1. Generating More Interest in VHF+ Contesting
By Ward Silver, NØAX
CAC Representative - Northwestern Division
Pacific NW VHF Conference, Oct 2004

2. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
No Subliminal Content
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

3. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

4. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
No Subliminal Content
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

5. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
Overview
ARRL Committee Update
New Blood or New Rules?
Thinking Outside the Logs
Outreach
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

6. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
Current Situation
QSO volume is off - that’s expected
Log submissions about level - OK
More VHF+ gear available - good
More local/regional contests - good
Sunspots way down - bad for newbies
New digital modes & tools - good
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

7. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
Current Situation
VHF+ contesting remains isolated
Huge potential audience
Available gear just keeps growing!
Technical aspects act as barrier
Technology is attractive
Promotion is primary
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

8. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
ARRL Ad Hoc Committee
Results of Initial Proposal
Lots of Comment on Rule Changes
Very Little Comment on Participation
Many Changes Based on Feedback
Rules to Be Reviewed by CAC
Earliest Possible Changes - June ‘05
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

9. Changes Already in Place
Internet Template for Log Submission
Regional Coverage in Writeups
VHF+ award support added to LOtW
Club competition added to June VHF
Added digital QSOs to EME
Nice grid-square map
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

10. Recommended Changes Categories
VHF Sweepstakes + June/September QSO Parties
Limited Single Operator category designed with the newcomer in mind.
Four bands, low power
6/2/440 + incentive to add transverter
should increase 220/902/1.2 activity
one transverter leads to more, doesn’t it☺
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

11. Recommended Changes Undesirable Practices
Grid Circling - Eliminate
How to verifiably define it?
Still allow random rover-rover encounters
Contain as a separate category?
Captive Rovers - Eliminate
The discussion got noticed
Still, how do you verifiably define it?
Must allow for rookies and Elmering
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

12. - Digression - Is This a Sport or a Show?
Much higher technical emphasis than HF contesting
Less emphasis on “rate”
Regional variation makes wide comparisons meaningless
“Degree of difficulty”
Recognition of achievement needed
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

13. Recommended Changes Miscellaneous Stuff
Low power W on 50/144/222/432
Eliminate M/O op-to-op QSOs above 2.3 GHz
Still need incentives above 10 GHz?
Plaques for Jan & Sep VHF QSO
Certificates for low power and top DX
EME multipliers & dates
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

14. Recommended Changes Awards
Smaller entry and advancement steps
Establish a VUCC challenge
Awards for entry-level or rover/portable operation
Change location restriction from “same grid square” to 200 km radius
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

15. Recommended Changes Promotion
Activity Hours and Times by Band
Raise visibility of VHF+ on ARRL Web
Balance promotion of VHF+ with HF
Promote non-ARRL contests
Information on logging software
Showcase regional stations & technique
Offer memorabilia - cups/shirts/etc.
list of log submitters for results
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

16. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
Not Recommended
Rebalancing microwave point structure
1-point rovers
1-2-3 points by distance
Converting one QSO party to VHF/UHF
Drop UHF - add 2.3/3.4/5.7 to 10 GHz
Return of the old rover scoring rules
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

17. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
Our Grade...a C-
Original mission: Increase interest and participation - insufficiently addressed
Final recommendations mostly deal with existing participants
Regional variations prevent national changes from having consistent effect
Promotion requires strong local level
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

18. Review of Regional Variations
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

19. Northeast & Great Lakes
Lots of participation on all bands
Most concerns with scoring rules
Rovers - captives and club scores, LOTS of action!
Clubs - Limited & Unlimited M/O discrepancies
Microwaves are key
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

20. Midwest and South Longer-distance average and fewer QSOs than NE
Heavier 6 & 2-meter weight than NE
Distance-based scoring desired
Some roving, not a big issue as population less dense
LOTS of tropospheric openings
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

21. Southwest Plenty of activity - with much more FM
Microwave is growing slowly
Some roving, not too concerned about rules
Operation revolves around San Fran and LA
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

22. Northwest Population is basically an isolated community
Roving is growing
6/2/440, some microwaves
Fewer QSOs beyond W6 and SW
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

23. Promoting VHF+ Contesting Nationally (i.e. - ARRL)
Faster (E-logs & Web publishing)
Better (Deeper and more precise data)
Regional writeups and searchable data
More analysis and commentary
Cheaper (Web publishing)
Wider (Use log addresses so that results can be ed directly)
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

24. Promoting VHF+ Contesting Locally (i.e. - You)
Elmering (offer training and assistance)
Local Events (regional contests or competions in national contests)
Local Results (regional writeups and distribution)
Outreach (talks and demos with local clubs and at hamfests)
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

25. Dude, Where’s Our Replacements?
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

26. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
1999 Population
Average Age = 51.6 years
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

27. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
Dropouts and Recruits
50% recruitment younger than 50
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

28. 0% recruitment reduces total to 30%, average 47.4 years
2015 Population
0% recruitment reduces total to 30%, average 47.4 years
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

29. 16% recruitment maintains total, average 48.1 years
2015 Population
16% recruitment maintains total, average 48.1 years
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

30. 26% recruitment doubles total, average 48.4 years
2015 Population
26% recruitment doubles total, average 48.4 years
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

31. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
Dropouts and Recruits
75% Replacement Younger than 50
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

32. 17% recruitment maintains total, average 42.3 years
2015 Population
17% recruitment maintains total, average 42.3 years
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

33. 27% recruitment doubles total, average 41.0 years
2015 Population
27% recruitment doubles total, average 41.0 years
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

34. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
The Recruit
Busier, Family Commitments
Likely mid-30’s
Disposable Income
Tech-Aware
Apartment/Condo/CCR-limited
Travels
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

35. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
Skills
Computer-savvy, including networking
Familiar with video game style of competition
Enjoys system & components
Less background in RF/electronics
Not as likely to be component-type builders
Good at assembling complex systems
Opportunities for teaching abound
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

36. Technology Points the Way
Excellent, inexpensive radios and antennas
Mobile/Portable operating
Computer-assisted operation
search-and-pounce agents
video and audio processing
real-time propagation assessment
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

37. Technology Points the Way
Broadband connectivity
available outside the home
streaming audio, video, data
Spotting network
track individual stations
becomes a “meta-band”
Sharing remote stations
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

38. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
Hybrids - Radio+?
Outdoor activities
Foxhunting, Geocache, Orienteering
Off-road roving
ARS Spartan Sprints
Biking, skiing, sailing, road rallies
Birding, star parties, rockhounding
partner with other topical societies
Get your butt OUT of the chair!
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

39. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
Hybrids - Radio+?
Wireless networking
create ad hoc nets, count links for points
Robotics: software and hardware operators
Flight: gliders, balloons
Modeling: rockets, airplanes
Integrated with gaming systems
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

40. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
Example - WAN-Slam
All VHF/UHF/Microwave bands
Form ad hoc networks and exchange data
Points accrued by…
total path distance
number of links
average speed of transmission in bps
path frequency
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

41. Reaching Out & Inside Outreach
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

42. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
Summary
Some rule changes on the way
Still need to increase participation
Contesting should attract recruits
Hybrids should be a natural at VHF+
Outreach to non-VHF+ ham community
ARRL can only do so much…
YOU are the key!
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004

43. Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004
THANK YOU!!
Pacific NW VHF Conference - 2 Oct 2004