Reasonable and well balanced comments in general Ed.
However, I tend to question the second part regarding "Learn to use the
cluster and effectively manage the balance between running for rate and
chasing mults".
This truth applied in times when each station used just one radio. Now, all
(I would dare to say) stations wanting to qualify for WRTC, at least in the
most competitive regions, must master the skills of SO2R. That means in
reality that station #1 is always running, while station #2 is used for
chasing multipliers and non-worked stations (in-band).
So what Assisted does, is actually only to change manual S&P on the second
radio, to a click euphoria on the cluster. The fastest operator with the
biggest muscles will make a short break in his Run operation with station
#1, and then just quickly run the multiplier that popped up on station #2.
So the talk about "balance between running and chasing" is not relevant
anymore.
One can easily understand that there is a huge difference between SO2R if
station is using or not using cluster and RBN/Skimmer. As operator without
the cluster/RBN, one has to manually search the second radio and listen
with the left ear to get the call, get the exchange, and first then take a
pause with station #1.
With Assisted, this mult hunt is much simplified. We can even play with
the thought that someone in the future can mechanize the mult hunting
procedure by using decoders. RBN spots a mult, the radio jumps
automatically to the frequency, computer sends out your call once or twice,
decoder detects your call as confirmed by the other station, decoder
detects the exchange and your computer finishes the contact by
automatically sending the message to the station. It may not exist today,
or it may... but this is far from Science Fiction. Do we want that in our
sport?
This is where we will end up if we allow "evolution" to take place, and by
accepting Assisted as the "new modern way" to qualify to WRTC.
Keep in mind that already now, half of the contests in the qualification
list, are already assisted. No choice for unassisted in RDXC, WAE and AA as
I remember. If we at least keep unassisted demand in the remaining
contests, we already now have a tool to make sure people both master
assisted and unassisted categories.... By equalizing, we make sure that
manual S&P skills will sooner or later disappear, and we will be click
puppets of the cluster instead of traditional skilled contesters.
73 de Mats RM2D (SM6LRR)
2014-12-09 6:58 GMT+03:00 Ed Richardson <Ed_richardson@shaw.ca>:
> There have been a lot of posts concerning these changes and it looks
> like I am in the minority, but I like the changes.
>
> First, the ultimate goal remains unchanged. Operate in the designated
> contests and outperform your regional competitors to win a spot in the
> WRTC in 2018. Sure an east coast NA station will usually handily
> outscore a Midwest or west coast NA station in the WAE or RXDC contest.
> However your qualifying points are still derived from your regional
> peers. Sure the no European areas of the world may not have great
> propagation to Europe for the entire contest. It comes back to strategy
> in selecting bands and operating times. You are still just competing
> against your local competitors for WRTC points.
>
> Second, the equalizing of the assisted vs. unassisted. As others have
> pointed, this is a deviation from the previous attitude but I believe it
> simply adds a new wrinkle and challenge. Learn to use the cluster and
> effectively manage the balance between running for rate and chasing
> mults. Do it right and you beat your local competitors? Do it wrong and
> you lose. Forget the attitude that it is not the way it used to be.
> Digital voice keyers, keyboards and computer logging are not the way
> contesting used to be, no one is complaining about those enhancements.
> Perhaps we should go back to paper logging for contests.
>
> Third, shortening the qualifying time to two years is a plus. It means
> that those that are serious about qualifying for a spot will work hard
> for two years. Compare this to previous events where several big names
> would pick and choose which contests they would enter and when it was
> convenient for them. There was a reduction in commitment because they
> enjoyed the luxury of operating superstations and knew they were assured
> a great score whenever they decided to operate.
>
> Fourth, reducing the number of contests where one can earn points while
> outside of ones home area. I say eliminate it entirely. Points should
> only be earned from within your home area.
>
> Fifth, same situation for being part of a multi operator station.
> Reducing, or better yet eliminating it altogether, would be a step in
> the right direction I feel.
>
> Do the folks that feel that comparing assisted to unassisted is a
> travesty and wrong, also feel that earning points from being on a
> multi-multi in a small propagationally favored region, away from their
> home area is also wrong.
>
> WRTC goes a long way to level the playing field during the actual
> contest. The winners should be decided based on operating skill,
> strategy, and teamwork.
>
> Qualifying should be based on the same philosophy. An excellent operator
> using a typical home station will never outperform someone in the same
> region driving a contest superstation. Perhaps there should be score
> reductions based on antenna height and number of elements?
>
> I think the WRTC 2018 planners have got it right.
>
> Ed VE4EAR
>
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