Jim,
We are 30 years apart, but our views are so similar.
I started my contesting career with a straight key and a number of copied
ARRL DX Log Sheets and a pen. Next year, the key was replaced with a bugg.
In a few years my Contest Elmer, Frank SM6CVT started his first attempts
with computer logging, using a Macintosh computer with a small monochrome
screen. The computer became slow due to the "massive" data that was entered
into it gradually, and we had no chance to keep pace with online logging.
However, one guy was typing parallel to the operator that was logging by
hand. Sometimes the computer guy managed to tell the operator: "Hey, that's
a DUPE". The pride in the face when he could tell the dupe at once, I still
remember. This was back in 1981-1984.
I made a break in Ham Radio after the military service and started to come
back in 2004 or 2005. Complex logging programs, computer that sent CW were
something completely new to me. I was hesitant whether to "accept" that
development as something good or not, but I gradually did, and nowadays I
hardly can imagine to work a contest without the keyboard and the automatic
CW transmissions. I did however try some year ago in a smaller contest, and
I still can use my Bencher and at the same time keep good pace. That was
fun.
However, no matter how I accept the development with logging programs that
transmit CW, I would be honest and say that there is a very clear and
well-defined border for me when it comes to clusters and RBN. It is not so
that I never use them. I would lie if I told you I don't... But when I
feel that I should be really serious in a contest, and when there is a
chance to work in a non-assisted category, believe me I for sure choose
that opportunity. Because it shows the true Operator Skills, and not my
ability to play video games on the computer...
I very much agree with your statement below:
Those who wants to declare themselves some kind of "winners" through their
Internet progress have really missed the boat!
Yes, it is with true sadness (not to be equalized with nostalgia) I see
that such a skilled set of contest operators that now are in the organizing
chair for WRTC 2018, have compromised with the true essence of our
contesting hobby. German, whom I consider so great operators and so good in
preserving culture and history in other spheres of life - how on earth
could you make this decision of cementing the presence of Internet
dependability into our contesting hobby? This is a true mystery for me -
and a very sad one. It does not became less sad when I realize that WRTC
2018 will not allow internet spotting in the real competition... That is in
my view extremely non-logical.
I still hope that German organizers will seriously review comments from
this reflector and others, and a last time consider the wise in equalizing
Assisted and Non-Assisted during qualification to WRTC 2018.
Remember also that many of the qualifying events already have removed
Non-Assisted as a class, and that all con testers participating in those
contests most likely still must use cluster and RBN to be competitive. Let
us leave the remaining contests as they are and base qualification on
Non-Assisted operation. That would be the best of compromise between
Non-Assisted and Assisted.
73 de Mats RM2D (SM6LRR)
Referee in WRTC 2010, 2014.
2014-12-11 23:41 GMT+03:00 JIM NEIGER <n6tj@sbcglobal.net>:
>
>
> Operator SKILL used to be what mattered most in contesting. Today, it
> appears to be something else. And I think those who want to declare
> themselves some kind of "winners" through their Internet prowess have
> really missed the boat. But everyone today appears to be entrenched in
> their way, and no one is going to change any minds about anything.
>
> I just did 48 hours straight in WW SSB and 46 of 48 in WW CW. Did I win
> the world? Nope. Did I qualify for the next WRTC? Doubtful. Did I use
> the Internet? Nope. And it was fun.
>
> And in my heart of hearts, I like to think my friends above: Don, Nosey,
> Vic, John, and Larry would've been proud.
>
> Vy 73,
>
> Jim Neiger N6TJ
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Charles Harpole
> Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2014 4:15 PM
> To: w2lc@twcny.rr.com
> Cc: CQ-Contest Reflector
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] WRTC Qualifying & RDXC
>
>
> Yes W2LC, the movement to station automation lately is the evolution of
> real ham radio into another hobby, related but different. When some hams
> lost the joy of discovery and happenstance...the essence of ham radio...
> they turned the corner into another hobby which unfortunately intrudes on
> the essence and destroys it by intermixing the two.
>
> Of course, we few can still practice real ham radio and try to cope with
> the new hobby tuning in, but it is still a sad happening to see a real
> human joy slowly disappear. Bye bye, Charly
>
> On Thu, Dec 11, 2014 at 1:19 AM, <w2lc@twcny.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
>> I don't operate assisted. Why? I'm not interested in RBN, skimmer,
>> internet spots, etc. Those are cute technologies but of no interest to me.
>> I do single-op, mostly one radio, and I balance running with S&P. That's
>> why I dislike the non-IDers, I actually S&P.
>>
>> For WRTC NA2 you must join several multi's if you wish to place near the
>> top of the standings. Strictly going single-op won't get you there without
>> a Herculean effort.
>>
>> And if I did go assisted what would I get?
>>
>> An internet connection that is unreliable and fails on a daily basis.
>> Those of you in EU (and you too Randy, and I'm sorry for picking on you,
>> well ... a little bit), please understand that there are many areas of the
>> US that do not have reliable internet. I am in one of those locations, and
>> I am not that far out into the countryside. FIOS? yep they have called me,
>> but when they hear where I am, in relation to their service, they say
>> "never mind".
>>
>> I probably will not have truely reliable internet at home in my lifetime.
>> Why? Not enough customers in my area to make it economically profitable
>> for
>> the internet provider. I am the next to last house on the cable. I'm not
>> sure what the next house does. No big deal, that is just the way it is. I
>> don't use spots anyway. And the only reason TW ran the cable this far out
>> (for a relatively small number of customers) is because one of the town
>> board members lives next door, otherwise I guess would have to use my cell
>> phone. Ooops my cell service is marginal too, scratch that, but ok for my
>> limited use.
>>
>> The plus side for my locaton is the noise level, I am fortunate to have a
>> nearly zero noise level. I would rather have that, than better internet
>> service any day.
>>
>> As for RDXC, I am disqualified even before the start: (kind of, I
>> exaggerate)
>>
>> 11.11 Logs for high scores claiming to be in the top 3 list of any contest
>> category (p 3, 3.3) must indicate the frequency of every QSO made (CAT
>> system use) with a minimum resolution of 1 kHz.
>>
>> 11.11.1 An applicant will not be awarded any of the final "Top 3" places
>> of any category unless exact frequency of every QSO made is indicated.
>>
>> So I cannot use RDXC for WRTC qualifying at least not if I place well,
>> I'll be DQ'ed for not having exact frequencies in my log ("will not be
>> awarded" = "DQ", right?). Didn't someone say that not having exact
>> frequencies makes you a cheater? No it doesn't.
>>
>> I use analog radios, remember those? And they don't have a CAT interface
>> so I cannot comply with the frequency rule, unless I manually record
>> frequencies. Not gonna do that. I like the radios I am using, they work
>> very well. No lectures on older radios please.
>>
>> Therefore a question for the RDXC contest committee, why would I operate
>> your contest when, if I place in the top 3, I will be DQ'ed? Not awarded
>> or
>> whatever
>>
>> I figure to get into the 21st century I need to spend aboout $50,000 USD.
>> 2 new radios, 2 new power amplifiers (a couple of those EU 3500W units
>> ought to do it, I'll run them conservatively), another tower or two,
>> mono-banders, and a house in the Hamptons. A lot of money for maybe a few
>> hundred more QSO's.
>>
>> Maybe, just maybe 2015 will bring a new radio, but which one? I've heard
>> so many bad comments on all of the major radio brands, it is difficult to
>> choose.
>>
>> 73 Scott W2LC
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
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>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Charly, HS0ZCW
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