Hello; The PSC's VCR Committee has been working diligently on a set of proposed rules for a UHF and Above Contest that will differ significantly from the August UHF Contest. Starting tomorrow evening the Committee will circulate a proposal for which it seeks input. The Committee is looking for comments to be sent to the email address vhf-input@arrl.org through June 15th. I did not want the members of the Board to be unaware of this next step in our process of developing a set of recommendations. Please have any of your constituents use the vhf-input@arrl.org to submit comments and suggestions. The proposal is made in the form and format of an ARRL Contest Rule but it is only a proposal which will helpful in creating discussion. Over the past 4 decades the August UHF Contest had total particpation ranging between 150 and 200 participants and was in need of revamping. The proposal of this Committee takes several departures from the VHF/UHF contests of the recent past these points are addressed in our Introduction letter included below. Please note that we are asking that the publication of this material be held until it is published tomorrow in the weekly ARRL Letter. My thanks are to all of the members of the Committee who had worked very had in the production of this proposed set of rules which are based on the input that was received between July and November of 2015. The proposed rules V4.4 is attached as a PDF file. It is the hope of the VCR Committee to incorporate the comments generated into a proposal in time for the PSC meeting in July. 73, Kermit Carlson W9XA
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"After receiving and reviewing considerable input from the Amateur community, the ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization Committee has drafted rules for a proposed new UHF & Up Contest and now seeks your input on this draft. In proposing the new rules, the Committee sought to respond to some of the most frequently received comments and to provide a "test bed" for changes that might be considered for other non-HF contests in the future. Among the most common themes in the comments were: - Use distance-based scoring rather than a geographic multiplier system - The August timing is too close to other VHF + contests / too hot for roving - More incentive is needed to invest time and effort in making higher-band contacts - Existing rover rules are too complicated and too restrictive - Current VHF + contests have too many entry categories - Scoring potential varies widely from one geographic region to another This proposal uses distance scoring with point multipliers for contacts made on higher bands. To encourage roving, it simplifies rover rules to include those who do not travel great distances and mobile stations. It includes just three entry categories and features regional rather than national competition. It adds team competition for small groups of operators who may not be part of a contest club. The timing would be in the spring, between the January and June VHF contests. Nothing is final yet, including the name of the contest. The Committee would like your input on the draft rules, which can be found at http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20-%20General/UHF_and_Above_Contest_P... before the VCR Committee moves ahead with any additional changes. You may submit your comments by e-mail to vhf-input@arrl.org<mailto:vhf-input@arrl.org> between now and June 15th. In addition, the Committee encourages more local outreach - articles, announcements, seminars and mentoring - to draw new participants into this and all radio sporting activities. Expanding the pool of potential contacts will make these contests more enjoyable for everyone. Please share your outreach ideas with us as well.