There has been some related discussion on the Clublog group.
I'm 76 years old (this is my 60th year in ham radio) and two away (SV/A and
FR/G) from top of the Honor Roll. I don't think I'll make it in this lifetime.
In these years, I've had a local DXer (SK) call me on the telephone to let me
know that "I" worked TYA11, when I most assuredly hadn't. He thought he had
done me a favor by using my call, without permission of course, to make the
contact. I read him the riot act. I believe that another "Honor" Roll member
used a similar "contact."
I made a recent, now abandoned, foray into FT8. I quit that when I got a text
message via JTAlert from my QSO partner, who was being badly QRMed at that
point, telling me he had my report and just needed RRR. Some, I suppose would
think of this as a good QSO. Not me.
From my QRZ bio: "All of these contacts have been made with modest stations,
personally constructed and operated by me and located within 10 miles of the
center of Tucson." This is the way I do it; however, I'm not about to try and
impose my personal ethics on anyone else, each to his own.
Wes N7WS
On 1/14/2018 8:23 AM, Bill Cromwell wrote:
Hi Steve,
I believe it is important to make clear when we are using a distant WebSDR
receiver so we do not mislead others to wrong conclusions about propagation
conditions nor the performance of their station equipment. I do agree there is
nothing inherently evil about using WebSDR. One primary goal of ham radio is
to communicate. You can't work them if you can't hear them. But we also draw
conclusions about propagation and station performance. In the case of
"contests" or activities like DXCC paper chasing use of far remote receivers
could undermine the core of the activity. I am not a paper chaser so others
must decide that issue.
I have been playing with WebSDR reception and I expect to eventually submit
some logs that relies on use of those. The log will always include the
information about what receiver was used and it's location. I think that is
important information. Others may have different motives. I am not a radio
legislator and I am not in enforcement.
Do your best to fit your own activities into the 'big picture' and practice
good citizenship.
73,
Bill KU8H
On 01/14/2018 10:03 AM, Steve Babcock wrote:
I have been "sitting" on this for a few weeks wondering if I should share
this information, but after seeing some spots yesterday for VU2GSM on 160m, I
decided that others may appreciate it.
I know I would.
If you have worked Kanti, VU2GSM recently on the low bands...40, 80 or 160
you should be aware that he was most likely RX using a NA webSDR. The links
below are PDF copies of email correspondence with Kanti confirming that this
is routine for him.The emails are between both VE5UA, myself and VU2GSM.
(Please read the email threads from the "bottom up" to be chronological.)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15n35-1wHPOdWi2Xib7QAQgxkg-hrOujs/view?usp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/15n35-1wHPOdWi2Xib7QAQgxkg-hrOujs/view?usp=sharing
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/15n35-1wHPOdWi2Xib7QAQgxkg-hrOujs/view?usp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/15n35-1wHPOdWi2Xib7QAQgxkg-hrOujs/view?usp=sharing>
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MdZFLJrwcBs-vHh0PNZc2DSevu3lrwcg/view?usp=sharing
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MdZFLJrwcBs-vHh0PNZc2DSevu3lrwcg/view?usp=sharing>
To be clear, I do not judge Kanti for his desire to augment his rx, and do
not think it is wrong. If he chooses to use Ham radio this way that is his
choice. However, I myself do not wish to include a "half" QSO toward my own
(personal) DXCC count, and perhaps others will feel the same hence this
email. I also don't judge others that are good with such webSDR QSOs since
each has his own goals and objectives.
Here is some background. I have been working VU2GSM frequently and with ease
on 40m in the morning and evening. He would respond almost immediately to my
calls which seemed odd. More typical is Rakash VU2RAK who has a great signal
but usually can't copy me, though we have QSOd a few times when conditions
are exceptional.
While at a local ham lunch, I mentioned this, and Don VE6JY said that Kanti
is often logged into his webSDR. The following week I copied VU2GSM on 80m in
the evening with very light copy with my 2el Yagi and 1000' beverage
(diversity rx with K3). He answered immediately and we had a QSO. I was
suspicious. I emailed Don VE6JY and he confirmed that at that time Kanti was
indeed logged into his SDR.
I deleted the QSO from my log.
This then precipitated the e-mail correspondence which I share on the
attached links.
There is little doubt this is going on all the time, and we will never know.
We can't undo the technology that makes webSDR possible.
There are those who who feel that this destroys the “integrity” of the DXCC.
However, not everyone cares about DXCC.
Kanti is not a villan. He is doing nothing wrong. He is not “cheating”. In
his email correspondence he is very open and transparent and makes it clear
he doesn't chase DXCC, and could care less about it. Why should he?
From Kanti's perspective, using a webSDR enhances his enjoyment of the hobby
living in RFI polluted Bangalore. For others, a "half-VU" QSO is better than
none and they are happy.
Like others, I spend a great deal of effort optimizing both rx and tx and
someday when I do make the QSO with VU on 80 and hopefully 160, it will be a
true two-way contact. The “buzz” for me is not getting the country counter in
the log, its about knowing that my station made the contact via radio….both
ways…all the way.
The purpose of this email is simply to inform those who have worked Kanti
recently that it is possible/likely that your TX signal was not actually
heard in VU.
73, de Steve ve6wz
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