[VHFcontesting] APRS and Contesting

[John Geiger]

Putting out a call by using an entirely RF path is not self spotting.
Putting out an APRS signal into the computer software, with the intent of
doing so, is self spotting, because you are making sure your spot ends up on
an non-RF system.

73s John AA5JG

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nate Duehr" <nate at natetech.com>
To: "VHF Contesting eMail Remailer" <VHFcontesting at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 11, 2007 4:32 PM
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] APRS and Contesting


>
> On Aug 11, 2007, at 8:06 AM, j999w at aol.com wrote:
>
> > <Yes, but self spotting (which is what APRS would be) is illegal in
> > most
> > contests, even in the assisted category.>
> >
> > BINGO.
> >
> > "HERE I AM ... WORK ME - WORK ME!"
> >
> > Put out a decent signal, be a good operator, and we'll find 'ya.
> >
> > John K9RZZ
> > Milwaukee
>
> "CQ Contest, CQ Contest, Whisky Yankey Zero X-Ray, Rover - Delta
> November Seven Zero, Contest.  Oh no, I just gave my grid square, and
> self-spotted and disqualified myself.  I'm going home guys... have
> fun without me."
>
> Ha.  Yeah right.
>
> Or...
>
> "CQ Contest, WY0X Rover DN70, Contest" <- me
> "WY0X Rover, nice to hear you in DN70, copy my DM79, W0EEA" <- big gun
> (Note: I'm just using EEA as an example, because he's a super guy...
> and he definitely deserves the title "big gun"!)
> "Roger your DM79, thanks.  QRZ?  WY0X Rover."
> "Hey guys, WY0X Rover is now in DN70 if anyone needs him"
>
> Self-spotting = calling CQ and working big stations.  You even get my
> frequency I'm on, which you don't get on APRS.
>
> The whole argument is pointless.  The contest rules are focused on,
> and favors large multi-op stations, and probably always will be, from
> the sounds of the discussion here.
>
> Making concessions to help Rovers out is met with resistance, even if
> it's truly a ham radio network that's being used to do the helping.
>
> While multiops watch their Internet-based tools for spotting/
> propagation from their armchairs, pull up the latest radar weather
> map to see where the thunderstorms are going, etc... I'm out driving
> and burning $3/gal gas, navigating, operating, logging, getting
> rained on, and working.
>
> Somehow I think the people to ask if digipeated APRS should be a part
> of the contests would be the people who have their butts in the car
> seats, not the people with their butts in a radio room or trailer.
> But hey, that's just my opinion.
>
> Looking through the discussion, I don't think I saw a single rover
> say they didn't want it... while all the fixed stations are the ones
> saying "the sky is falling, the sky is falling!"
>
> Plus, as I mentioned two years ago, I got lucky when someone let me
> know digipeated APRS was illegal, days before the contest.  I had
> gotten a number of non-hams interested, had set up a link to
> findu.com and was ready to have a number of them watching along as I
> roved... the week of "what *IS* that thing on your Jeep" questions
> had led to, "you can follow along on this website"... "oh nevermind,
> it's against the rules".  Any excitement/interest generated in that
> group of non-hams was lost...
>
> --
> Nate Duehr, WY0X
> nate at natetech.com
>
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