[VHFcontesting] Rover Suggestions

[James Duffey]

Lots of good suggestions already, I haven't heard this one yet:

For at least one of the three VHF contests, and maybe all three, list  
rover operations by grid square and make awards to rovers by grid  
square. It is a bit inconsistent to have the exchange be grid squares  
and then make awards by sections. It would recognize rovers for what  
they do best, put inactive grid squares on the air. The probability  
is good that a rover would get at least one piece of paper for the  
efforts.

I am not an experienced rover. My first roving effort was in this  
June's contest and I had a blast. I was six meters only with an old  
IC551D and a 2 element Yagi. There aren't a lot of active VHF  
contesters in New Mexico. I activated 6 grids total and made a grand  
total of 21 contacts in 5 grids and three states. As far as I can  
tell, I was the only activity from at least 4 grids including one  
that had not been activated previously in a VHF contest, at least  
recently. I know the guys that worked me in those grids really  
appreciated it and that made the roving worthwhile to me. There was  
no E-skip while I was on the air, which would have made things much  
better. I put 695 miles on the Soob and spent one night in a motel.  
Not a cheap weekend, but my wife and I saw a lot of NM.

I like the suggestions about allowing APRS and limited bands. - Duffey


--
James Duffey KK6MC/5
Cedar Crest NM 87008
DM65