[VHFcontesting] Grid Circling Group & VUAC

[k4gun at comcast.net]

Thanks James.  Believe it or not, I really started the discussion about that one rover who didn't submit a log.  It really is a question of sheer curiosity and not an accusation of any kind.  The guy placed 1st Rover in 2007 and 2005 and has not placed lower than 5th as far back as the ARRL posts scores.  One person also said he won some award as Rover of the Year in 2005.  It really seems out of place for him not to submit a log.

The other questions that have come up are coincidentally about the group that this guy operates with.  I will freely admit that I don't like the practice.  However, I don't want to whine about it.  I'm not experienced enough to have earned the right to complain too much.  It does frustrate me though that no matter how much I improve my antennas, radios, amps, routes, operating practices, modes or anything else, there is no chance of competing for anything other than 2nd place.

There is something else as well.  Let's say I am not the type that has to compete for 1st place.  Let's say I can be satisfied to look at my progress in the hobby and only use the scores of others as a barometer of how others with similar situations did.  I can always look at the Scores Database on the ARRL web site and sort by bands and power.  I don't need a plaque to do that.  But if I'm doing that, why even bother with 3 rover categories?  Why not just leave it at one?  It seems rather pointless to have three categories if all three are still dominated by guys doing the grid dance with several buddies.

Again, this has nothing to do with N6TEB's log submission.  They are different topics.  One was an idle question and the other is a genuine concern that I'm not sure I have standing to get too worked up about.

Steve
K4GUN/R

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: James Duffey <JamesDuffey at comcast.net> 

> Dave - You wrote "Why don't you guys just stop bashing rovers?" 
> 
> K4GUN, who started this thread is a rover. He is a pretty good one 
> too. He goes to lots of grids, operates several bands, and replies to 
> all who call. He goes out in the January and September contests where 
> there isn't much activity. He doesn't directly coordinate with other 
> rovers to grid square. He isn't a captive rover. He finishes pretty 
> high in the regional standings. His complaints are made from 
> experience, not the desire to bash. 
> 
> As I interpret his posting, he is concerned that his efforts are 
> diluted by those rovers who do coordinate with other rovers to grid 
> square. Although this practice was to be eliminated with the new rule 
> changes from the limited rover and rover classes, limited and 
> unlimited rovers can coordinate with unlimited rovers to maximize 
> their scores using similar techniques. K4GUN doesn't do this, probably 
> doesn't have the opportunity to do this, and thinks it is unfair to 
> him when he competes in the same category with those stations that do 
> this. 
> 
> Whether or not this is a valid complaint depends on your point of 
> view. These practices are certainly within the rules. But it is a 
> complaint about rovers by rovers, not rover bashing by fixed station 
> ops. K4GUN would just like to see the rules changed to eliminate what 
> he considers loopholes in the rules. No bashing. 
> 
> As to the VUAC, I think they did a good job in revising the rover 
> rules. The revisions are not perfect, and could use some tweaking, but 
> they are a significant improvement over what we had. 
> 
> Your mileage may vary. I got about 2.8 QSOs/gallon in the CQ VHF 
> contest. :^)= - Duffey 
> -- 
> KK6MC 
> James Duffey 
> Cedar Crest NM 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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