[VHFcontesting] CQ VHF "Assistance" Question

[Zack Widup]

I haven't studied the rules regarding spotting nets that closely
because I always operate from hilltops where I have no internet
connection and I don't take a computer. But it seems to me that if
it's HIS frequency and HE is calling CQ, how can it be considered
self-spotting? You're not going to get any QSO's out of it unless you
take over his frequency. I think we're more gentlemanly than that on
VHF.

73, Zack W9SZ

On 7/21/14, Les Rayburn <les at highnoonfilm.com> wrote:
> Color me confused when it comes to the rules regarding assistance during
> the CQ VHF contest.
>
> Let me ask this as a hypothetical question instead of re-reading the new
> rules again.
>
> If I work N0IRS during the contest on 6 Meters as a random
> contact...just happened to hear J.D. calling CQ and worked him. If I
> then post that contact to the DX Maps or the 6 Meter reflector--am I in
> violation of the rules? Is that defined as self-spotting?
>
> It seems to me that if that is a violation of the rules, then "allowing"
> all classes of operation to use the reflectors is largely pointless.
>
> Frankly, I'd like to see the ARRL & CQ recognize that VHF isn't the same
> as HF. It would be great to have at least one major contest per year
> that allowed contacts to be "arranged" using any means available but
> that required participants to certify that the actual QSO was made 100%
> using RF.
>
> The fact is that it would be easy to game the system, if you were so
> inclined, and the rules are largely unenforceable anyway. In the end,
> it's all about your personal honor. And most of us simply want to make
> as many contacts as possible. We're not interested in winning or losing,
> but rather having fun. More contacts = more fun.
>
> When it's open, 6 Meters actually hurts us in this regard, because it
> does behave like an HF band. During an opening random contacts are easy
> to make. I think many of the HF contesters play on 6 Meters and think
> that all of the VHF/UHF landscape operates like that.
>
> Can someone provide some clarity?
> --
> --
> 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
>
> _______________________________________________
> VHFcontesting mailing list
> VHFcontesting at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
>