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Re: [CQ-Contest] M/S band change rule in ARRL DX?

To: CQ-Contest Post <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] M/S band change rule in ARRL DX?
From: Rick Tavan <tavan@tibco.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2004 21:48:40 -0800
List-post: <mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
M/S band change restrictions such as ARRL's create a lame category in which the scoring potential for multiple operators in a given time span is lower than the scoring potential for one operator. This because one operator can chase mults to heart's content, especially if equipped for SO2R, but two or more ops are constrained by the band change limitation even if only one op is in control of the station (or even present in the building!) at a time. Recognizing this idiocy, NCCC changed the M/S category in the California QSO Party to allow unlimited band changes but requiring an operator to remain in control of the station for at least ten minutes before any other operator can make a contact. This is a far better solution to the "octopus problem" that the original ten minute rule and its derivatives were intended to solve. I sure hope that the other contest sponsors follow suit some day.

BTW, with the NCCC rule Multi-Single is not only an exciting and competitive category, comparable to single-op, but also an ideal training environment for less experienced contesters and their mentors.

For the lawyers out there: Yes, the NCCC rule depends more on honor than the "checkable" ARRL rule. But so do power limitations, rubber clock prohibitions and other details. We decided that fun and competitiveness trump reduction of suspicion.

/Rick N6XI

Jim Idelson wrote:

Tonno,

M/S and M/2 are great categories in DX contesting. They both require even more strategic thinking and teamwork than single-op and multi-multi.



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