[VHFcontesting] Activity in the ARRL VHF Contests SInce 1991

[Zack Widup]

I recall a Field Day in the dim, distant past where we had about 20
people in one of the operating tents and each of us worked a guy
picked at random with our own calls and "1A". I think we gave him at
least 20 QSO's in rapid succession with the same station.

This may have been more innocuous, but still, I could see it happening
with a VHF contest operation, too.

73, Zack W9SZ

On Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 11:52 AM,  <Jimk8mr at aol.com> wrote:
>
> I think we all agree that getting the IC-706 or K3 kind of HF guy into  VHF
> is critical.  And while we can all beg and plead to our friends to get  on,
> we are stuck with an old rule in the ARRL contests that is
> counterproductive  in the quest to get those guys on the air.   That is the rule  (General
> VHF Rule 1.3) that limits an operator to one entry. That precludes a  very
> effective way to show guys what VHF is - an experienced VHF guy going to a
> newbie's QTH and showing him in person what his station can do. (Sure, we
> could  do it and not send in an entry, but if his station is on the air why not
> get his  call into the results?)
>
> I have asked over the years, and nobody has ever been able to come up with
> a rationale for this rule.  Does anyone care to try again?
>
> A related rule - VHF rule 1.2 - also limits a transmitter, receiver, or
> antenna to being used under only one call. I understand a reason for this rule
> -  cases such as the guys at a big hamfest back 10 years, who had a flea
> market  spot with a yagi pointed towards a distant multiop hilltop QTH,
> inviting guys to  hook up their HT's and work that multi. But at the same time if
> I could take a  couple of antennas and a couple of bands of radios
> (essentially a  rover station) to a friend's place, and show him in person what can
> be done  on VHF, along with a running explanation of VHF contesting, that
> would be a far  more effective approach than hoping he gets on and can figure
> it out on his  own.
>