[VHFcontesting] answer to wb8smf

[frank bechdoldt]

Answer to wb8smf
 
Imagine a chess board with 8 cars on it.  Each square on the board is a grid square and represents 10 potential multipliers. 8 cars represent 70 different contacts per grid square combination.  A corner offers 16 grid square combinations for 16 x 70 qsos and 40 multipliers (since multipliers don’t repeat).  Then move your 8 cars to a new corner and repeat.  In the real world these corners are about 120 miles apart on flat land.  The QSOS are all line of sight. 30-0 or so yards apart. These 8 cars never have time to work many stations outside their circle of friends and family.
 
Giant scores are posted with this system as compared to a home station working other squares on the board or a lone rover working stations in their home squares.  This is what most rovers are doing. 
 
Of the 90 100 rovers in a contest one group beats everyone else in a self parasite effort. 
 
2 years ago rule changes were specifically rolled out to keep this type of roving in its own category.
Furthermore an new beginner class was created for the newbie’s with Icom 706 type radios.
The intent of the rule changes were clearly stated by the ARRL and VUAC.
However the rules had loopholes that were exploited in what many call an unsportsmanlike manner.
 
The history of roving goes back to a few individuals who went out portable several times in different squares  in one contest to activate rare grid squares.  
The activation of the grid squares were available to all who could work them.
This is why “Lunch Box Roving” is a non traditional and perhaps unethical when compared to the charter of the contest.
 
The fix is very simple and it has to be absolute because Wayne will bend the rules.
 
“ALL ROVER TO ROVER CONTACTS WILL NOT BE COUNTED FOR QSO POINTS OR MULTIPLIERS UNLESS BOTH ROVERS ARE UNLIMITED”
(punishes random rover contacts but fair to all rovers)
 
A compromise would be 
“ALL ROVER TO ROVER CONTACTS WILL NOT COUNT FOR MULTIPLIERS UNLESS BOTH STATIONS ARE ULIMITED”
(punishes random rover contacts but fair to all rovers)
 
Another
“ALL ROVER TO ROVER CONTACTS WILL NOT COUNT FOR QSO POINTS UNLESS BOTH STATIONS ARE UNLIMITED”
(punishes random rover contacts but fair to all rovers)
 
Another
“NO MORE THAN 10% of QSO POINTS OR MULTIPLIERS MAY COME FROM ROVER TO ROVER CONTACTS UNLESS BOTH STATIONS ARE UNLIMTED”
this assures following the spirit of the contest. May punish some rovers.
 
Another
“GRID CIRCLING IS FORBIDEN AND THE CAC WILL DETERMINE IF A LOG DEMOSTRATES GRID CIRCLING”
Takes judgment and time at the ARRL
 
Another
AN ADITIONAL MULTIPLIER WILL BE APPLIED TO ALL SCORES REFLECTING THE NUMBER OF UNIQUE CALLSIGNS WORKED.
A big leveler.
 
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