[VHFcontesting] Trends in VHF/UHF Weak Signal Operating

[Paul Stoetzer]

Two trends show a potential for a bright future for both VHF/UHF weak
signal and satellite operating: the increasing number of hams in
antenna restricted locations and perhaps an extended period of time
with little sunspots. Lots of hams who are currently enjoying great
QSOs on 20/17/15/12/10 will find those bands closed a lot more often
in the future. Some will move their operating down to 160/80/40/30
while others will either leave the hobby or look to
VHF/UHF/microwave/satellite operations with small antennas due to
their inability to put up large antennas.

The ARRL has been working to grow ham radio by promoting HF and
emergency communications for some time. As we enter a potentially bad
extended period of time for the upper HF bands, promotional efforts
must go towards the fun things that can be done with VHF and UHF and
relatively small and inconspicuous antennas like satellites, EME,
meteor scatter, etc.

73,

Paul, N8HM

On Sun, Feb 9, 2014 at 4:33 PM, Les Rayburn <les at highnoonfilm.com> wrote:
> I've worked in advertising and marketing most of my adult life, so I often
> tend to view things as marketing problems. In the case of VHF/UHF weak
> signal operation, I certainly think that is a portion of the problem. When
> the VUCC Award was created, it resulted in a flurry of activity on the
> bands, expeditions to rare grids, and other activity. While it wasn't very
> successful in attracting newcomers to the band, it did give those already
> active incentive to increase their operations.
>
> Fast forward almost thirty years, and the situation is reversed. Nearly
> everyone who wants to earn VUCC has already done so.
>
> The league has failed to ever make VUCC anything more than the kid sister of
> DXCC. They've failed to add "variations" of the award such as 5 Band VUCC,
> or "Rover VUCC" that might encourage more activity. They've failed to offer
> merchandise in their store to build the VUCC "brand" among hams. Very few
> articles have been written in QST about the exploits of people trying to
> earn the award. (Not true in the early days, but certainly now)
>
> In short, the ARRL has missed the opportunity to make VUCC a desirable
> accomplishment for most amateurs. And provide no incentive to earn the award
> on multiple bands, which is key to providing an incentive for operation on
> 902 and up. I've been trying to find time to author a paper for the VHF
> Conferences that would formally propose the creation of two new awards:
>
> Five Band VUCC
> --------------------------------------------
>
> A special award recognizing any amateur who earned VUCC on five bands or
> more including satellites. No rules changes, and only minor programming
> required to have LoTW track the award.
>
> VUCC Rover
> -----------------------------------------
> An award for any rover who worked the required number of grids for each
> band, while operating outside their "home" station grid. For example, you'd
> need to work 100 grids on 6 & 2 while operating outside your home grid. But
> only five to earn it on 10 GHz.
>
> The key to making these awards successful would be to really market and
> promote them, especially in the pages of QST. While I'm not in favor of
> resetting everyone to zero, the league could offer a special incentive to
> anyone who works the necessary grids in the coming calendar year. Maybe
> plaques would be in order. I'm willing to sponsor ten of them, personally.
>
> This would have the same effect of "resetting to zero" for anyone who wanted
> the plaques, while still allowing for those who have already earned 5 Band
> VUCC or Rover VUCC to receive the award.
>
> While I applaud the efforts that many of us have made as individuals to
> increase activity, it's hard to imagine real change unless the ARRL gets
> behind the effort.
>
>
>
> --
> --
> 73,
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> 121 Mayfair Park
> Maylene, AL 35114
> EM63nf
>
> 6M VUCC #1712
> AMSAT #38965
> Grid Bandits #222
> Southeastern VHF Society
> Central States VHF Society Life Member
> Six Club #2484
>
> Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light
>
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