[VHFcontesting] Captive Roving...whatever that is, really

[Nate Duehr]

Ev Tupis wrote:

> ON THE OTHER HAND, if contest sponsors would *publish* a "% unique Callsigns" statistic along with the line scores, I'd bet that the "court of public opinion" would act like garlic to a vampire and cast such behavior to the depths of Hades.

During years when 6m doesn't open out here in the wide-open land of 
Colorado, ALL of our so-called "unique callsign scores" which Ev 
recommends, will suck.

We'll work the same 10-20 guys all weekend, on as many bands as we have 
and realize that the contest for that year is the usual "whoever has the 
most bands wins", and go home happy, like we usually do.

Because it's fun.

Compared with the "target rich environments" of the coasts, we'll 
probably always look bad on that made-up (and ultimately useless for 
here) statistic, out here in the wide open West.  Except when 6m opens.

For those of us that go out in the middle of nowhere, we'd really like 
folks to seriously think about not worrying about the "self-spotting" 
aspects of APRS via digis, and let us rovers run it for safety, 
publicity, and fun, as well...

I would really LIKE to be "self-spotted" if I drive off the road into a 
ditch and hurt myself.

Not to mention that I had at least 20 non-hams interested in folowing my 
progress this year on the various online maps, until I realized that 
running APRS would disqualify me.  It was looking to be pretty good "PR" 
for our hobby up until the point a kind friend warned me that APRS via a 
digi system would be considered self-spotting.

Meanwhile the ops sitting at home in comfy leather chairs, big pot of 
coffee, big desk for writing, fancy gear for listening and talking, and 
a good bed to sleep in (if they want to) or at least an easy chair... 
have their spotting networks and Internet toys and real-time logging 
tools and ... talk about spoiled!  (GRIN)

Anything at all to encourage roving - anything.  There were less than 
100 of us NATIONWIDE, if I'm reading the data from ARRL correctly.  Less 
than 100 rovers in a nationwide contest, and HOW MANY FT-100D's, 
FT-857's, and other rigs capable of VHF/UHF SSB sold in the last few 
years?!  Come ON.  You guys want better scores, more fun, and more 
contacts?  Make *SURE* you figure out a way to get Joe Ham with an 
FT-857D out in his car and driving next June.

Probably the #1 thing that would encourage roving would be to have a 
"FT-100D/FT-857" type of class that only encourages VHF/UHF operation 
for rovers that only have a single commonly available VHF/UHF all-mode 
radio.  There are A LOT of poor hams who simply can't afford an 
all-band, all-mode push for their first roving experience.

I'd grid-circle them, pack-rove with them, buy them lunch (or share my 
powerbars with them, at least!), massage their tired butts (HA! Ok, not 
THAT!), call their wives and make excuses for them... I don't care! 
WHATEVER.

Whatever would get them to have a GREAT time, get a good score they 
could be proud of, and COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND ROVE AGAIN... maybe with 
more bands!

Hell, I'll even help 'em hook up the radios and loan them gear and ask 
them to be captive rover-to-rover!  (Just kidding, of course.  Trying to 
make light of that stupid tired argument.)

You guys need to come on out to the mountains and get away from all that 
bitter, nasty, grumpyness you all seem to have on the coasts... and all 
these forever-arguments about the rules.  There's nothing that'll put a 
smile on your face faster than working 10 GHz from 14,000' on top of 
Pikes Peak.

For your viewing pleasure... a beautiful sunny day in Colorado:
http://www.pikespeakcam.com/

My $0.02 minus taxes, shipping and handling...

Nate WY0X