[VHFcontesting] KC2QZF/R Response to Current Issues

[Mark Adams, PE]

OK, not from me, but Steve, KC2QZR/R. Some issue is keeping his posts  
from being accepted. So here it goes:
____________________
Steve KC2QZF/R here.

I'm by all means of measure the new kid on this block
but figure I can throw in my inflation adjusted $0.02

I went out January 2008 for the first time every as a
limited rover. We only worked a few hours on saturday until
my co-pilot got cold and we went home. We still had a ball,
and I was hooked.

This year, new co-pilot with better cold tolerance. Worked
both days. Worked from 6 grids. I was aware of another
rover's plans and he was aware of ours. As a result, we
were able to work each other a couple times over some
significant distances but made no attempt to grid circle. We
worked anybody we could hear, and called cq quite a bit.
Nothing like having to manually rotate the stack in 30+MPH
winds at 15 deg in blowing snow.

Bottom line is we went out and worked the
"spirit" of the rules, not the letter of the law.
Look at the soapbox photo. We are nothing special, limited
even for a limited rover. But everything we took worked and
everything we worked, we worked for.

We did not publish a sked with any local groups. the only
scheduled meet we had was for dinner on sunday and we were
WAY late! We did beacon on APRS, but strict location only.
we used a cell phone ONCE to let the other guys know we were
going to be late for dinner. no email. no texting. nothing.
the spirit of the rules.

And we even managed what I feel to be a respectable score.

So what to do about the "problem"? Beats me. We
know we went out and played it straight, and did the best we
could. I'm inclined to spend time improving our
technique, locations, and equipment rather than going over
the rules with a magnifier looking for loopholes and tricks
I can use to inflate my score. It's easier to be proud
of my score knowing that, and I don't mind telling
people how I got it.

but hey thats just me.

So good luck all with the "problem". If I get a
prize, great. if not, great. I keep it in perspective.

73's!

Steve KC2QZF/R The limited Limited Rover