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

[James Duffey]

Les - You wrote:

"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   
1.2 GHz or 10 Ghz but not submit them for points in my log, can other  
stations still legally claim those contacts?"

This is a multilayered question. And there is lots of room for abuse.  
Not by you, I am sure, but by others, looking for a loophole.  
Personally I think that if you operate on 6 bands you should enter as  
a Classic Rover, otherwise, you are trying to have your cake and eat  
it too, that is have the fun and challenge of operating on as many  
bands as you have, and only competing with those who operate four  
bands. While there may not be a rule against this, there certainly is  
a rule against using these bands to increase your score on the lower  
bands. So if you contact someone on 1296 or 10 GHz and then move them  
to one of the 4 limited rover bands, your limited score has benefited  
from you operating other bands and you are required to enter as a  
Classic Rover.

One problem in HF contesting is not declaring what category you want  
to enter the contest in, operating such that you have a couple of  
options, looking at the 3830 scores or logs received, and then  
selecting the category you have the best chance of winning after the  
contest is over. This is not the best way to encourage or reward  
competition. In the HF contesting world that practice is considered  
opportunistic, predatory, shady, and sometimes unethical. I am sure  
that you would not do this, but others may, and that is why it is best  
that no one do it.

But my real interest in your question is why, if you have a well  
equipped six band rover, would you want to enter in the four band  
category? Is it not better to step up to the heavier competition of  
the Classic Rover category rather than try to best those that are not  
as well equipped as you are?
My opinion, and I have recently wrestled with this dilemma. More on  
that in a subsequent post. - Duffey

--
KK6MC
James Duffey
Cedar Crest NM