[VHFcontesting] LR - Worth the Effort? But what about the awards?

[k4gun at comcast.net]

For the June contest, there are 10 plaques available for each rover category.  All 10 are sponsored this year.  I know this because I talked Toyota into sponsoring them.  Unfortunately, the lady from the ARRL hasn't sent me an invoice yet, but I'm assuming that's because there may not be 10 entries in all categories.  As soon as I get the invoice, the check will be cut and those who won them will get them in due time.

Steve
K4GUN/R

Oh... did I mention I run the truck department at a Toyota dealership in Springfield VA?  That's the connection.

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Alex" <kr1st at amsat.org> 

> I think the relevancy of an operating class as seen by a contest sponsor is 
> shown by the awards it offers. For the VHF QSO party my wife and I 
> participated in as a first time rover, this is all that is offered by the 
> contest sponsor (from http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2008/june-vhf.html 
> ): 
> 
> "8.3. Top Rover in each ARRL Division and Canada where significant effort or 
> competition is evident. (Rover entries are not eligible for single-band 
> awards.)" 
> 
> Note that is says "division" and not section. There are lots of operating 
> awards for single ops and multi ops and even limited multi ops *in each 
> section*(!), and even single bands awards for them, but there's just one 
> award in each division for rovers, and rovers can't even compete for single 
> band awards. 
> 
> When I look at the states in my division that I have to compete against, I 
> may as well not even try if we were interested in awards. We'd have to drive 
> hundreds of miles before we get into an area with some decent elevation and 
> activity where we could be competitive. Good thing we saw it as a 
> recreational activity. However, it would be nice if there was a reasonable 
> way to win some sort of competitive recognition for your efforts when you're 
> willing to spend many dollars on a sponsored event (who actually is doing 
> the sponsoring?). 
> 
> I'd think that the number of awards available for rovers could be easily 
> expanded to one for each section without breaking the bank (and if it does, 
> let's talk, I'm sure we can solve that). I understand that a rover can cross 
> state lines, or section lines but that is no argument in my opinion to not 
> offer the same opportunities to rovers as they are offered to single, multi 
> and portable ops. The fact that you are willing to set up well working weak 
> signal mobile operation should be rewarded, not punished. 
> 
> The state on the license for the call used by a rover could be used to issue 
> awards. 
> 
> 73, 
> --Alex KR1ST 
> http://www.kr1st.com 
> 
> 
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