on
the internet - and this is a good thing.  Hopefully, it will result
in some kind of consensus on what acceptable practice is and we can
all feel good about following it.  Or maybe we will just disagree
and realize that there will be differences in how some people play
the game.

Trying to get yourself spotted a bunch of times by your friends is
clearly not accepted as a fair practice by the vast majority of 
contesters.  People who do this will be noticed (as you have just
proven) - whether or not they really tried to make it happen (or 
just that some of their "friends" got carried away).

In VHF, I am only really competiting against one or two locals.  We
make agreements on what is okay and not okay and then stick to it.
For example, we don't make skeds, we don't use FM except on 223.5
MHz and no packet.

Our choice is not the same choice others would make - and that is 
fine, because I am not really competiting with someone who lives
in an area with a different population density.

I just hope I stumble on another European opening on six meters!

Tree N6TR/7
tree at kkn.net