[VHFcontesting] Updated - Rover activity and otherwise in June ARRL VHF

[James Duffey]

Nate - Thanks for your comments.

I would estimate that there are only 200 to 300 hams in the US equipped to do serious roving. It may be one of the smallest speciality groups in ham radio. So a turnout of 102 in a contest is pretty good. 

It would be nice if more of them came out and actively contested. It would be nice to get more people roving. It would be nice to get more people interested in VHF/UHF contesting. 

Roving is hard work. It is particularly hard work to set up a rover from scratch.  I am interested in what motivates a person to put together a competitive rover, rove in a couple of contests, perhaps win a section or division, and then not be heard from again as a rover. It seems like a big investment in time and effort in an activity not to continue it. 

Part of the problem is activity. When more people are on it is more fun to rove and to contest. How to build activity is the big problem. I have made several presentation in the last year or so on my roving activities and VHF contesting to various ham groups in an attempt to get others interested in roving and VHF contesting. I have been moderately successful. We will see how long their interest lasts. It does seem to pique people's attention. If anyone is interested, I can forward my presentation materials to you. Having simple homemade antennas like the WA5VJB Yagis and the N2MH Moxon seem to really get people interested. I have had people come up to me after the presentation and say "hey I can build this" I hope they do. - Duffey 
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KK6MC
James Duffey
Cedar Crest NM