[VHFcontesting] Yes -- Please Move the January Contest

[Bob K0NR (list)]

We are overlooking the obvious solution. The contest time needs to be redefined
to be those times that the clock is not running during the football game.
There are so many timeouts and commercial breaks that there is plenty of time
to make contacts AND still watch the game.

The competitive contester will have to give up the half time
show, but that seems like a workable compromise. This will be problematic
for the rovers, especially if they drive beyond TV coverage. Perhaps we can work
out an APRS beaconing system for them so they know the status of the game
clock and whether they are allowed to make contacts.

73, Bob K0NR

On 1/29/2013 7:24 AM, Zack Widup wrote:
> It seems I always have other things going on just about every weekend
> anymore, so it doesn't much matter to me. I work around them. It could
> even be ON Superbowl Sunday for all I care.
>
> I have been an entrant in almost all VHF contests as a Single-Op (QRP)
> Portable including the January contest. Sometimes that takes some
> doing around here. Not always. I've set up and taken down my antennas
> in ice storms and blizzards. But a couple years ago it was sunny and
> in the 40's that January weekend.
>
> This last January contest I had some other commitments on Saturday. I
> wanted to set up and participate on Sunday. We had a horrendous wind
> on Saturday night and Sunday morning. I went to the hill where I've
> operated lately (an hour from home) and the wind gusts were hitting 50
> mph with wind chill probably in the minus 20's. I couldn't even get
> the antennas up so I just went back home where it was warm. Hopefully
> next year is better.
>
> 73, Zack W9SZ
>
>