Dan, Thanks for your
reply. We still have a question. I know you don’t need to be bothered so
much about this stuff. Let me be direct as I can about it and get this
over with.
I wonder if I
can send my Call (kinda like a CQ) and location
(Lat & long or GRID) on 2m (or 6m) fm APRS, direct mode only(no DIGI), to make a contact?
I think yes, I
look at is as a CQ call as long as the signal is not repeated (IE no digi). I CAN see that
repeating my signal by another station such as digipeting
APRS would defiantly be a self spot just like using a voice repeater to
find a contact would be. SOOOO this would assume I set my APRS station
to be direct mode only and have 0 (zero) hops or repeats should keep me
legal and usable as a contact and not violate the rules or their intent.
Only direct stations would be able to respond and digi’s
can not repeat my signal.
Thanks so very
much for your response!
73,,, Tim
-----Original Message-----
From: Henderson, Dan
N1ND [mailto:dhenderson@arrl.org]
Sent: Wednesday, December 18,
2002 1:21 PM
To: tim@link-to-life.com
Subject: RE: ARRL VHF Contest
rules question
Hi Tim:
The General Rules for all ARRL Contests reads
in part "3.10. The use of non-Amateur Radio means of communication (for
example, Internet or telephone) to solicit a contact (or contacts) during
the contest period is not permitted."
Also, self-spotting on is not allowed under
the same General Rules: "3.14. In contests where spotting nets are permissible,
spotting your own station or requesting another station to spot you is
not permitted." So, spotting your self on the DX packet cluster,
APRS, BEACONet, or other systems for the purpose of soliciting contacts
is not permitted. Calling "CQ" on a local repeater to try and solicit
contacts to move to a valid frequency (since contacts on repeaters are
not valid QSOs) would be considered self-spotting.
It is permissible to ask
a station that you are in a contest QSO with to move to another band or
to set up a schedule for a later time.
In addition, use of a spotting network or predetermined
operating arrangement (again such as packet, APRS, BEACONet,
a DX net on HF) to find stations to work means that unless the contest
in which you are participating has a Single Operator Assisted category,
your entry becomes a Multi-operator situation (under Rules for ARRL Contests
on Bands below 30 MHz "2.3.1.1. In those contests that do not have Single
Operator Assisted class, this category includes those single operators
that use any form of spotting assistance such as from nets or packet.")
Since assisted operation is not allowed for Single Operator stations in
VHF contests (Rules for ARRL Contests on Bands above 50 MHz "2.1.3.
Use of spotting assistance or nets (operating arrangements involving other
individuals, DX-alerting nets, packet, etc) is not permitted.") if you
use any kind of spotting system to locate stations to work, your entry
is a multioperator entry in VHF/UHF events.
Thanks and 73
Dan Henderson, N1ND
ARRL Contest Branch Manager
-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Ertl [mailto:tim@lmrgroup.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December
18, 2002 1:02 PM
To: contests
Subject: ARRL VHF Contest
rules question
I know this question has come up many times.
I just can't find a written
answer. It is my understanding
that communications during contests for
the purpose of scheds and
liaison is supposed to be done via point to
point RF communications.
The use of commercial phones(Cell or land
line), repeaters and digipeters
is not normally customary.
In the VHF/UHF contest my question is:
To me this means digital
modes like CW, packet or Aprs is acceptable BUT
not with the use of a repeater
or digipeter.
Can you confirm or deny this?
Again sorry for asking this dumb question again.
Its not anywhere on the
ARRL web sites I could
find.
The answer you send I wish to disseminate to
the wa1mba microwave new
list.
Thanks again!
,,, Tim