Tom Rauch wrote:
> I'm a little concerned about this. I'm not so sure it is a
> good idea.
I share Tom's concern about "cheating", but there are so many ways of
doing that already - particularly "spotting" on the web - that I think
the horse has long left the stable.
I've never used "spots" - what I've worked, I've worked by being on the
right frequency at the right time - usually by luck, sometimes by
reading or hearing about planned locations and frequencies, or (very
rarely) by arranging a sked.
I'm a "microscopic pistol" in the scheme of things, these days - I'm the
last one the DX hears, or more often one of those who never gets heard.
I think the Skype RX beacon is a great idea - because although I can
HEAR a fair bit on top band, I can't do comparison tests "on air". I'm
not allowed more than one outside antenna at a time (and that has to be
invisible).
With Skype receiving beacons, I can at least find out if THEY can hear
ME. If there were a selection of such receivers in various locations,
I could do some vaguely meaningful tests to see how things are working.
So - please, more Skype beacons!
To reduce cheating: put them all on one frequency (but in the band
where we chase DX). Pick a frequency where rare DX would be unlikely
to work.
Because, in the end, if anyone is determined to cheat, that person will
find a way. I could imagine an affluent DXer having
computer-controlled receivers dotted around the globe, for example.
I'm not sure what satisfaction there would be in that, but hey!
73s all.
Back to lurking mode,
Keith G3OIT
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