[VHFcontesting] Can of worms (formerly Contesting ethics for rovers)

[jcplatt1 at mmm.com]

Hi Steve.

Again, just my $0.02 worth.   The Family Rule says "3.5.  A transmitter
used to contact one or more stations may not be subsequently used under any
other call during the contest period, except for family stations where more
than one call has been issued, and then only if the second call sign is
used by a different operator. (The intent of this rule is to accommodate
family members who must share a rig and to prohibit manufactured or
artificial contacts.) "

Note the last part of this rule, the part in the parenthesis ... the
"intent" part.   If a Family Rover took an "extra" handheld along for the
purpose of working each other at a grid corner parking lot, etc, that
handheld isn't a shared rig.    In addition, it tends to have the flavor of
manufacturing artificial contacts (although that could be discussed forever
I suppose).    So my thoughts are that any rover operating under the Family
Rule cannot have separate equipment - the equipment must be shared.   As
K5QE points out, one station can't work another station if they are using
the same rig and, by rule definition, a Family Rule rover must be using
shared equipment.

There may be some wiggle room for this type of operation under the
Unlimited Rover category.   One of the reasons for creating this class was
to allow for imaginative (ie, fun) operating concepts and to stimulate
activity.

73, Jon
W0ZQ/R