[VHFcontesting] Signals on 6M and 2M at the same time??

[Bart Jahnke]

Hello Sean and Reflectors,

We have reviewed the ARRL VHF Contest Rules, and with input from
helpful souls we have reviewed the ARRL Board action history.

In January 2015, in conjunction with the announcement of the expansion
of spotting assistance and added categories in the all ARRL VHF
Contests, the ARRL Board approved several changes including to “…allow
single operators to transmit on more than one band at a time.”

This was published in ARRL News 21 January 2015 at
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-board-okays-changes-to-dxcc-program-vhf-and-above-contesting-rules

This action was intended to apply to all ARRL VHF/UHF Contests above 50 MHz.

Accordingly, the online rules for the January, June and September VHF
Contests, as well as the "222 MHz and Above Distance Contest" have
been adjusted to conform to this policy.

Earlier, the January, June and September Contest Rules on line "sort
of" said this in the miscellaneous rules at the bottom, but did not
clearly state this in the section 3 rules which were specific to
Single Operator stations.

These adjustments will bring the VHF Contest Rules into harmony -
permitting single operators to transmit on more than one band at a
time at the same time.

With thanks to all who asked, and who wrote in with references to the
2015 ARRL News item...

73,

Bart Jahnke, W9JJ
Contest Branch Manager
ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio™
225 Main St
Newington CT 06111
860-594-0232
w9jj at arrl.org


On Wed, Jun 13, 2018 at 11:52 PM, Sean Waite <waisean at gmail.com> wrote:
> I think probably the clearest way to get an answer on the legality of this
> is to just ask. Bart, any thoughts? Can a single op run SO2R, or beacon on
> microwaves while working 2 or 6?
>
> 73,
> Sean WA1TE
>
> On Wed, Jun 13, 2018 at 11:39 PM Alan Larson <wa6azp at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Walt, AJ6T (EM64) writes:
>> > On the other hand, regarding simultaneous transmissions on different
>> > bands, this ARRL June VHF Contest rule suggests that it is allowed:
>> >
>> > *7.3.*Only one transmitted signal per band (6, 2, 1-1/4, etc) at any
>> > given time is permitted, regardless of mode; alternating CQs on two or
>> > more frequencies using the same band and mode is prohibited.
>> >
>> > Is there a definitive answer on this issue??? I would prefer to be able
>> > to transmit simultaneously on multiple bands.? If you are banging away
>> > on 2m MSK144, why should you have to constrain yourself to only transmit
>> > on 6m in between the 2m MS TX sequences?
>>
>> and Zack, W9SZ writes:
>> > A lot of people will beacon on a microwave band while liaising on 144 or
>> > 432 (or even 1296). I figured there was nothing wrong with that.
>>
>>   These do not conflict.  3.1 describes single operator stations.  Single
>> operator rules prohibit more than one signal at a time.  That one operator
>> is expected to be operating one band.  If the station is a multioperator
>> effort, then it is reasonable to expect that different bands may be
>> active at the same time.
>>
>>   By this, one would see that having the computer CQing on one band while
>> the human is on another would be a violation of the rules - there is more
>> than one signal at a time.  The computer would be a second operator.
>>
>>   Thus, Zack is perfectly legit to beacon or auto-cq on one band while
>> operating on another, >>> if he was not entering as a single operator <<<.
>> Note the exception in rule 7.1 that would allow announcing his presence
>> (but apparently not CQing), even if a single operator.
>>
>>   For Walt, there is a definitive answer.  If you are single-operator,
>> you cannot do it.  If you are not a multi-op, you can.
>>
>>   Walt - I guess the EM64 explains why I haven't heard you on here in the
>> Bay area lately.
>>
>>         Alan
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