I think there are a number of reasons why people get involved in contesting.
There are those who like the technical aspects of station building and see
contests as a way to "prove out" station designs, changes, etc. They get their
kicks from the technology side of things. Another group likes the competition
inherent in operating. They see value in building operating skills rather
than technology for technologies sake.
On SO2R - SO2R is about skill, not technology (this is a dead horse that has
been beaten many times). SO2R advances the radio art from a skill building
perspective. Managing interstation interference is a related technical
challenge. This also advances the radio art.
On Skimmer - Skimmer has the potential of leveling the playing field when used
to generate spots. I think the idea of a network of skimmers for spotting and
propagation studies is a good one that advances the radio art. Using skimmer
in the single op category demeans the skills that many ops have worked hard to
develop. These skills are not considered a chore to those who have worked
hard to hone them. Using skimmer to copy calls and populate a band map does
not advance the radio art.
On Remoting - If the transmitter, receiver and antennas are within the
designated station circle then why should anyone care where the operator is
located. Managing communication latencies is a technical challenge. Does it
advance the radio art? Maybe. It might likely break down some of the
economic barriers to building large stations. This would be a good thing that
advances contesting and dxing. Does it negatively impact the value of
operator skill? I think not.
These are of course just my personal opinions.
I think the basic test of whether a technology should be allowed is the ask
this question. "Does it advance the radio art from the perspective of the
major constituencies?". I realize that this is somewhat subjective question.
This seems to me to be the stewardship of the contest sponsors.
Hopefully they will quickly sort this out and weigh in on skimmer.
I'm a newcomer that has just gotten into contesting in the past few years. I
wasn't an active ham before computers became popular, but I'm old enough to
remember what it was like before computer technology became mainstream.
My .02 cents worth.
73 - Guy, N7ZG
> From: bparry@rgv.rr.com> To: Tom@k5rc.cc; cq-contest@contesting.com> Date:
> Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:20:07 -0500> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Cheating with
> Technology> > I just don't understand where we are going with this. It
> appears that folks> want to pick the technology that suits them and call it
> fine. (SO2R, or> propagation software, or logging software, or remote
> stations, at al. and> call them cutting edge technology that improves us all.
> Other technology for> some reason is "persona non gratis" (anything having to
> do with packet is> equated with sexual assault of children).> > >From contest
> results, the EVIDENCE I see is that SO2R is a far more valuable> asset than
> packet. Virtually all the top scoring Single Ops use SO2R. Single> OP scores
> always seem higher than single op assisted. I don't want to do> SO2R but I
> say more power to those excellent operators that can use it.> > This new
> skimmer software seems cool to me. Maybe it is the final coming of> the end,
> I don't know. I'm not smart enough to see into the future, but I> think that
> a couple of problems with packet might be fixed if we used the> skimmer
> instead of individuals inputting calls into the packet system.> > You see, I
> know a secret! I am never going to win one of these contests. I> operate the
> contest because I think they are fun and I like to work new band> countries
> and old friends. I refuse to be told by someone I am a bad> operator if I
> miscopy too many calls or I use packet. So I choose not to> enter my log! I
> enter my log into the 3830 Reflector (in the proper> category). I can see how
> I have done. If contests are made into name calling> contest, lots of guys
> may decide not to participate. Should make SS on> Sunday afternoon even more
> fun!> > I think that everyone needs to step back and remember why we got in
> this> hobby. > > Bill W5VX > > -----Original Message-----> From:
> cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com]
> On Behalf Of Tom Taormina> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 11:09 AM> To:
> cq-contest@contesting.com> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Cheating with Technology> >
> > You forgot a big one, Dick. We cheated by using technology to fly to the>
> Moon. We should have used wooden boats and sails.> > Tom Taormina, K5RC>
> Virginia City Nevada> http://k5rc.cc> NACHO-W7RN RANN-K7RC> CQ Contest Hall
> of Fame, FOC 1760> > > > Message: 1> Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:13:48 -0700>
> From: "Dick Dievendorff" <dieven@comcast.net>> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Get
> out of jail free card> To: <cbrakob@earthlink.net>, "'Jim George'"
> <n3bb@mindspring.com>,> "'Kelly Taylor'" <ve4xt@mts.net>,
> <wn3vaw@verizon.net>,> <cq-contest@contesting.com>> Message-ID:
> <000001c883f7$7952cf10$6bf86d30$@net>> Content-Type: text/plain;
> charset="us-ascii"> > Right. While we're at it, we should ban those pesky
> memory keyers, it makes> redundant the important contesting skill of manually
> operating a Morse key.> > And while we're at it, get rid of those pesky
> computer logging programs, it> makes redundant the important contesting skill
> of writing legibly and> maintaining a dupe sheet in real time.> > And those
> durned microcontroller computers that are essential to every> modern
> transceiver should also be banned. No software power, just people> skills.> >
> Dick, K6KR> > > _______________________________________________> CQ-Contest
> mailing list> CQ-Contest@contesting.com>
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest> >
> _______________________________________________> CQ-Contest mailing list>
> CQ-Contest@contesting.com>
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