[CQ-Contest] M/S 10 Meter Contest - Question for Entrants

[AA4NC at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/18/01 23:21:44 PM GMT Standard Time, k8cc at mediaone.net 
writes:

> At 03:17 PM 12/18/01 -0500, AA4NC at aol.com wrote:
>  >I suspect from the disparity in scores that there were lots of different 
>  >schemes used. I haven't operated the 10m M/S for a couple years, and had 
>  >originally thought that there was a 10 minute/6 band change rule (as in 
>  >most ARRL contests). Since I had not read the rules in a long time, I was 
>  >surprised to see N1ND's e-mail clarification prior to the contest that 
>  >mode changes were allowed for multis AS LONG AS ONLY ONE SIGNAL WAS 
>  >TRANSMITTED. Wouldn't this outlaw an octopus?
>  
>  Wil,
>  
>  That is the point of an octopus - to ensure that only on signal is 
> transmitted.
>  
>  There are a number of ways to use multiple radios on a band, and yet 
ensure 
>  that only one signal is transmitted.  K3LR uses two radios, two amps, and 
>  separate antennas with lockout logic so only one radio transmits at a 
>  time.  W3LPL uses two radios but only one amp - Frank's antenna switching 
>  is so clever that each op can listen to his own antenna selection, which 
>  can be separate from the antenna doing the transmitting, but still only 
one 
>  rig can transmit at a time.
>  
>  I don't know why people are so negative about octopi, lockout logic, or 
>  whatever.  I can demonstrate how to put two radios on one band with no 
>  outside hardware and single-transmission interlocks, using mostly Radio 
>  Shack parts so its not only a game for big, multi-tower stations.  Sure, 
it 
>  takes a certain level of cleverness to implement, but that's what allows 
>  one station to get an advantage over another.
>  
>  I think it makes mult-ops a heckuva lot more fun.  This really applies to 
>  Sweepstakes - a "ten minute" or "six band changes per hour" rule would 
>  wreck the multi-op category in SS.  There is a multi-single philosophy of 
>  "a bunch of guys in a room with one radio" which might be OK for ARRL DX 
>  where you have multi-2 to step up to, but contests like SS where mults are 
>  mostly irrelevent and ARRL 10 where there is only one band (OK, two 
>  counting modes) need the freedom to aggressively pursue QSOs or boredom 
>  will set in.
>  
>  Again, the ability to only one have transmission at a time is the absolute 
>  standard.
>  
>  73,
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  Dave/K8CC
>  

Hi Dave,

My bad - I guess I didn't understand what Steve meant. I was thinking that he 
was hearing multiple signals. I was thinking that the current rules we have 
that specify one signal were a result of so-called "octopus" rigs from years 
ago that allowed multiple signals to be transmitted (which was legal then).

Anyway, I agree that 10 minute rules/band change rules are not as much fun. I 
do think that it's getting necessary to have a Multi/2 or Mult-multi capable 
station
to compete in the Multi-single category except where band change limits 
exist. It's just the escalation of the arms race I guess! 

(Note to Santa Claus - Bring more radio stuff!! :>)

If we want to discuss ways of minimizing boredom, how about shortening up 
some of the more tedious contests? (Guess that's another can of worms 
altogether isn't it?)


Happy holidays / New Year,

Will


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