Charly, the only thing that Skimmer replaces is the physical act of tuning
the radio.
For me, the objectionable part of skimmer is the removal or lessening of
operator skill. I equate it to using a code reader. Local skimmer, used in
single op, replaces the three acts of tuning the radio, copying the call,
and entering the call in a data base. It gives the local station a form of
automatic spotting system.
The local technical requirements of isolating the receiver from the
transmitter are significant on lower bands with high power, but it is
possible to do. A conventional SDR here overloaded badly from the
transmitter on 160 meters, but I'm sure that could have been cured. On 80
meters and up a local SDR here can get into noise floor without local
transmitter problems. The result would be a window filled with locally
generated "spots" that require no operator assistance.
I'm not saying this is good or bad, but it sure seems to be contrary to real
single-op unassisted. With a low noise floor, a bandmap could fill with
hundreds of useful locally generated spots. There isn't much difference
between that and using a cluster.
73 Tom
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