[VHFcontesting] VHF contesting yesterrday vs today

[Mike Smith VE9AA]

With respect Ed, we don’t need more categories. That won’t solve the issue.

 

If anywhere in a specific contest there is a digi/ft# category/mode/option, most folks will naturally gravitate there.

 

There is nothing from preventing me from firing up in any VHF contest today and going all-out, all weekend long on CW and SSB……..it’s just that there’s very few to work anymore. Oh yes, there’s some for sure but a small fraction of even 10 yrs ago.

 

Exact same scenario  for 6m DXing.

 

I’ll keep it civil and not say in an open forum why I think that is.

 

Mike VE9AA

 

Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB

 

From: Ed Kucharski [mailto:k3dne at comcast.net] 
Sent: January 19, 2021 12:26 PM
To: Mike Smith VE9AA; vhfcontesting at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] VHF contesting yesterrday vs today

 

Mike: My proposal (sent to ARRL but other than a couple of polite replies didn't grow legs - thinking about sending again) accommodates your desire to bring back a legacy only category (and modes). See below - not sure you saw it when I responded yesterday. It also accommodates the digital group and the hybrid operators (legacy and digital).  

  

My proposal for ARRL VHF contests is to add three additional entry sub categories: 

 

"Legacy Category" (one contact on the same band with the same station on Phone or CW ONLY). 

 

"Digital Category" (one contact with the same station on the same band using any recognized Digital mode ONLY). 

 

"Mixed Mode Category" (potentially two contacts with the same station on the same band; Phone or CW AND Digital). This category is a combination of "Legacy" [phone or CW]   AND  " Digital" similar to the rules associated with ARRL 10m Contest. 

 

Phone/CW contacts can NOT be made on  frequencies recognized for digital modes and all digital contacts MUST be made on recognized frequencies used for digital modes ONLY. All the other rules and scoring will remain the same. 

 

Stations that enter the Mixed Mode category may change modes at any time but must follow the above rule associated where contacts can (or can not) be made. This is to prevent working a station on phone/cw and switching to digital on the same frequency. 

 

Briefly, the spirit and intent of my proposal (paraphrased) which I sent to ARRL: 

 

There has been a tremendous amount of traffic about FTx VHF+ contesting on the VHF reflectors over the past several years with many suggestions for rule 

changes including; eliminate FTx from VHF+ contesting, restrict categories, add 

categories, change QSO point values, have contest(s) without FTx, add a 

stand-alone VHF+ digital only contest (I think this is a good idea but won't solve all the problems), etc. I've heard of several VHF+ operators that have decided to get out of vhf+ contesting due to FTx and the lack of SSC/CW and ability to move stations to UHF and Microwave bands. I believe the challenge is to retain legacy operators and operations and provide a competitive and fun environment (similar to pre-digital) while also embracing digital ops. They can be in two very different camps! This is where I believe rule changes come in to play - to adjust the contest rules to accommodate both camps. After considering and studying many of the proposed rule changes or adjustments, I support the one above that I believe is similar to another popular contest –  the ARRL 10 meter contest. In that contest one has the option of competing in the Mixed Mode (phone and CW), CW only or Phone only categories. 

 

73, 

Ed K3DNE 

  

  

On 01/19/2021 10:52 AM Mike Smith VE9AA < ve9aa at nbnet.nb.ca> wrote: 

  

  

Please bring back a legacy only mode contest or give the FT#-ers their own 

contest and I'll be back. I won't sit around all weekend long calling CQ 

endlessly on phone or CW to maybe make a dozen contacts. 

  

  

  

FT# has already ruined 6m DXing and now it's ruined VHF contesting for me 

too. 

  

  

  

Before anyone says for me to just get on FT# and join the crowd, that's not 

gonna happen. I would take absolutely no satisfaction in that "QSO" of 

having my computer work your computer with nothing in the headphones. I 

might as well send an email. 

  

  

  

CU (all of a sudden) in the next one. 

  

  

  

dit dit 

  

  

  

Mike VE9AA in New Brunswick, Canada (FN66) 

  

  

  

Keswick Ridge, NB 

  

  

  

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