[VHFcontesting] ARRL Contests

[RT Clay]

 Yes. Most of the people posting here are from W1-W3 or near big cities. PLEASE consider the effect on ops not in those areas before making rule changes.

Giving additional points for different modes would overwhelmingly favor W1-W3 ops. W1-W3 can run up huge scores on microwaves with close stations and rovers. We cannot do that here. With additional points for both analog and digi, the W1-W3 advantage is only worse. BTW non-northeast stations have won the June contest- I had the second score nationally behind K1TEO in 2023.

Around here extra points for both modes will not give the desired effect of getting everyone on analog again. To give a concrete example: sometimes I can work AA4ZZ here on 2m or 432 (~450 miles). It requires some enhancement, digital modes, and both pointing at each other. I know from experience that if I can copy him here during a contest, it might be my only opportunity to get EM96. Suppose a rover (we have very few) at that moment announces they are in EM64 on SSB for a couple more minutes. Should I give up the EM96 mult to work another EM64? The EM64 rover will not work EM53 any other way since I'm the only station active on 2m and up there.

It's been mentioned before, but check the rules on European VHF+ contests- they have it figured out. You won't find them mixing every possible mode.

A couple random comments:
1. Please remove EME from regular VHF contests. Again, it takes people away from the regular freqs.
2. ARRL allows single ops to transmit simultaneously on multiple bands. Why? That encourages people to run digital on multiple bands and not try analog.

Tor N4OGW EM53
    On Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 05:44:06 PM CDT, Steven Rutledge <steven.t.rutledge at gmail.com> wrote:  
 
 If I tried to do a VHF contest from EM55 using SSB and CW, I might make 
20 contacts if I was lucky.  Using FT8, not many more. It all depends on 
what part of the country you live in.  I used to produce a decent score 
in the June contest.  I like FT8 to work a needed band country or a new 
six meter country.  However, using it in a contest puts me to sleep in 
about ten minutes.  Not worth the effort from EM55bd.

Good luck with the rule changes.  Some suggestions make sense.

73,

Steve, N4JQQ


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