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Re: [CQ-Contest] FT4 - Robotic Contesting

To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] FT4 - Robotic Contesting
From: Barry <w2up@comcast.net>
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2019 07:01:35 -0600
List-post: <mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
I agree.

In the last decade, I was an active digital contester and still hold a CQWW RTTY record (SOLP USA) set in 2002.  I don't understand this sit there and click with no operator intervention mentality.  Seems the only thing missing from this new FT4 software is the ability to enter your cell number, so the software can text you when the contest is over, and you can see how you did :-)

Barry W2UP

On 4/30/2019 4:59 AM, Edward Sawyer wrote:
I am not sure how many people are aware of a new FT mode that was just 
released.  The mode called FT-4 has a few new features.

The first is that its quicker by trading S/N capture algorithm for speed of 
contacts.  I read somewhere there is a 10db price to pay on the weak signal 
capability.

The second is it allows for more flexibility of contest exchanges.

The third is disturbing.  It allows for an automated feature that decides the 
best contact available of the decoded possibilities (like a new mult) and just 
goes for it automatically.  The operator doesn't click on the call, the 
operator clicks on the desire to find the best call.

Because of the simplistic possibility of having a screen macro just keep clicking on "find the 
best call", a feeble attempt to thwart full robotic capability is made to swap the button on 
the screen with the cancel button.  Although this is NOT done after every QSO but only after 
"a few QSOs" whatever that means.  So even with this attempt, the acceptance of a few 
automated and optimized QSOs has been declared acceptable.  Just not 100% fully robotic.  Although 
whether this attempt to move buttons actually prevents a macro from engaging the button is not 
assured to me.  People more knowledgably on such things can comment.

I hope that the Contest community is watching this slippery slope slide.  Fire 
up FT4, decode the signals in the pass band, Automatically find a few and work 
them without the operator even knowing which ones are being worked.  Seriously, 
what is the point?  If a robot war contest is desired, I am all for it and 
think it's a cool concept.  But we don't put 6 year olds in the ring to fight 
with robots in robowars and we shouldn't be mixing the two in contesting either.

Contesters ignore this disturbing trend and acceptance by sponsors at their 
peril in my opinion.

73

Ed  N1UR
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