[VHFcontesting] Opportunities and Possibilities [was:Rover rules and criticisms]

[Ev Tupis]

----- Original Message ----

From: Jim Forsyth <mail at jimforsyth.com>

When I operate in a category other than rover I get smoked by the guys back 
east. It will always be that way because of their higher population density 
and superior propagation. Why should I be in the same category as them?

Why should a five band station be in the same category as a six band 
station?
Why should a 150 watt station be in the same category as a 180 watt station?
Why should a hill top station be in the same category as a valley station?
Why should a station that operates for 20 hours be in the same category as a 
station that operates 12 hours?
Why should a station with big antennas be in the same category as a station 
with small antennas?

Such questions are endless. Anybody can come up with reasons why they should 
not be in the same category as somebody else. Should everybody have their 
own category?
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In answer to that last question (and addressing each of the ones before), "yes" and "no". :)  Contest sponsors may wish to create categories that point to their goal in sponsoring an event.  I don't fault them for doing so as it is THIER event, after all.

However, they should realize that "one size doesn't fit all" " and there is a lot of "jamming square peg's through round holes" by participants attempting to submit within such a structure.

When reporting a log, it should include information on each of the operating parameters that you note (ERP, Operating Time, Operator Count, Grid-4, etc.) and have those parameters reported in the results, allowing others to meaningfully compare their performance against others with similar circumstances.  If one is actually competing...THAT is the competition, after all.

In such a world, it is quite possible to clearly perceive more meaningful results at individual levels.  With regard to the ARRL contests in specific, doing so would probably be a fair trade-off for no longer publishing the results in QST.

Ev, W2EV