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Re: [CQ-Contest] The Skimmer Rule Challenge

To: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <w4tv@subich.com>, "'Kerr, Prof. K.M.'" <k.kerr@abdn.ac.uk>, "'Michael Coslo'" <mjc5@psu.edu>, "'cq-contesting cq-contest'" <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] The Skimmer Rule Challenge
From: <ve4xt@mts.net>
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:55:37 -0500
List-post: <cq-contest@contesting.com">mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>

> 
> Kelly, 
> 
> > It has always been clear, spelled out in many rules, that 
> > "assisted" classes refer to those operators receiving spotting 
> > information (callsigns and QRGs, not merely spikes on a bandscope). 
> > There has never been a mention of automation of the administrivia 
> > of contesting being "assistance". 
> 
> You do not have the right to define the debate on your own terms. 
> "Assistance" has always been a shorthand to define a situation 
> where information was provided BY ANOTHER OPERATOR who was not 
> actually making the contacts.  The "assisted" entry category was 
> created as a way to avoid the need to combine those who used  
> packet/internet "alerting networks" into the multi-operator, 
> single-transmitter class.  "Assistance" has always been about 
> the additional operator and not the presence or absence of 
> productivity enhancing technology.  
> 
> In order to claim that "assistance" includes product enhancing 
> technology, ALL productivity enhancing technologies - including 
> electronic keyers, memory keyers, voice keyers, computer logging, 
> computer duping, CW decoding, multiple radios/receivers (i.e. SO#R), 
> band scopes, propagation predicting software, third party history 
> files, third party SCP databases and every other technology that 
> eliminates or reduces the user input necessary to operate a contest 
> must be considered assistance.  To argue that technologies that have 
> been used individually or in limited combinations for many years 
> (SO2R/second receiver, CW decoders, bandscopes and a "bandmap") 
> suddenly becomes another person when combined into one piece of 
> software is not credible. 
> 
> Arguing that if one places one technological implementation into 
> the "assisted class" the individual components of that technology 
> must also be assistance is not a red herring.  It is hubris to 
> argue that one implementation of the technology is a suddenly the 
> equivalent of a non-licensed second operator.  That technology has 
> the ability to do what a human operator can do it not new.  If the 
> technology did not have the ability to relive the human operator 
> of some portion of the effort necessary to operate the station - 
> none of if would be used.  
> 
> Again, "assisted" is an artifact of the attempt to avoid the need 
> for those who accept "assistance" from other operators from being 
> reclassified as multi-single.  Skimmer is not another operator and 
> does not belong in the "operator" classification any more than any 
> other productivity enhancing technology like, for example, SO#R. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com 
> > [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of ve4xt@mts.net
> > Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 11:21 AM
> > To: Joe Subich, W4TV; 'Kerr,Prof. K.M.'; 'Michael Coslo'; 
> > 'cq-contesting cq-contest'
> > Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] The Skimmer Rule Challenge
> > 
> > 
> > It seems the only people now arguing that computer logging, 
> > auto-tune amplifiers or the like should 
> > constitute "assistance" are those arguing for the unfettered 
> > release of Skimmer into the contesting 
> > ethos.
> > 
> > It has always been clear, spelled out in many rules, that 
> > "assisted" classes refer to those operators 
> > receiving spotting information (callsigns and QRGs, not 
> > merely spikes on a bandscope). There has never 
> > been a mention of automation of the administrivia of 
> > contesting being "assistance". 
> > 
> > So to argue that to place Skimmer into "assisted" classes 
> > means that you must also place any other 
> > automated feature of a station into assisted is simply a red 
> > herring. The smart readers of this forum 
> > have not bought into that particular bit of seafood.
> > 
> > I am not anti-Skimmer: but I do not buy the argument that our 
> > forefathers intended to restrict the 
> > definition of assistance only to that information coming from 
> > other people. Spots are spots.
> > 
> > 73, kelly
> > ve4xt
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > CQ-Contest mailing list
> > CQ-Contest@contesting.com 
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> 
> 

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