Jim,
> No matter how one chooses to parse the words, one of the
> unique, intrinsic, and abject joys of amateur radio, in
> general, and contesting in particular, is the beauty of
> our ability to COPY signals and call signs.
I'm sorry you feel that way but the "copy by ear" train left
the station many years ago. Not only is CW decoding integral
to Writelog, Amateur radio has not required that skill as an
entry requirement for nearly ten years. To deny those who
lack your particular skill set and dedication the ability
to participate in a significant portion of contests would
go a long way toward hastening the demise of contesting -
at least CW contesting.
Machine copy, whether it be Skimmer, the WriteLog decoder
or one of the other stand alone decoders will be used by
an every larger portion of CW contest entrants as the "old
time" operators disappear. Do we lose something in the
drift to machine copy? Yes. However that's not the issue.
73,
... Joe, W4TV
> -----Original Message-----
> From: n6tj@sbcglobal.net [mailto:n6tj@sbcglobal.net]
> Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 12:01 PM
> To: Joe Subich, W4TV; 'Sandy Taylor'; cq-contest@contesting.com
> Subject: SKIMMER = BUMMER
>
>
> No matter how one chooses to parse the words, one of the
> unique, intrinsic,
> and abject joys of amateur radio, in general, and contesting
> in particular,
> is the beauty of our ability to COPY signals and call signs.
>
> To settle for less, and to have someone / something do it
> for you, is
> simply foolish and contributes little more to our beloved
> pastime, other
> than to demonstrate that someone can build the technology.
> Just because we
> can build a nuclear weapon, does that mean we should use it?
> I hope not.
>
> For those poor souls who need crutches to (1) copy morse code
> and (2) think
> they've either 'leveled the playing field' or proved
> anything, please go
> spend some quality time learning CW skills, and practice, practice,
> practice. You can do it, and we, and you, will be so very
> glad that you
> did.
>
> Thank you very much
>
> 73
>
> Jim Neiger N6TJ
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <w4tv@subich.com>
> To: "'Sandy Taylor'" <ve4xt@mts.net>; <cq-contest@contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 10:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer
>
>
> >
> >
> >> C'mon Joe, it's completely ludicrous to say Skimmer breaks no new
> >> ground. Since when has there been anything, other than
> packet, that
> >> tells you who is on and where they are.
> >
> > The only thing Skimmer does is present the data in a
> different format.
> > It's certainly not the first CW decoder - they've been
> around for 15
> > maybe 20 years. It's certainly not the first panadapter - they've
> > been around for 40? years. It's certainly not the first broadband
> > receiver - they've been around for 80 years. However, skimmer
> > combines those elements along with a little thought and a lot of
> > programmer ingenuity to present the information in a very usable
> > format.
> >
> > Skimmer doesn't do anything that the operator can't do (the
> operator
> > can scan the band and copy every signal he encounters) but skimmer
> > does it faster and more efficiently but with less accuracy.
> Putting a
> > skimmer on the 2nd radio simply makes that radio more
> efficient. It's
> > the CW equivalent to some of the multiple channel PSK
> software - for
> > example the "broadband decode" feature of WinWarbler that will even
> > fill a local bandmap during a PSK contest (what few there are).
> >
> > Skimmer breaks no new ground ... of that there is no doubt if you
> > bother to pay attention to technology. Slimmer simply applies
> > existing technology in a new area. The existence of WinWarbler's
> > "broadband decode" feature for nearly two years has shown what is
> > possible. CW Skimmer has applied that to CW and I don't
> think it will
> > be that soon before another clever programmer does the same with
> > traditional RTTY. Phone will take a little longer because analog
> > voice is just a bit more complicated to decode than any of
> the digital
> > (including CW) signals but it will happen at the amateur
> level - I'm
> > sure it is already happening on the government/professional level.
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Sandy Taylor [mailto:ve4xt@mts.net]
> >> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:10 PM
> >> To: 'Joe Subich, W4TV'; k-zero-hb@earthlink.net;
> >> cq-contest@contesting.com
> >> Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer
> >>
> >>
> >> C'mon Joe, it's completely ludicrous to say Skimmer breaks no new
> >> ground. Since when has there been anything, other than
> packet, that
> >> tells you who is on and where they are.
> >>
> >> All the other examples you cite still require the operator to have
> >> done SOMETHING. Skimmer doesn't.
> >>
> >> I can only guess you're saying such preposterous things to
> stir the
> >> pot a bit. I can't imagine you're being the least bit serious.
> >>
> >> 73, Kelly
> >> Ve4xt
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
> >> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> Joe Subich,
> >> W4TV
> >> Sent: April-24-08 7:24 PM
> >> To: k-zero-hb@earthlink.net; cq-contest@contesting.com
> >> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> > Memory keyers and logging programs (book-keepers) do
> >> > not search out and identify stations for you to work
> >> > which are outside your audio passband.
> >>
> >> CW Skimmer is a new application of existing technology (CW
> decoders,
> >> broadband receivers, panadapters, additional receiver, etc.) that
> >> allows an operator to be more productive IN ANOTHER AREA of the
> >> contest art. Other than the manner of presentation it
> breaks no new
> >> ground.
> >>
> >> A local Skimmer is to CW Decoders and SOnR as computer
> logging is to
> >> the paper logs and dupe sheet. It breaks no new ground in
> function
> >> ... only in form.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> > -----Original Message-----
> >> > From: K0HB [mailto:k-zero-hb@earthlink.net]
> >> > Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 6:19 PM
> >> > To: W4TV Joe Subich; w5ov@w5ov.com; cq-contest@contesting.com
> >> > Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > >
> >> > > Skimmer is no more "assistance" than a memory keyer or
> computer
> >> > > logging.
> >> > >
> >> >
> >> > Of course it is, Joe. Memory keyers and logging programs
> >> > (book-keepers) do
> >> > not search out and identify stations for you to work which are
> >> > outside your audio passband.
> >> >
> >> > 73, de Hans, K0HB
> >> > Just a boy and his radio
> >> > --
> >> > ><{{{{*> http://www.home.earthlink.net/~k0h
> >> >
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> CQ-Contest mailing list
> >> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> >>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > CQ-Contest mailing list
> > CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>
_______________________________________________
CQ-Contest mailing list
CQ-Contest@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
|