[VHFcontesting] [VHF] Trends in VHF/UHF Weak Signal Operating

[Crownhaven]

If they really wanted to increase activity, they should subsidize anyone 
who wants to operate a rover (tongue in cheek).  That is about the only 
way we are going to get any activity.  One of the problems with VHF, et 
al, other than contesting, is you sit around for months and sometimes 
years waiting for an opening.  It might last a few hours and that is the 
end of the story.  Living in a high traffic area like the NE USA is 
great during a contest but like operating CB the rest of the time.  Most 
guys like the thrill of the hunt, not a ragchew.  And it IS expensive to 
be competitive.  Unlike HF where a tri-bander makes you competitive with 
about anyone as long as you have propagation, that is far from the case 
on V/U. Long boom antennas, preamps, heliax, esoteric radios and 
transverters.  It adds up fast.  We should do everything possible to get 
more rovers out there.  That is the only hope.

Steve, N4JQQ, EM55bd

On 2/9/2014 3:33 PM, Les Rayburn 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.
>
>
>