Anyone else who enjoys a bit of grid hopping should be angry too!
Came across this little gem tonight:
Firstly, how many exactly is " a number of comments ".VHF-UHF Field Day - Grid Hopping Rule Changes
I have received a number of comments about the large scores that can be achieved by grid hopping in the VHF-UHF Field Day. As a result there will be changes to the Field Day rules, to shift the scoring emphasis away from the number of squares activated and back to the number of stations worked.
The following details were published on the contest web page when the Spring results were announced:
"The rules for the January Field Day will be the same as for previous events, but there will be some minor changes for the Winter Field Day in late June." The reason for delaying the changes until the winter Field Day is that the rules for the summer event had already been published when the decision was made.
To be more specific about the changes, they will include:
- A limit on the number of grid squares that can be activated;
- The 3 hour repeat contact time limit to apply regardless of whether either station has changed location.
There may be further changes which I cannot announce yet. First I will need to calculate the effects to make sure that the changes will achieve the desired effect in the fairest possible way.
And for anyone who was feeling disinclined to participate in the Summer event - remember that the special 2010 Field Day award is open only to stations that participate in all three 2010 Field Days!
John VK3KM
There would be a number, no?
Why are we treated like children with some vague reference?
Is that number > 50% of ALL the logs received?
Was there a majority vote here to trigger the change, or was this change implemented to appease a vocal minority of whingers?
I would like to know the numbers.
Relocating from one grid to another helped relieve the extreme boredom.
Once you worked all the available station from that grid, then that was pretty much it.
Having Es on 6M is a big boredom saver, but we cannot always guarantee the Es, and the limited number of 2/70 re-work points does not contribute a significant gain.
This ill-conceived and absurd change of rules can be easily circumvented.
You have a car load of hams.
rent-a-ham.com
Four hams on-board will enable the operation from the intersection of four grids in quick succession to another station, the mother ship.
So what stupid rule will be put in place to prevent that?
Let common sense prevail, and give the VK5's this one, for ingenuity, if anything.
At least, target mobile stations, not portable grid hoping stations.
From S/E QLD, where Field Day participation is appallingly low to begin with, these change of rules will not help, one iota.
I for one doubt I will bother with the Winter Field Day.
Hmmmm.... based on the 2009 Winter FD, that will leave 3 - count them - 3 other portable stations out there operating.
(There were only 4 last Winter FD)
Stupid stupid stupid.
The $64 dollar question is:
What will the perpetual moaners and complainers whinge about from the 2010 Winter FD?