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Re: [CQ-Contest] Contest preferred segments in WAE

To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Contest preferred segments in WAE
From: Jim Brown <k9yc@audiosystemsgroup.com>
Reply-to: k9yc@arrl.net
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2016 09:44:21 -0700
List-post: <cq-contest@contesting.com">mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
The heart of the problem is, indeed, in the translation.

I am a member of the Standards Committee of the Audio Engineering Society, which is an international body, and our Standards are written to be applied worldwide. Several European countries are well represented (AESSC is a voluntary body). An important element of "getting it right" is carefully choosing words that translate the same or mean the same in other languages and cultures. Our Standards are written in English. Another important Standards body, the IEC, publishes in both English and French.

In the English language, the word "should" makes a recommendation, NOT a requirement. The word "shall" defines a requirement. As quoted below (I have not read the rules on the website), the rules do NOT forbid operation in those segments, they say that those segments "should be avoided." "No operation to take place on" is ambiguous -- it attempts to clarify, but it still lacks the word "shall."

73, Jim K9YC

On Wed,9/7/2016 10:02 AM, David Siddall wrote:
For background, in its English translation, the WAE rule reads:

According to IARU recommendations operation should be avoided outside
contest-preferred segments. No operation to take place on:

*CW*  : 3560-3800; 7040-7200; 14060-14350 kHz
*SSB*: 3650-3700; 7050-7060; 7100-7130; 14100-14125; 14300-14350 kHz.
Some could find this formulation to be unclear.  In one interpretation, the
first sentence refers to the IARU recommendations. The second sentence
adopts the IARU Region 1 recommendations as requirements for the
competition, and without exception, so it applies to all competitors
worldwide.  (This makes sense since WAEDC is a "world-work-EU-only"
contest, so no valid QSO is possible inside the excluded band segments.)


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