[VHFcontesting] (VHF Contesting) - how about we get back to having fun?

[Jeff Thomas]

Zack, for the most part I agree..... 

I usually stay out of  this "rover" stuff, but it just seems to never go away.

What has happened to the laid back and friendly world of VHF+ contesting that so many of us are starting to long for? 

Don't like the rules? Then petition for rule change. Think someone cheated? Gather proof and turn them in to the contest sponsor/etc. All this non-stop belly
aching on here just turns off more and more "casual" contesters (like myself)
and thus less stations for you to work and less activity on the bands.
Put yourselves in the shoes of a little gun that is contemplating
shelling out more $$$ for a microwave band transverter and he's seeing
all this endless fussing.....why should he/she even bother?

This Rover/Grid Circling debate had gotten beyond "old" with most of us. If a guy wants to build up a big multi-band microwave rover station and go out making lots of contacts that are 2-way over RF, legal within the FCC rules, and comply with the contest rules...then let 'em have it is my stance. Heck, I tip my hat to these microwave guys and their efforts. Good for them! I've got a funny feeling they are having a lot of fun doing what they do, how about yourself?

Distance based scoring? A lot to like, but in the minds of some of these folks would this even be fair?  Maybe we should factor in miles per watt, miles per watt ERP, miles per ERP watt + AHAAG? Maybe zip codes versus 6-digit grids for multipliers...and so on. See my point? IT NEVER ENDS! Someone is always going to have an advantage over you if you think along those terms. This isn't Washington DC, we don't need a 2000+ page rules document trying to level a playing field that will never be level to begin with.

Think you're being outgunned? Then improve your station or learn to deal with it or find another facet of the hobby. Some folks need to learn that just like life, no contest will ever be completely fair for all. Lot more to ham radio than just contesting so lighten up or be prepared to be miserable.

Rather than worry and fuss so much, maybe some on here should consider just why they are in the VHF+ Contesting facet of this wonderful hobby to begin with?? Is it about making contacts, experimenting, working DX on bands many hams don't even realize there is DX on, and generally just having a lot of fun in the process? Or is it all about chasing some piece of paper on the wall? A piece of paper that in the overall scheme of things is about useless beyond bragging rights amongst a few fellow hams..if they even care? Winning a contest will not get you a pay raise or promotion at work. Winning a ham radio contest won't impress the ladies either. Winning a contest will not cut your taxes or raise your pension amount. So why all this obsessing over such trivial stuff versus enjoying working stations, many of which are rarely on the air outside of the contests? 

I can only conclude that some on here could find ways to take the fun out of sex ;-). 

Maybe it would be a good time for some to review the Amateur's code:

http://www.arrl.org/acode.html

Moving on.... 

Don't want to loose our spectrum? Then start using it and lead by example. Legit activity on our lesser used bands is a good thing PERIOD! Occasional contest activity will not save our threatened spectrum. There needs to be activity on a band more often than just a few days out of a year. The ARRL can only do so much, a lot of our fate rests in our hands.

So on these lesser used and threatened bands consider putting up some busy data links, some 24x7 propagation beacons (hint, hint), run some ATV links, or use them for repeater links, and so on. FIND WAYS TO USE THEM and USE THEM A LOT! Let us stop being reactionary to spectrum threats and become proactive. 

Just my 2 cents worth.

73
Jeff
WA4ZKO/1


http://twitter.com/wa4zko 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hspacket/  High Speed Packet Group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nkdxe/   NKDXE KY area VHF/UHF DX'ers.

Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2010 13:44:28 -0600
From: Zack Widup 
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Use it or lose it debate.
To: vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu
Cc: vhfcontesting at contesting.com


I kinda hate to say this, but Frank, you seem to care little about anything
else except this captive Rover deal. Every topic posted here does not
revolve around it. The captive Rover thing is only a tiny part of VHF+
operation that takes place and wasn't even related to the topic that you
responded to. If anything, the Rovers you refer to would even give us more
in our defense (or offense) regarding our frequencies, because they are
using them. The FCC and Congress could care less about who Rovers are or
what they do in contests. All they care about is whether there is activity
in that band or not.

I have only had about a dozen people at most around here to work on the
bands 2304 and up. I've made numerous "pilgrimages" to a nearby hilltop to
work some of the few down by St. Louis, and have succeeded with some but not
others. So we keep trying. This is all outside of contest periods - usually
weekend mornings or when the Hepburn tropo index looks promising.  So, just
like the NRA of years ago, "I do my part."
:-)

73, Zack W9SZ