[VHFcontesting] Can of worms (formerly Contesting ethics for rovers)

[k4gun at comcast.net]

OK... as usual, I missed a couple of critical points before opening my big mouth.  I think I read the rule quite differently than it is intended.  I read that only one station was allowed per "rover vehicle" but that rule carried the exception for families.  I took that to mean that another station and callsign could be operated from within a single "rover vehicle".  If two stations are operating with distinct callsigns and each individual is not involved with operating the other station, other than sharing space within a truck, I didn't realize that they could not make QSOs with each other.  I assumed (love that word!) that in the absence of specific language against it, each station within the "rover vehicle" could have distinct equipment and if there is separate equipment, why not use it to have a QSO with the other person in the truck.

That seemed rather unsporting to me, hence the former title of the discussion.  If a husband and wife who both have licenses and both are participating in a contest and are following what I thought to be the letter of the rules, they could do just that.  The rules seem to even allow one person to do nothing more than take an HT to the other side of a parking lot to complete FM contacts only with the other person in the vehicle and that would be the only contacts that person would make.  

If there are two distinct sets of gear in a vehicle, capable of transmitting on the same bands and using separate antennas, they wouldn't even need to get out of the vehicle.  Simply turning on attenuators and reducing power to minimum would work.  Remember that there is no specific distance requirement.  It is only required that equipment be "capable" of transmitting at least a kilometer.

Am I reading this wrong?  I actually hope I am.  Somebody used the term "private grid dancer" in describing this situation.  If its legal, I'm opposed to it, but the way I read the rules, I think its allowed.

Steve



-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Bill Olson <callbill at hotmail.com> 

> 
> Hmmm indeed.. Here's what the current "rover rules" say.. (I just copied this 
> off the ARRL web page): 
> 
> 3.3.6. Rover operators may submit separate logs for single operator 
> (fixed station) in addition to their rover entries. Rovers submitting a 
> score for inclusion in a club competition must also include a secondary 
> summary sheet indicating the portion of the score that counts for the 
> club score if any of the QSOs submitted take place outside of their 
> club's territory. 
> 
> So it seems a rover at any rate can submit 2 logs.. That does NOT however say a 
> fixed station operator can submit a log from two fixed stations in different 
> grids. 
> 
> Of course, K4GUN, who made the original post, has already said "he ain't gonna 
> do it", so this is just a lot of speculation and talk, but I suppose it shows 
> we're paying attention! 
> 
> bill, K1DY 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:28:49 -0700 
> > From: kb7dqh at donobi.net 
> > To: k5qe at sabinenet.com 
> > CC: vhfcontesting at contesting.com 
> > Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Contesting ethics for rovers 
> > 
> > Hmmm... There is the rule that permits individual operators in a Multiop 
> > station to work each other on the bands 2304 AND ABOVE... provided that 
> > each operator uses "separate equipment"... "Stretched", one would "pass 
> > the gunnplexer around the campfire" so to speak, which would technically 
> > be a violation unless all the participants were in a "family" and could 
> > "share" equipment... 
> > 
> > I will have to reread the Unlimited Rover rules to see if this is allowed; 
> > where the several operators each had portable microwave equipment 
> > on-board, in addition to the Unlimited Rover's "station equipment"... It 
> > would then be possible to conveniently stop, deploy the individually owned 
> > and operated equipment, work the Unlimited Rover station, each other, then 
> > pack it up and move on... 
> > 
> > If the scenario in the last paragraph were a permitted practice for 
> > Unlimited Rovers, I could have "activated" 5 more grids last January, by 
> > simply packing the "extra" 10 Ghz gear and separated out one operator to 
> > work the Rover!!! 
> > 
> > Eric 
> > KB7DQH 
> > 
> > 
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