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Re: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer

To: "'Sandy Taylor'" <ve4xt@mts.net>, <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer
From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <w4tv@subich.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:14:55 -0400
List-post: <cq-contest@contesting.com">mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>

> C'mon Joe, it's completely ludicrous to say Skimmer breaks no 
> new ground. Since when has there been anything, other than 
> packet, that tells you who is on and where they are.

The only thing Skimmer does is present the data in a different 
format.  It's certainly not the first CW decoder - they've been 
around for 15 maybe 20 years.  It's certainly not the first 
panadapter - they've been around for 40? years.  It's certainly 
not the first broadband receiver - they've been around for 80 
years.  However, skimmer combines those elements along with a 
little thought and a lot of programmer ingenuity to present 
the information in a very usable format.  

Skimmer doesn't do anything that the operator can't do (the 
operator can scan the band and copy every signal he encounters) 
but skimmer does it faster and more efficiently but with less 
accuracy.  Putting a skimmer on the 2nd radio simply makes 
that radio more efficient.  It's the CW equivalent to some of 
the multiple channel PSK software - for example the "broadband 
decode" feature of WinWarbler that will even fill a local 
bandmap during a PSK contest (what few there are).  

Skimmer breaks no new ground ... of that there is no doubt if 
you bother to pay attention to technology.  Slimmer simply 
applies existing technology in a new area.  The existence of 
WinWarbler's "broadband decode" feature for nearly two years 
has shown what is possible.  CW Skimmer has applied that to 
CW and I don't think it will be that soon before another clever 
programmer does the same with traditional RTTY.  Phone will 
take a little longer because analog voice is just a bit more 
complicated to decode than any of the digital (including CW) 
signals but it will happen at the amateur level - I'm sure it 
is already happening on the government/professional level.   


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sandy Taylor [mailto:ve4xt@mts.net] 
> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:10 PM
> To: 'Joe Subich, W4TV'; k-zero-hb@earthlink.net; 
> cq-contest@contesting.com
> Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer
> 
> 
> C'mon Joe, it's completely ludicrous to say Skimmer breaks no 
> new ground. Since when has there been anything, other than 
> packet, that tells you who is on and where they are.
> 
> All the other examples you cite still require the operator to 
> have done SOMETHING. Skimmer doesn't.
> 
> I can only guess you're saying such preposterous things to 
> stir the pot a bit. I can't imagine you're being the least 
> bit serious.
> 
> 73, Kelly
> Ve4xt
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com 
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Joe 
> Subich, W4TV
> Sent: April-24-08 7:24 PM
> To: k-zero-hb@earthlink.net; cq-contest@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer
> 
> 
> 
> > Memory keyers and logging programs (book-keepers) do
> > not search out and identify stations for you to work
> > which are outside your audio passband.
> 
> CW Skimmer is a new application of existing technology (CW decoders, 
> broadband receivers, panadapters, additional receiver, etc.) that 
> allows an operator to be more productive IN ANOTHER AREA of the 
> contest art.  Other than the manner of presentation it breaks no 
> new ground. 
> 
> A local Skimmer is to CW Decoders and SOnR as computer logging 
> is to the paper logs and dupe sheet.  It breaks no new ground 
> in function ... only in form.  
> 
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: K0HB [mailto:k-zero-hb@earthlink.net]
> > Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 6:19 PM
> > To: W4TV Joe Subich; w5ov@w5ov.com; cq-contest@contesting.com
> > Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer
> > 
> > 
> > >
> > > Skimmer is no more "assistance" than a memory keyer or computer
> > > logging.  
> > >
> > 
> > Of course it is, Joe.  Memory keyers and logging programs
> > (book-keepers) do
> > not search out and identify stations for you to work which 
> > are outside your
> > audio passband.
> > 
> > 73, de Hans, K0HB
> > Just a boy and his radio
> > --
> >  ><{{{{*>    http://www.home.earthlink.net/~k0h
> > 
> 
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