[VHFcontesting] [Packrats] Rover rendezvous in Gap PA?

[Bill Olson]

I'm not a big fan of "grid circling" and agree with everything Paul and others say about "honing operating skills", improving station capability, etc.. BUT.. while what Pete proposes is definitely grid circling, it's not the same as a pack of rovers heading out together to cover 20 grids and only working each other to amass a couple million points.. This is coordinating a time when rovers that are out "trying to work the weak ones" to come together and, within the rules of the contest, make a few more EASY contacts to improve their score, then move on. I put it in the same realm as having a rover drive up into someone's driveway and run thru all ten bands in 5 minutes, or make a laser contact over the minimum allowed distance, i.e. using the fact that they are "on wheels" to make for some easy contacts.
 
Maybe some of the "purists" disagree with me, but as long as the contacts are actually completed, I don't see a problem.
 
my 2 cents
 
bill, K1DY(/R) in Maine
 
> Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2015 13:17:24 +0000
> To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com; packrats at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Packrats] Rover rendezvous in Gap PA?
> From: packrats at mailman.qth.net
> 
> [In the spirit of never too early to plan ...]
> 
> I'm a fairly new Limited rover (my 3rd VHF rove was this January). Would there be any interest for PA-MD-NY rovers (esp. Limited rovers) to meet up at the FN10-FN20-FM19-FM29 grid intersection near Gap Pennsylvania in the next contest(s)?
>  
> Limited rovers with 4 bands could theoretically make 64 QSOs with each other rover circling 4 grids (if my math is right), well under the 100 QSO limit. My impression is that terrestrial contacts dry up considerably after 8pm or so, especially on Sunday, so maybe Sunday night would be the best time.
>  
> The Gap area has gentle rolling hills and rural roads crossing grids, which I would think would make "circling" pretty easy. There is also a modest ridge (~800 ft) available for 3 of the grids.
>  
> I'd be willing to consider other locations, esp. north (Hazelton PA) and south (Centreville MD), but I think Gap has a nice combo of positive attributes. (Full disclosure: it's also the intersection closest to my home, but I really do think it's got a good set of attributes for grid circling.)
>  
> I know it's too early to make definite plans, but Penn. area rovers please keep this idea in mind.
> 
> -- Pete K0BAK
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