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

[James Duffey]

Les and everyone - Good points all.

But when it comes down to it, the answer lies in ourselves - Get on the air. Get on often. Call CQ when you don’t hear anyone. Turn the beam and call CQ again. Encourage activity at clubs. Encourage newbies and experienced hands as well to submit logs for the club competition. Support your local rover. Write short article for your club newsletter.

Having said that, the ARRL could certainly do more to promote VHF/UHF activity.

When the ARRL Board of Directors decided not to suspend the VUAC sunset provision, killing the committee, they not too subtly sent a message to all of us that they don’t care for organized and structured advice on VHF and UHF matters, as the committee left a lot of work unfinished. I suppose I understand the action of the board as the committee generated a lot of controversy on subjects like assistance in EME and pack roving, which could not really be resolved, and that resulted in a lot of communications from members to directors that the individual directors really had no way to resolve. But if a new VHF/UHF advisory committee could be formulated that would address increasing VHF/UHF activity, I think that would be a productive thing for the ARRL board of directors to do and would certainly compliment their defense of our spectrum effort.

In lieu of organized and focused advice from the likes of the VHF/UHF Advisory Committee (VUAC), and in recognition that many members of the ARRL board do not have VHF weak signal experience, it is important that we inform our directors on matters pertaining to VHF, and to do so in a rational and reasoned manner. Suggest to your director that you are knowledgeable in matters VHF, UHF, and microwave, and are available for advice on such matters. Suggest to him that the board take action on matters concerning VHF/UHF that are important to you. 

Another subtle manifestation of the breakup of the VUAC is that the Contest Advisory Committee (CAC) must now assume the responsibilities of advising the board on matters concerning the VHF, UHF, and microwave contests. In the past, when I wrote my representative on the CAC on matters concerning VHF/UHF contests he politely but firmly declined action, saying that was the purview of the VUAC. As the VUAC no longer exists, the CAC must assume the role that they have previously declined to fill. So write your CAC member, and if he is not a VHF/UHF contester, offer your expertise to that person. Also tell him the things you think need to be changed or implemented in VHF/UHF contesting. If the representative demurs, remind him that the VUAC no longer exists and that their responsibility falls to them. Although the advisory committees can only act on direction from the board, they should be knowledgeable in potential issues in the arena of VHF/UHF contesting that may arise.  

When the ARRL instituted the limited classes in the VHF/UHF contests first in the multi category, then in the rover category, and now the three band single op, the unintended (I hope) consequence was to discourage people from using the microwave bands, and for the three band category to discourage the use of the 222 MHz band. I suspect that one reason Marshall is selling off his microwave gear because it is easier and less costly for him to be competitive in the Limited Multioperator category than in the Multioperator class. If you add up the amount of money that Marshall has invested in the gear he is selling, and the cost of maintaining it, it is a lot of money to have invested in a class that you struggle to win in most contests. But he can drop the microwaves, improve his limited multiop station, and be more competitive in the limited class, particularly when there is sporadic E propagation. In population areas where there is little microwave activity, the chances of being competitive in the all band categories is low. 

Marshall is not alone in this, I have pretty much abandoned the Classic Rover category for the Limited Rover category in the VHF contests, as have other rovers, even though I have 1296 MHz and 902 MHz, as I can consistently be competitive in the limited rover category, finishing in the top 10 nationally with a bit of help from propagation, while I am lucky to break into the top quartile in the Classic Rover category even with good propagation. And given the lack of microwave stations out here, realistically, I will never be able to break the top ten in the classic rover class. So I am part of the problem, but I feel forced in that direction in an attempt to be competitive. 

What to do about all this? This e-mail is already too long, so I will leave that for another day. But there are two issues, encouraging activity in general, and I think that a revitalized VUCC program will help there, and increasing contest activity, a much harder problem as so many people, including myself, have so many vested interests. 

Meanwhile, write your director with your concerns. - Duffey KK6MC
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KK6MC
James Duffey
Cedar Crest NM