[VHFcontesting] [VHF] Changes to ARRL VHF Contest Rules

Tue May 26 14:03:10 PDT 2009

Steve and I usually see eye to eye, but we seem to be in disagreement over 
this.

1.2ghz is only available on the IC-910H and the Kenwood TS-2000 to my 
knowledge. I guess that makes it a little easier to get on that band than 
222, but not much. I can think of at least a half dozen rigs that offer 222 
FM mode.

If the league had opted to have the "fourth" band be 1.2ghz or a band of the 
operators choice, then you don't really address the problem of people 
entering limited rover category with four microwave bands. The original 
concept was to encourage more rover operation using the so-called "DC to 
Daylight rigs". I suspect that many divisions will be won by someone 
operating only three of the four bands this year.

Besides Steve, 222 is possibly the best VHF band we have. Any move that 
encourages more operation on 222 is great in my book. A transverter and a 
small amp can be had for under $600 and many rigs are sold with at least 
limited 222 FM capability. I'll certainly be monitoring 222 FM during the 
June contest. Maybe some more guys will put those five watt rigs to work.

I'm also pleased with the UHF Contest rules, for the same reason. More 
activity on 902 and 1.2ghz. All good!

Hat's off to the league for this one.

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
EM63nf
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Crownhaven" <crownhaven at bellsouth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 3:29 PM
To: "Russ Pillsbury" <russk2t at comcast.net>
Cc: "'Les Rayburn'" <les at highnoonfilm.com>; "'Kutzko, Sean, KX9X'" 
<kx9x at arrl.org>; <vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu>; "'VHF Contesting Reflector'" 
<vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [VHF] Changes to ARRL VHF Contest Rules

> The problem I see with this rule is the bands they selected.  Not that 
> many folks have access to 222.  All of your popular all-band radios now 
> have 1296 though.  I would have rather seen 50, 144, 432 and 1296 or 
> allowing the station to choose four out of the five.  Can anyone explain 
> this???????????
>
> Steve, N4JQQ, EM55
>
> Russ Pillsbury wrote:
>> I've gotta say that this rule does not make sense to me.  Why should 
>> limited
>> stations be restricted to the bottom four bands?  If it is a 4 band 
>> limit,
>> that should be good enough.  Why could not they choose 144, 222, 432, 
>> 1296,
>> for instance.  I do not see how that would give anyone an unfair 
>> advantage
>> over the guy who is on six meters instead of 1296!
>>
>> Sometimes I do not think these committees really think things over very
>> throughly.  The objective should be to improve activity - on any band 
>> that
>> the participants can muster.  And I never saw anyone asking for comments 
>> on
>> this idea before implemenation.  Why not?
>>
>> Russ K2TXB
>>
>>
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: owner-vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu [mailto:owner-vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu] 
>>> On Behalf Of Les Rayburn
>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 3:45 PM
>>> To: Kutzko, Sean, KX9X; vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu; VHF Contesting Reflector
>>> Subject: Re: [VHF] Changes to ARRL VHF Contest Rules
>>>
>>> I'd like to congratulate the league on these steps. The original idea 
>>> behind the limited rover category was to allow newcomers like myself to 
>>> try their hand at roving, and still be competitive. Removing the 
>>> loophole that allowed
>>> (legally) stations to equip rovers with the highest bands for larger 
>>> point totals should help serve that original intent.
>>>
>>> This may alter my own plans for the June contest. Can I now ask a newbie 
>>> question? If I chose to make contacts on higher bands such as 1.2ghz or 
>>> 10ghz but not submit them for points in my log, can other stations still 
>>> legally claim those contacts?
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Les Rayburn, N1LF
>>> EM63nf
>>> 121 Mayfair Park
>>> Maylene, AL 35114
>>>
>>>
>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>> From: "Kutzko, Sean, KX9X" <kx9x at arrl.org>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 2:20 PM
>>> To: <vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu>; "VHF Contesting Reflector" 
>>> <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
>>> Subject: [VHF] Changes to ARRL VHF Contest Rules
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi folks-
>>>>
>>>> The ARRL Programs and Services Committee approved the
>>> following VUAC's
>>>> recommendations to the ARRL VHF Contest program:
>>>>
>>>> 1) Limited Rover: Limited Rovers will now be able to enter
>>> only on the
>>>> four lowest bands for any given ARRL VHF contest. For January, June and 
>>>> September, this means 6 Meters, 2 Meters, 220 MHz and
>>> 432 MHz. For
>>>> the August UHF Contest, this means 220 MHz, 432 MHz, 902
>>> MHz and 1.2 GHz.
>>>
>>>> 2) Club Competition is now permitted in the August UHF Contest.
>>>>
>>>> These changes take effect immediately, and have been noted
>>> on the ARRL
>>>> web site. Stations planning to enter as limited Rover in
>>> the 2009 ARRL
>>>> June VHF QSO Party should take note.
>>>>
>>>> 73,
>>>>
>>>> Sean Kutzko, KX9X
>>>> Contest Branch Manager
>>>>
>>>> ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio
>>>> 225 Main Street
>>>> Newington CT 06111-1494
>>>> Telephone: 860-594-0232
>>>> Fax: 860-594-0259
>>>> email:skutzko at arrl.org
>>>>
>>>> Read the "Notes From The Contest Branch" blog at www.arrl.org/blog
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