I've been appalled by how few stations spot in phone contests, even
though N1MM+ (and perhaps other contest logging programs) offer the
option of spotting all S&P QSOs, regardless of mode.
It's been suggested to me that some non-assisted contest entrants may be
deterred because of concern that they might risk disqualification if
frequent spots attributed to them are seen on the cluster network. If
that's a significant deterrent, which seems somewhat credible, then
perhaps the sponsors of the major contests should singly or collectively
announce that the appearance of spots attributed to non-assisted
competitors will not, by themselves, be considered evidence of assisted
status.
Then how would illicit assisted operation be detected? 15 years ago,
CT1BOH and VE5ZX authored a paper on how to identify undisclosed
two-radio or assisted operation through log analysis. With the
capabilities now available to us, and the near-universal acceptance of
open logs, it seems to me that the means exist for detecting undisclosed
assistance without making assumptions based on spotting.
So what say, contest organizers?
--
73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
web server at<https://reversebeacon.net>.
For spots, please use your favorite
"retail" DX cluster.
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