[VHFcontesting] VHF sked alternative

[k4gun at comcast.net]

In examining how I did in the recently completed VHF contest, I keep hearing a similar comment from people.  There were a lot of people looking for me when I was in a couple of rare grids, but I never heard them.  One was a specific sked and the others were just "I'll find you" appointments.  I'm still unsure what happened.  Either my antennas were not up to the task or we all just barely missed each other.  More than likely, it was a combination of both of those.  

The obvious cure for the poor antennas is to improve the antenna system.  That's in the works.  The other issue seems to have a simple solution as well.  During the contest, I would listen and spin the dial for a while and then call CQ on clear frequencies near other large stations.  If I was calling at the same time other stations were calling for me, we would never find each other.  

The obvious solution is to have a 2nd radio dedicated specifically to listening to a pre-determined frequency and then telling everybody you know what that frequency is.  If a base station finds themselves in a good pile-up at a scheduled time, they can just wait and call on the rover's calling frequency when they have a chance.  As long as the rover keeps roughly on a driving schedule and leaves one radio on to a specific listening frequency, all should be well.  

Did I just re-invent the wheel?  I've seen guys mention a listening frequency, but I didn't get the impression that this was on a second radio and was in liu of setting up skeds.  A listening only radio with a dedicated omni-directional antenna would seem to be a good idea.  Even if the rover got ahead or behind schedule, they would likely be within the beamwidth of stations looking for them.  Meanwhile, they are free to switch bands, call or listen anywhere they like without missing any people looking specifically for them.

This is one of those little tid-bits that really struck me in examining how things went for this contest.  Like I said, I realize this is probably something pretty common, but I just seem to have missed it.

Steve