Why is it that the ARRL makes you look in three places to find out what
the rules are for the ARRL DX Contest? This is stupid. Why not just
print the rules on just one web page even though they might be the
similar for other contests? Thank you to N2IC for pointing out rule 3.10
in the General Rules for All ARRL Contests which I somehow missed when
making a previous post.
http://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx
http://www.arrl.org/general-rules-for-all-arrl-contests
http://www.arrl.org/general-rules-for-arrl-contests-below-30-mhz
Anyway the rule in question concerning W2RE in this one that can be
found in the general rules for all ARRL contests
*3.10. The use of non-Amateur Radio means of communication (for example,
Internet or telephone) to solicit a contact (or contacts) during the
contest period is not permitted.*
My interpretation of this rule is that you can't call someone on the
telephone, send an email or use social media like Twitter or Facebook to
arrange contacts.*
*
Here is a history lesson about the use of non-Amateur Radio means of
communication. This rule which was added many years ago in both CQWW and
ARRL DX after an MM operation by members of the SEDXC took place at
VP2KC in the 1979 CQWW DX SSB Contest. They set a new world record. It
turns out the owner of this station was a wealthy retired businessman
named Kit Carson. No expense was spared in building the station. In fact
a big 160 meter DXer back at that time K1PBW spent 50 days on St Kitts
building the 160 meter array and rewired the whole house to be able to
handle a Multi-Multi operation. The controversy surrounding this
operation was that a satellite phone was used to arrange contacts with
famous DXers in rare counties around the world. Back then I don't
believe there was a rule about using non-Amateur Radio means of
communication to arrange contacts. The clause that prohibited this was
added to DX contest rules shortly afterwards.
Going back to W2RE the question to ask is what does non-Amateur Radio
means of communication really mean? If you use a DX cluster or
something like DX Summit to find contacts is that considered non-Amateur
Radio means? You are using the internet to find a station that you
didn't hear on you radio until you clicked on that spot. What about that
weak station on 160 meters that you can't quite pull out the call sign
on your own receiver and you are given that information because it's
posted on the DX Cluster? You could argue that using a DX Cluster is a
non-Amateur Radio means of communication. So W2RE has a web page that
he's streaming his ARRL DX SSB operation. He is pretty up front at the
beginning that he's not displaying his frequency because he wants you
the find him. Although he does make mention that he's on the low end the
20 meter phone band. Probably not a good idea to say that but he still
didn't give his exact frequency. So is that soliciting a contact just
like saying "I'm on 14160 so come there and give me a contact" ? In the
part of the video I watched I didn't hear Ray say that. To be truthful I
didn't watch the whole video but have heard others say his frequency was
displayed in the chat window. I didn't see that part but if true that
could be an issue. Also does "to solicit a contact (or contacts) during
the contest period" mean self-spotting? So if you are running a live
stream and don't give your frequency is that under the definition of
self spotting?
I think it's best to contact the contest sponsor if you are doing
something out of the ordinary to see if it's legit. I did that for the
CQ 160 CW contest because K4BAI was operating the PJ4A station remotely
from my house. I still wanted operate my own station in the contest. I
sent an email to Andy,N2NT, told me not what to do and it worked out fine.
Jeff KU8E
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