[VHFcontesting] Grid Circling Group & VUAC

[James Duffey]

On Jul 26, 2008, at 12:45 PM, John Geiger wrote:

> I have been following this discussion for some time now, and have the
> following questions:
>
> Where exactly in the rules does it prohibit grid circling?

It doesn't. Most grid circlers end up in the unlimited rover category.

> Where in part 97 does it prohibit this practice?

It is allowed in Part 97.

>  What exactly does make it unethical?

I don't know.

Much of ethics is personal, situational, and cultural. Thus, the  
assignment of ethical and unethical labels to practices that are  
allowed by the rules will vary from individual to individual. This is  
true of most of society's rules, not just VHF/UHF contesting. For  
instance, there are common practices in VHF/UHF contesting that are  
considered unethical in HF contesting, which many, if not most, VHF/ 
UHF contesters embrace. That is a cultural and situational issue.

Personally, I think the rules should be written so that ethics do not  
enter into the interpretation of them. That is difficult. It probably  
won't happen. Having said that I don't have the problems some have  
with the written rules for rovers the way they are, and I don't have  
problems with coordinated operations such as that carried out in  
California. They worked lots of stations other than those in the pack,  
so lots of people benefited from the activity, not just the rovers.  
This has not always been the case.

I realize that these views may not be shared by many. It is not my  
intent to stir up controversy. I realize that there are other  
interpretations. That is fine. I don't claim my ethical interpretation  
should apply to everybody. It applies to me. Similarly, I would hope  
that others would not try to apply their ethics to me. I follow the  
rules. I think everyone should. If you don't like the rules, work  
through your DIrector, representative on the VUAC, and members of the  
member services committee to change them.

Some have said that they don't claim the coordinated rover issue is  
unethical, but rather unfair. I don't know what that means with  
respect to the rules either. - Duffey

--
KK6MC
James Duffey
Cedar Crest NM