[VHFcontesting] Question to the group

[James Duffey]

The ARRL VHF contests have a schizophrenic approach towards microwave activity. With the one hand, they seem to want to encourage microwave activity by awarding higher QSO points for the higher bands. With the other hand, they discourage microwave activity by promoting the limited classes, creating new three band classes and FM only classes. One would think that you can’t have it both ways, but apparently you can.

Due to the higher points given to microwave QSOes, our current ARRL VHF contests are de facto microwave contests unless you enter the limited classes, at least when there is no sporadic E. 

But it is more than just the points question. It does little good to have more points for QSOes if there is no one to work on those bands. And when the limited classes are an option at little additional expense, that discourages microwave activity even further. And when the big multi stations drop microwaves that reduces incentive even further. 

The real question to ask is what is the goal to be accomplished with the additional points for microwave QSOes? If it is to encourage microwave activity, then the limited classes undermine this. If it is to reward the difficulty in making microwave QSOes, then that undermines activity on the lower bands by removing activity from them for the duration of the microwave QSO.

Other questions worth asking are: Does it make sense to include microwave QSOes at all in a VHF contest like the June contest when there is a lot of sporadic E and activity on 6M? Does it make sense to simultaneously encourage microwave activity by awarding additional points for it and discourage it by implementing the various limited classes?

I find it interesting how these discussions always end up about geography and level playing fields, even though those topics are not in the original question at all. - Duffey KK6MC

--
KK6MC
James Duffey
Cedar Crest NM