Sorry Bob.
I'm with Frank on this one.
The rule is not idiotic. Its purpose was to prevent cheating, pure and
simple -- a subject that has been much debated on this reflector recently,
if memory serves.
I remember the debates about the Octopus and similar mechanical marvels.
Again, to keep things in context, they were intended to permit a FD group to
claim that technically, only one transmitter was on the air when the reality
was that two or more were. The key there is "a FD group", not an individual
running SO2R -- a concept which was implemented at the time by very, very
few.
If memory serves, Frank may be thinking of one station that published an
article explaining how they implemented the Octopus -- but, if memory
serves, there was more than one group that used it or something like it.
And other groups considering it, if it were legal. I know my college club
in the mid-1970's had some people who looked into it, but decided it wasn't
worth the aggravation to try and make it legal.
The rule change in question put a stop to a potential problem before it
really became one. Pure and simple.
At most, I would be willing to stipulate that the rule is slightly out of
date and needs rewording, to take current technology into account.
But idiotic? Hardly.
73, ron w3wn
-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
K5WA
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 5:13 PM
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Cc: donovanf@starpower.net
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Field Day SO2R
Frank,
It is very interesting that you didn't have any issues with the meat of my
statement to Jim which is that the rule is idiotic in that it stifles
innovation and is badly written. You even give tacit support to my theory
that this rule was initiated to target a VERY small (about 1) participant
pool by bringing in your citation to support my argument. The actual year
it was implemented is irrelevant if my theory is correct for its reason of
being instituted. I actually went and looked at the 1970 rules and they are
different (slightly) than the currently published rules in regard to
simultaneous transmission. There is no simultaneous transmission in SO2R
(which is what Jim was asking) as you well know so if this rule should
continue, it needs to be worded better. In the meantime, my advice to Jim
(go 2A) was sound based on the spirit of the rule even though the rule is
flawed.
FD isn't a contest anyway. ;-)
73,
Bob
From: donovanf@starpower.net [mailto:donovanf@starpower.net]
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 1:51 PM
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Cc: K5WA
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Field Day SO2R
"A couple of years ago, someone put an idiotic rule into FD which says no
"octopus" can be used at FD"
A little fact checking is in order...
That rule has been in place for at least forty five years! See the rules for
the
1970 Field Day. The rule was put in place because of the use of octupuses
by at least one entrant in the 1A category.
http://www.arrl.org/arrl-periodicals-archive-search
73
Frank
W3LPL
_____
From: "K5WA" <K5WA@Comcast.net>
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 3:21:25 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Field Day SO2R
Jim,
A couple of years ago, someone put an idiotic rule into FD which says no
"octopus" can be used at FD. This had to be a politically motivated rule
which kills some aspects of innovation at FD (which is an event FOR
innovation at multiple levels) and was probably targeted at one cross-town
rival of the rule writer. So, if you follow that vaguely written, poorly
worded "rule" for this non-contest, you would have to go 2A to comply. Now,
if you just happen to have a fast antenna switch that doesn't say "Octopus"
or "Simulcaster" on the side of it, then SO2R your little self away. ;-)
Line 4 in the ARRL FD rules.
The use of switching systems that allow for lockouts in order to use
multiple transmitters (i.e., an "octopus") in an attempt to enter a
lower-number-of-transmitters class are prohibited (i.e. using 2 transmitters
that can transmit simultaneously, with two operators, and a lock-out system
and entering class 1A). The use of simulcasting devices which allow a single
operator to key and transmit on more than one transmitter at a time, is
prohibited.
Have fun at FD. We'll see you as K5TU this year if the Texas floods and 105
degree heat doesn't get us.
Bob K5WA
Message: 10
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2015 16:06:36 -0700
From: Jim Brown <k9yc@audiosystemsgroup.com>
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Field Day SO2R
Message-ID: <557F5A7C.80502@audiosystemsgroup.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
A small group of us have been doing FD QRP 1A Battery for several years, and
I've recently considered doing it SO2R. The question is, does SO2R put me in
1A or 2A if there's only a single operator and software insures that one one
radio can transmit at the same time?
73, Jim K9YC
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