[VHFcontesting] Think about this a bit....

[Bill Olson]

Hi Frank and all.. I've been VHF contesting for 50 years.. I don't consider myself a "microwave pioneer" but I have a little perspective on it I guess and the TRUTH IS the "grid circlers" or "pack rovers" or whatever you call them don't bother me at all.. We all have our reasons for doing what we do.. I just want to get on the air and work guys and have some fun and in a contest I try to get the best score i can.. Well, I AM having fun.. I assume the grid circlers are as well.. GREAT!!

Also, just as an aside, many of the "pack rovers" have really top notch 10 band stations, are serious contesters, and work LOTS of other stations besides the pack.. 

bill, K1DY

> From: k3uhf at hotmail.com
> To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
> Date: Thu, 28 May 2009 11:11:03 -0700
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] Think about this a bit....
> 
> 
> I have had a couple of discussions with people as of late that has me really wondering about the ARRL ignoring the VUAC.  
>  
> Some would suggest the ARRL will continue to allow this to happen because the massive number of QSOs generated by grid caravans with lunchboxes, and captive rovers can be used to demonstrate use of the bands by hams.
>  
> However one must question what is meaningful use of these bands?  
>  
> As a group in the contest are we participating in a con- job against the FCC itself?
>  
> Is it intellectually correct and ethically/ morally correct to with hold the true nature of what amounts to most of the collective QSOS above 2.4 ghz by ham operators.  
>  
> Lets face it for every old school pioneer distance challenged QSO on the microwaves there is now 10 short distance rover initiated contacts by grid circlers, caravan roving and captive rovers working back to the home stations.   
>  
> Is this truly better to society than other services that can be placed on these frequencies?  Such as emergency services, expanded internet and cell services ect….   
> Do we really need all that spectrum when most of the stuff above 2.4 ghz we do is 3 kc’s wide?
>  
> Its time to really ask ourselves what we going to do with these frequencies that is useful for the public as a whole.  Not to inflate someone score.
>  
> Perhaps its time to let the ARRL’s competitors for these frequencies and the fcc know what the majority of the activities on these bands are.  Just short range exchanges or semi repetitive information  for an obscure contest to justify the allocation of spectrum.
>  
> All AT&T and the FCC needs to see is those web pages of guys pack roving around the Joshua Tree.  
>  
> The old school microwave pioneers should think about what may be happening here.  
>  
>  
>  
>  
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