I have been following this thread with both interest and trepidation.
It appears that in order to be competitive, a station needs a high end
computer, that can run software for logging, scanning the DX cluster
websites, turn the antenna or steer the phased array to the most optimal
direction for any given station, show a display for CW skimmer, and all
the operator needs to do is click on the station shown on the display,
and the computer and radio do the rest, including sending the code for
the signal report or other exchange criteria. At most the mere human
needs to slightly twiddle a few knobs, the fewer the better, or perhaps
hit a button a few times now and then.
If this is the case, you are stopping just short of a revolutionary
advance in contesting. Why not build up a really high end computer,
like those that one of my friends constructs for his musical work, and
eliminate the weakest link in the contesting station? I am sure that
the computer could completely take over the station, and run it to much
higher scores. Perhaps someone, probably Gordon West, could write a
program so that the computers actually get licensed themselves. Much of
the studying for the exams now is done by rote memory, and computers can
certainly excel at that. They might even take the test on-line. Why
not just automate the entire process, and eliminate the error prone
human being that needs at least some sleep and rest breaks?
Climbing into my flame proof suit...
73,
Steve WA9JML
_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
|