Spotting prefix only will break the spotting network filters and log program
filters that sort the bandmaps. Since every dj1 would look the same the
logging programs would only keep the latest one, and the network filters
would stop many of the dupes. This would break it for use in keeping the
bandmap full and also for finding qso's during the slow hours. There is
also no way to prevent other users from spotting manually, which many dxers
who spot the rare stations do anyway. And would not reduce pileups on rare
stations since the prefix is what is rare anyway.
David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net
web: http://www.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:cq-contest-
> bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Ward Silver
> Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 23:02
> To: CQ-Contest Reflector
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Spot Abuse - An Intermediate Suggestion
>
> >> Has anybody given thought to asking the people who own/operate the
> >> various
> >> clusters, to voluntarily shut them down during contest periods?
> >
> > We need to encourage the casual operators who use Packet as a means to
> > increase country totals to work contests. Shutting off packet will
> > discourage activity from casual ops and we do not need that.
>
> There are two problems with abuses of spotting information:
> 1) Using spotting network information when the category of submission
> prohibits it - this is cheating.
> 2) Using the spotting network information inappropriately, such as calling
> without listening and logging busted calls - this is bad behavior but
> isn't
> necessarily cheating.
>
> I agree that shutting down the spotting is not a realistic option.
> However,
> we can affect what information is fed to it. The simplest thing is just
> to
> not spot anything - and most unassisted folks do just that since they're
> not
> connected. For those actively generating spots, why not limit the
> information to prefix only? i.e. - DX P5 14195.0 N0AX
>
> This is by no means a panacea, but it does have several good effects:
> a) It will encourage spot users to actually listen - what a concept!
> b) It will encourage DX stations to identify more frequently, since their
> call will not be complete in the spot.
> c) The cheaters will have to work harder to get any points from the spot,
> in
> some cases to the point of it not being worth cheating.
>
> It does not discourage casual operators in any way since they still get
> "Hey, there's a PY0 on 7027", just like the Goodle Days. Does it hurt
> legitimate assisted-category operators? Not really - the good ones listen
> for a call sign anyway. It requires zero effort on the part of two
> overworked groups - the sponsors and the spotting network operators.
>
> What this does require is for the logging software authors to create a
> feature called "Spot Prefixes Only" or "Spot First Three Characters Only"
> (yes, the special 1x1 calls will get a free ride...so what) in new
> versions
> of the program. How about it N1MM programmers? This should be really
> easy,
> since the program already determines the call sign prefix for multiplier
> and
> heading information. It's a "simple matter of programming".
>
> Then it's up to the rest of us to try it. If it doesn't work - stop using
> it. Don't wait for the sponsors to try and enforce spotting rules
> administratively - change the game yourselves!
>
> 73, Ward N0AX
>
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