[VHFcontesting] A reasonable approach to the grid circling problem....

Marshall Williams k5qe at sabinenet.com
Thu Nov 20 18:39:03 EST 2008


Hello to everyone.....K1IIG has posted that this is not a rover 
reflector and that we should stop talking about the rover rules.  He is 
right....this is not a rover reflector, it is a VHF Contesting 
reflector.  I believe that rovers *ARE* VHF contesting.  If rovers were 
removed from VHF / UHF contesting there would be very little left.  
Unless you live in the NE "sweet spot", you would work the 20-30 
stations in your "local" area and you would be done.  A great 6M opening 
in June would certainly expand on that as would a lucky tropo opening.  
Still, there would be very little after you worked the "locals".  
Certainly, there would be plenty of close in grids that would never be 
worked without rovers. 

I think that I have finally distilled the grid circling problem in my 
mind.  If grid circling is allowed to become pervasive, we will end up 
with an invincible group of grid circlers in each Division.  After that, 
all the other rovers will decide to take up something else.  This result 
will be a big loss for everyone.  The new ham / new rover will not go 
out if he understands that the system is rigged against him.  We need 
that new blood.  Experienced rovers will not go out, drive 1000+ miles, 
spend a lot of money, and bust their butts if they know that they have 
no chance. 

People do what they are incentivized to do.  Grid circling is a major 
dis-incentive to all the other rover participants.  It seems reasonable 
to allow the Unlimiteds to grid circle, but not the other two classes.  
This proposal does not completely ban grid circling, so anyone that just 
has to grid circle can enter as an Unlimited Rover.  I believe that most 
everyone wants a fair and level playing field for VHF contesting.  I 
believe that this proposal would go a long way towards that goal.

I put forward no technical specifications for actually accomplishing 
this goal--no exact definition of what grid circling is or is not.  Some 
have recommended that Rover and Limited Rover entrants should be limited 
to 20 or 10 contacts with any other rover.  I do not know what is right 
here.....I am sure more discussion will narrow in towards a workable 
solution.

I have proposed elsewhere that the Limited Rover class be exactly 6M, 2M 
and 432 with power limits of 100/50/35 Watts.  I believe that this 
specification would make the Limited Rover class absolutely fair and 
guarantee a level playing field.  Anyone with an IC706, IC7000, Yaesu 
857D, Yaesu 897D, Yaesu 736R, or a TS2000 could compete on a completely 
fair basis.  Others insist that there be a fourth band.  Some want 6M, 
2M, 222, and 432.  Others want 6M, 2M, 432, and 1296.  Others want 6M, 
2M, 432, and a fourth band of your choice.  Again more discussion should 
result in a compromise that we can all endorse. 

I look forward to reasoned / reasonable proposals and / or ideas.  I 
believe that we can work this out in a decent and civilized manner.  
Please save the flames for lighting the logs in the fireplace. 

73 Marshall K5QE

P.S.  I have been informed that the Philladelphia lawyers cannot come up 
with a definition of grid circling that does not include pack 
roving.....indeed many do not see the difference at all.  If that be 
true, then, sadly, we must also prohibit pack roving to the lower two 
classes. 


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