[VHFcontesting] Analog digital debate

[Marshall Pochay]

Regarding digital abuse,As long as I have contested we have had analog  stations running the bands holding frequency’s and NOT dropping the power. Why is this a problem with a quick ft8  so?. Reygarding boycotting,if somebody doesn’t want to run in a contest for whatever reason they have I would think it is their right to do so, And to say it is wrong would be equal to saying all the analog only guys a wrong and they should run ft8 just because. As somebody else pointed out here arrl and Cq watch  the log numbers and that is a most direct way of letting them know if they have a problem.I didn’t care for the cq changes, If others like the changes it’s your contest enjoy.I think I’m seeing some different goals here. My thoughts where to give the analog only guys an outlet to get back on. I  don’t see giving the extra mode points doing anything for the now non existent analog only group. I do see it helping the already qso rich east coast. There is a qso quality vs quantity problem I think aril will have to address in the future or maybe not. As Tor said. The unpopulated areas are struggling although we have some rover that do digital and covering ground for us it’s hard to compete as we don’t have the numbers. Majority of our qsos are long haul including the rovers, example my total 20 also,s on 900 and 1296 range from shortest  at 69 miles to the highest at 320 390 and 472 miles. Some kind of distance points should be added. A 5 mile qso should not be equal to a 400 mile qso especially on the higher bands. A analog only rover class should be added. I like Terrys split idea. I’m  not sold on all the particulars but I wouldn’t boycott it if it became available. I think we need to hear from others including the rovers, It is a start. Marshall WD9EXD