Hi Les,

To give you an idea where my perspective come from....

I have been active on Weak Signal VHF since 1990, starting on 2M, branching out to 6M, then 432 and finally 222. For 20+ yrs I was a competitive Mountaintop Contester, active each year from a different grid to help others with their VUCC efforts as well as taking advantage of great locations in rare grids in an effort to add to the score. Over the years I have activated 100+ grids from various mountaintops in CA, NV. AZ, UT, NM, TX, OR, UT, WY, WA, ID, and MT as well as operating a Competitive 5 band ROVER in VHF contests, often placing in the top 5 Nationally. I wrote the "Weak Signal News" Column for CQ VHF Magazine for 5 yrs in the 1990s. Trust me when I say I do understand what it means to operate Weak Signal VHF from anywhere in North America.

I have logged hundreds of hours operating 144 and 432 EME with 4 bay arrays on each band as well as using the same antennas on AO-10 and AO-13, which was like shooting fish in a barrel as tracking software tells you when the bird will be available.

That is vastly different than operating Terrestrially on 6, 2, 222, 432, etc, where you have to be present and ready to take advantage of any propagation that happens along... A greater commitment of time, money and resources than making contacts with a satellite!

Which is why for awards purposes, Satellite QSOs have NO Place being mixed in with Terrestrial QSOs as their completely different animals. They have their own Equal but Separate VUCC standings as making an assisted contact with an airborne repeater/transponderis is Dramatically easier than MS, ES, or EME contacts. Mixing them together in the same award pollutes the integrity and effort of Terrestrial QSOs.

73s de Tim - K7XC - DM09jh... sk

Adapt, Overcome, Succeed!

On Mon, Apr 22, 2019 at 6:09 PM Les Rayburn [email protected] wrote:

Tim,

I’ve actually operated VHF/UHF/Microwave from the West (mostly in New Mexico and California) during VHF Contests when I’ve been traveling for business.

Understand well the challenges faced in making contacts on 2 Meters, 432, etc. When it comes to this type of operating, geography is indeed destiny.

It’s difficult or impossible to mitigate the advantages enjoyed by operators in the Northeast.

That being said, I still believe 5BVUCC is achievable by any committed amateur in the 48 states. I live in a deed restricted neighborhood and am limited to indoor antennas. This represents a huge disadvantage, but I’ve found ways to overcome them. That’s part of the fun. As your own signature file states, “Adapt, Overcome,, Succeed!”

I suspect many operators would achieve 5BVUCC by working with a partner ham. You could take a single dish for 5Ghz and 10Ghz to a high peak in a single grid square, while your partner drove to LOS locations in five grids. Then “switch” to allow both operators to earn VUCC on these bands. It’s done pretty often now.

If you added lasers to the mix, you’d have three of the required bands in a weekend. Difficult and expensive perhaps—but certainly something that many have already done successfully.

As for satellite operation, I have to disagree with you. Earning VUCC on satellites is certainly more difficult than earning it on 6 Meters. It is truly weak-signal operation and requires skill sets that are unique from other types of VHF/UHF operation.

More importantly, there is already a VUCC Award for Satellites, so it wouldn’t make sense to exclude this “band” from the award.

Like 6 Meters, it also makes the 5BVUCC more of a possibility for Western operators.

But I appreciate your opinions, and having you join the discussion. The best proposals are formed when input is received from many different viewpoints.

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63nf AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member

On Apr 22, 2019, at 12:52 PM, K7XC Tim Marek [email protected] wrote:

Hi Les,

Your assumptions about what its like to operate in the West hold no Water as well. The Entire West has an Active Weak Signal VHF population equal to that of FN31 alone. Yes Tall Mountains are a huge advantage but people to work are far and few between on 2M let alone 10GHz.

Tim - K7XC - DM09jh.... sk

Adapt, Overcome,, Succeed!

On Mon, Apr 22, 2019 at 4:36 PM Les Rayburn [email protected] wrote:

...

I completely misspoke, and apologize.

The Southeast Division of the ARRL is represented on the league’s Boar of Directors by Greg Sarratt, W4OZK who is active on weak signal VHF/UHF.

We’ve been informed that the creation of new awards falls to the Board of Directors. If you’re supportive of the proposal to create a new Five Band VUCC Award (5BVUCC) please contact your director. Currently, these are:

Tom Abernethy, W3TOM, Atlantic Division

Kermit Carlson, W9XA, Central Division

Matt Holden, KØBBC, Dakota Division

David Norris, K5UZ, Delta Division

Dale Williams, WA8EFK, Great Lakes Division

Ria Jairam, N2RJ, Hudson Division

Rod Blocksome, KØDAS, Midwest Division

Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, New England Division

Mike Ritz, W7VO, Northwestern Division

Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, Pacific Division

George “Bud” Hippisley, W2RU, Roanoke Division

Jeff Ryan, KØRM, Rocky Mountain Division

Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, Southeastern Division

Dick Norton, N6AA, Southwestern Division

David Woolweaver, K5RAV, West Gulf Division Director

The proposal is for the league to create a new Five Band VUCC Award that would be earned by achieving five individual band VUCC Awards. This would be similar to the Five Band DXCC Award which has proven to be very popular.

This award would be relatively easy to implement within Logbook of the World, and require no significant changes to existing VUCC Rules.

Six Meter VUCC and Satellite VUCC are probably the easiest to achieve regardless of geography. Those of us in the East will find 2 Meters, 222, and 432 easier to earn, though WSJT Meteor Scatter and EME open these up to large parts of the country as well.

Those in the Western states have easier access to high peaks within range of the five grids required to earn the award on Microwaves.

With effort, this award should be achievable to almost any amateur willing to make the necessary commitment.

So far, the idea has received a lot of support within the VHF/UHF Community.

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63nf AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member

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