[VHFcontesting] Difference between types of Rover?

[JamesDuffey]

Larissa - You asked:
“Now, I can see the difference between Limited and Unlimited Rover categories, but why
is there a separate category for Classic Rover? What are the differences?”

The big difference between the Classic Rover class and the Unlimited Rover class is that the Classic Rover class is limited to 100 QSOes with other rovers; there is no such limitation in the Unlimited Rover class. The Unlimited Rover cannot contribute the score earned to a club score. In VHF contests, the club competition is big, so this is a significant difference. There are other differences, the Unlimited Rover can have an unlimited number of operators, the Classic Rover is limited to two operators and everything that the classic rover uses to make QSOes must be hauled by one vehicle while in the Unlimited Rover one doesn’t need to haul anything with the rover at all.

The Unlimited Rover category was instituted to address what many saw as a problem to VHF contesting and roving, that is pack roving. To what an extent pack roving was (is?) a significant problem depends on many factors. I won’t go into that here, but you can get more than a flavor of it by perusing the archives of this list for the first 7 or 8 years of this century. Among other things it is an interesting view into psyche of VHF/UHF contesters. Whatever one’s stance on pack roving, the Unlimited Rover category has had few, if any, entries from pack rovers over the 10 years of its existence and in my opinion has failed to gain traction as a class. Not allowing Unlimited Rovers to contribute to a club score has kept the pack rovers in the Classic Rover class, and by judicious choice of QSOes with other rovers, large scores can still be generated by pack rovers in the Classic Rover class even with the 100 QSO limit. Hence there is no real incentive to go to the Unlimited Rover class.  

I have operated in all three classes and get the most satisfaction out of the Classic Rover class, but by operating Limited Rover I am more competitive nationally and the setup is quick. There is much less competition operating in the Unlimited Rover class, but I have found that winning that class in a division where there is only one other entry does little to sate my competitive appetite.

I hope this answers your question. If not, ask again. - Duffey KK6MC

James Duffey KK6MC
Cedar Crest NM

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