[VHFcontesting] 6m Dominant

[jcplatt1 at mmm.com]

Snip >I try and stay out of the "Rules Game" and any blogs about our
contesting aliments but I must agree with KR1ST, Chris, who suggests
removing 6m from the ARRL VHF/UHF contest. My suggestion is not to
eliminate all 6m ARRL contesting but maybe one or two especially during the
June contest. Let's give the upper bands more attention, that is where we
need to focus. 6m is a fun band but as Chris mentioned, it is in every
radio and the bands get clogged with non-contesters. Maybe a 6m only
contest is a good way for them to get inoculated to move up.
 Unsnip >



One of the cool things about VHF is that it is really multifaceted ....
lots of things to try and to experiment with.  Although many of us would
align with your comments, some 6m only op's may not.  It is generally
recognized that the ARRL June contest, like CW WW VHF,  is highly focused
on 6m because of the likelihood of sporadic E, and when 6m is open everyone
is up on 6m.   This is exactly why I don't do too much roving in the June
contest .... on the other hand some rovers really like playing on 6m, each
to their own.   I have been out roving in June and have asked 6m stations
to QSY up the bands only to have them say "sorry, 6m is open and I am going
to stay here" .... not all 6m stations, but some.   Well, I really do
understand this, it IS a contest, but it can be less fun for a rover and my
priority to turn my antennas that way next time tends to be de-emphasized !
The September and January contest are much better for 2m and up roving, and
the king of all rover contests is the ARRL August UHF contest because you
can leave the big 6m and 2m at home .... its also just a 24 hr contest thus
providing for some family time on the weekend too.

73, Jon
W0ZQ