[VHFcontesting] More APRS

[Dave Agsten]

WM5R Wrote:
   
  "But, I think it would 
improve the spirit of the competition if that initial contact were
made by someone answering a genuine CQ on the air."
   
   
  I think we're making a mountain out of a mole hill here on APRS. As quite a few guys have already stated, APRS would only be used to show what grid square a rover is currently in. That's it, nothing else. It would be no different than knowing where to point your antenna to work a fixed station. It's as simple as that.
   
  As far as "answering a genuine CQ on the air" is concerned, does that mean you can't call another station when you hear him finish a QSO with someone else? ( He's not calling CQ!) Ridiculous, right? Well, that's how silly some of this discussion is getting.
   
  It's also been mentioned that you can include your grid square when calling CQ. That's certainly true. But then there would be some who say that that is giving out your grid square before the actual contact. Let's take that a step further. What if conditions are up and down on 6 meters? You hear a station calling CQ and announcing the grid square. You call, the station comes back but drops out before you actually hear the grid square. ( Or you don't completely hear it) Does that contact count? It's suppose to be part of the exchange, right? I'd say it doesn't count. But, how many log it anyway? I know this all depends on the sequencing between stations, but it could happen. Also, what about when I'm calling CQ on CW. As a few of us know, that's a great mode when conditions are down. I don't send my grid square when calling CQ on CW.  Lots of stations don't even listen in the CW portion of the bands. I wonder why?  I guess the point is that we could poke numerous holes in
 the already exisiting contest rules. As we all know, those rules are followed to the letter.
   
  I was hoping that something as simple as APRS position reporting or a single op rover category could be incorporated into the various VHF/UHF contests. I'm guessing that that is not going to happen. I won't be wasting anymore time configuring a rover for 5 "contests" a year. Fortunately, there are other aspects of ham radio that are even more appealing to me than VHF contesting and I can operate on those bands and modes 365 days a year.
   
  73 to all,
  Dave N8AG

       
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