It's still a depressing feeling for me seeing all of this activity around
getting the ITU pre-fill database updated every year. Does this activity
stop after the contest? I am sure there is enough momentum of the
collusion that goes on - that some people think nothing of helping their
friend out when they are sure if MRASZ was right or not.
One of the things we try to measure during a contest is how accurate people
are. How well they can copy what they hear in the headphones and
accurately log it. This is a skill that would be very important if the
amateur radio service is ever called into handling emergency
communications.
In an emergency - we don't have pre fills on the information we might be
exchanging. A phone number needs to be copied correctly in order to find
the right person on the other end. (This is something I was personally
involved in after the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake).
As the log checker for the IARU contest - it is fairly easy for me to bust
exchanges for people who mis-copied the ITU designator. However, a group
of you have decided this is too much work during the contest and want to
rely on a pre fill database instead of using your brain to figure out what
is being sent. This feels like you are playing the game by a different set
of rules.
I applaud those who avoid using such a database. In truth - by keeping
their brain engaged - they might actually have a more accurate log.
Tree N6TR
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