[VHFcontesting] distance scoring

[Jim Worsham]

I know I am going to regret this but I am going to throw my two cents in on
this subject with a story.  Every year when W4NH goes to the top of Soco
Bald in NC we always take a bunch of maps of all the surrounding states with
us.  Why you ask?  Because every contest we get at least a few and sometimes
more than just a few stations who don't even know what a grid square is let
alone which one they are in.  When that happens we pull out the maps and do
twenty questions trying to determine where they are at (no, we don't do this
if the band is open).  Usually we can get enough information to determine
their 4 digit grid square.  Six digits?  Forget about it!  The reason
distance scoring works on 10 GHz and 160 meters is because the folks on
those bands know what they are doing.  The guy who just got an Icom 706 and
is using it on an FM vertical at home for the first time and just happens to
hear W4NH calling CQ doesn't know what he is doing.  It is going to be a
real shame and discouraging when I tell him that his contact doesn't count
because he doesn't know his six digit grid square.  That having been said,
you might be able to convince me that it would be something to try in the
UHF contest.  Most of the operators in that contest are experienced.  For
January, June and September where you will have some significant number of
newbies distance scoring is counter productive.

73
Jim, W4KXY
W4NH Six Meter Band Captain
VUAC Southeastern Division Representative

-----Original Message-----
From: vhfcontesting-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of aa4zz at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 9:12 AM
To: jcplatt1 at mmm.com; vhfcontesting at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] distance scoring

The Europeans do distance scoring in many of their VHF contests so one could
look there for ideas. However, the European VHF community is very familiar
with six digit grids and their?distance scoring is based on it.?We still run
in to the occasional OP who doesn't even know his? four digit grid. The
Europeans also don't have Rovers; keeping up with six digit grids for a
Rover in motion would present quite a few challenges.

73 Paul AA4ZZ




-----Original Message-----
From: jcplatt1 at mmm.com
To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
Sent: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 8:38 am
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] distance scoring



snip >I find it amazing that almost exactly 10 years after Gene wrote that
article that we are still discussing the concept - and even more surprising
that there still isn't a vhf+ contest (other than the 10GHz events) that
uses a distance scoring scheme.  < unsnip


Hi Ed.  Do you know if a serious proposal (ie, rules) has ever been
posted ?   I agree its been a lot of talk, good talk, but the devil is in
the details .... or in this case, the rules.  As I have posted before any
such rules have to be written such that they are enforceable and
understandable, and take into account the unique issues of all the VHF
bands from 6m through Light.  Also, most likely, logging software would
have to be updated.  Perhaps its time for less talk and more pen to paper -
if its such a good idea, lets see some proposals.

73, Jon
W0ZQ

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