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

[Christopher Burke]

On Tue, 26 May 2009 18:29:35 -0600, James Duffey <JamesDuffey at comcast.net>
wrote:

> 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.
>

No, I don't think you can use any other bands.  Here's the rule:
"...operation is permitted only on the 6 Meter, 2 Meter, 220 MHz and 432 MHz
bands."  That's different than the Limited Multiop rule: "Stations submit
logs with a maximum of four bands used. (Logs from additional bands used, if
any, should be included as checklogs.)"  With this different wording, it
certainly seems to me that while Limited Multiop can use any number of bands
and pick 4 to compete with Limited Rovers can't operate on any other band
during the contest.

That kind of makes this next point moot, but there's certainly no rule
prohibiting "limited" stations from contacting other stations on other bands
then moving them to a band they're competing with.  Prior to this rule
change it would have been perfectly legal for a Limited Rover to call CQ on
2 meters but move their contacts to 4 higher bands.  Does that make it
"right?"  No, not really, but there wasn't a rule against it (still isn't in
the case of Limited Multiop).  The only things you can't use to solicit
contacts during the contest are repeaters, 146.52, and non-Amateur radio
means.  Heck, any station (except Limited Rovers :-) can call CQ on 20
meters and have your contacts move to 50 MHz and above for contest credit.
Not sure how effective it would be, but you could do it.

73!  Chris N9YH



-- 
Chris Burke
chris at n9yh.com