[VHFcontesting] cherry picking

[Kenneth E. Harker]

On Sun, Dec 16, 2007 at 12:10:26AM -0600, Ray J wrote:
> I think that the limited-multi class should be akin to a "beginners" 
> multi op..
> 
>  You could get some "big gun" multi op station that scores huge numbers 
> on their bottom bands.. but know they are not going to win in the 
> regular multi class so they "move down" to the limited class and kick 
> butt... I do not feel thats right....  you should have to score all the 
> qso's that  you work.  And if someone should  decide not to use them 
> bands that they could operate,  then....  shame on them...

This is ridiculous.  There is nothing shameful in operating M/L and doing
well.  Stations in Chicagoland or Texas, for example, will never be able to 
compete for victory in the M/U class simply because of the deomgraphics of the 
VHF amateur radio population.  But we can compete to try to win the M/L
class because six meters in the great equalizer and can overcome differences
in available 144/222/432 potential contacts (the current points structure 
makes it impossible when you add the higher bands).  I enter contests 
primarily for the competition, for the sport, which is what a contest is 
supposed to be about.

Instead of trying to shame the M/L stations, maybe you should be focusing on
what to do to make the M/U class more competitive and therefore more 
interesting to more potential stations.  The current points structure and 
the rampant unchecked cheating with captive rovers currently make it very 
uninteresting to those of us east of the Appalachians.

-- 
Kenneth E. Harker WM5R
kenharker at kenharker.com
http://www.kenharker.com/