[VHFcontesting] Suggestion for the ARRL June VHF contest

[Alan Larson]

  Bob, W3IDT, suggests multiple contacts per remote station, based on the
mode, as a solution to stations going to digital and not working analog.
As such, it forces the operator who wants to be competitive to operate all
the modes.  Even the scoring bonus for analog modes doesn't make up for
leaving 1/6 to 1/3 of the points on the table -- the operator will need all
of those points.

  Speaking of the point values for different modes, the 50/144 MHz values
raise a question.  3 for CW, 2 for Voice, and 1 for Digital sort of assumes
that CW is harder.  Indeed, it provides an incentive for an operator to add
the additional skill of operating CW.  As such, I would agree with those
values.  However, I think that most would agree that the weak contacts are
easier on CW than they are on voice; as such, voice should have a higher
point value.  On the higher bands, the proposal makes them equal.

  We could just leave CW/voice as the same value of contact, and not have
to figure out which should be worth more.  That would also solve the CW/SSB
cross-mode contact question - it would just count as an analog contact at
both ends.

  It seems that nobody has mentioned another possible difference in
scoring.  How about having multipliers gained on analog modes count for 2
or 3 times as much as working that same multiplier on digital.  Do not
allow counting it on both analog and digital, but count it as more valuable
if worked on the analog mode.  ( Thus if I worked grid BN47 on 2 meter FM,
another 2 meter contact on FT8 would NOT provide more multiplier, just as
today. )

  More seriously, separate contests has an attraction, in that all the
participants would be on compatible modes, and more activity seems
possible.  Analog operators would not miss DX contacts because the DX
station was immersed in FT8.

  And another comment, just to stir the pot a bit.  With increasing costs
of fuel, and environmental concerns, are we really correct to be
encouraging roving?  This came to mind with the comments about the effect
of having CW/voice/digital as three separate contests, on the possible
reduction of rovers.  I'm not seriously proposing the abolition of rovers,
but 3 separate contests for June might have that effect.  ( It also would
wipe out family life for the month for many operators, fixed or mobile. )

        Alan
wa6azp