[CQ-Contest] Field Day thought ...

[Jim Lowman]

Ron Wetjen wrote:
> 
> It didn't take long, before someone wrote
> 
> > Field Day is NOT a contest but an EXERCISE in emergency communications.

I think this distinction has been lost over the years.  To many of us,
FD is thought of as a contest these days.  If points are awarded and
scores are reported in QST, it's a contest in my book.  If it walks
like a duck, etc.

Someone always has to drag out this technicality every year.  It's 
like the inevitable "See you next year" that some bozo in the office
comes up with at the end of the year.

We probably wouldn't get many operators out in the field each year if
FD didn't function like a contest.  I'm guessing, but this may have 
been the incentive to get hams out in the field many years ago when FD
was initiated.

As someone said, FD is what you make of it.  For some, it's an all-out
contest effort.  For others, it's a picnic or a social occasion, with
the operation as a secondary result.  For me, it's always been an
all-out competition, starting with my first FD in 1966.

73 de Jim - AD6CW


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>From M. Durham" <wt1s at monad.net  Tue Jun 26 01:20:23 2001
From: M. Durham" <wt1s at monad.net (M. Durham)
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 20:20:23 -0400
Subject: [CQ-Contest] WheeRU: Sheesh!
References: <20010622190620.7EEA.WINDEV at inetmarket.com> <008d01c0fd7c$de5bbce0$81f4a43f at buckeyecablesystem.com>
Message-ID: <001901c0fdd5$cbdd6740$a46ee7ce at cerulean.com>


So...it wouldn't be too far a stretch to say that M/M K1ABC 'chatting' with
M/M K1XYZ on packet and exchanging frequencies etc.  would also 'fall' into
the category of self spotting...

Yes...they've only self spotted to each other, but WhereRU is a
'pre-defined' list of users...not available to the public at large as is a
Packet Spotting network.

And either all internet connected Packet spotting networks need to be
summarily 'disabled' during contests or WhereRU DOESN'T  violate the
NON-Amateur means of dx spotting etc...

What 'real or perceived' advantage can be gained by WhereRU during a
contest....that couldn't be 'gained' by a talk message via regular packet or
a vhf/uhf fm link between stations.

I think it is a rather innovative application...only wish it were available
as a stand alone product.

Think about the contests where TEAM competion is a factor...now those teams
could intercommunicate realtime throughout the contest...hmmmmm

Thought provoking yes...but no more a threat to the SINGLE OP GENRE' than dx
spotting repeaters of the 70's and early 80's or PacketCluster spotting
networks through wireless or internet connectivity.

IMHO

W1MD

----- Original Message -----
From: "K9TM" <k9tm at buckeye-express.com>
To: <CQ-Contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2001 9:43 AM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] WheeRU: Sheesh!


>
> Hopefully this is read as it was intended, a statement (summary) of facts
> and an actionable alternative.
>
> >From: "Gerry Hull" <windev at inetmarket.com>
>
> > Let the contest sponsors deceide what is the proper usage....
> They already have and they declare it to be illegal based on the current
> rules:  (summary below)
>
> -----
> ARRL: (General Rules for contests)
> 3.10. The use of non-Amateur Radio means of communication (for example,
> Internet or telephone) to solicit a contact (or contacts) during the
contest
> period is not permitted.
>
> 3.14. In contests where packet or spotting nets are allowed, spotting your
> own station or requesting another station to spot you is not permitted.
>
> ---
> NCJ: (NAQP Rules and Sprint Rules)
> 3. Entry Classification: Single operator only. Use of helpers or spotting
> nets is not permitted. (Sprint)
>
> 5. Entry Classification: (NAQP Rules)
>     a. Single Operator:
>         i. One person performs all transmitting, receiving, spotting and
> logging functions as well as equipment and antenna
adjustments.
>         ii. Use of helpers or spotting nets is not permitted.
> ---
> CQWW: (rules from web site)
> III Type of competition
> A. Single Operator Categories:
> Single band or all band; only one signal allowed at any one time; the
> operator can change bands at any time.
>
> 1. Single Operator High: Those stations at which one person performs all
of
> the operating, logging, and spotting functions. The use of DX alerting
> assistance of any kind places the station in the Single Operator Assisted
> category.
> 2. Single Operator Low: Same as III A 1 except that the output power shall
> not exceed 100 watts
> (see rule XI. 11).
> 3. QRPp: Same as III A 1, except that the power output must not exceed 5
> watts (see rule XI.11).
>
> B. Single Operator Assisted:
> Same as III A 1 except the passive (self- spotting not allowed) use of DX
> spotting nets is allowed.
> -----
>
> What is WhereRU?
> It is a client-server program (simulates a net) which uses the Internet to
> tell others where you are (freq, band, rate, etc) [aka self-spotting,
> soliciting QSOs].
>
> Seems obvious that it violates ARRL rules 3.10 and 3.14, NCJ rules and
CQWW
> rule III B. (SELF- SPOTTING NOT ALLOWED).
>
> I don't think you will see sponsors write rules that say "No use of
> WhereRU".  Why?  Because someone would rename it to HereIAm and claim they
> weren't using WhereRU and therefore are legal.  The rules prohibit the use
> of this general class of item already. (even the name gives it away
WhereRU,
> spotting...self-spotting)
>
> Even without the exact freq (just band/mode) it gives away enough info
that
> someone can more easily find you.  I think this would/should still be
> considered self-spotting.
>
> ******* (Possible actionable alternative?)
> Perhaps if it gave total # of QSO's, total # of mults and score, it would
> still serve the purpose and yet not be illegal (no talk function, etc.)?
> Call it Realtime3830, WattsUrScore, HwUDoin, 3830Live... (just a few
thought
> provokers)  Note that it could not contain band breakdowns as this would
> tell you in pseudo real-time where someone was.
> *******
>
> > WhereRU has'nt been used for beat the competition, YET.
> This seems to say that someone feels that some competitive advantage can
be
> gained by the use of the program.  Thus it is not just a spectator
> (non-competitor) program (asserted in earlier note).
>
> > Yes, let's innovate and build new applications....
> Sure, but it has to be within the rules.
>
>
> The problem for the sponsor, yet again, becomes enforcement (unless you
> admit to use).
>
> Maybe someone will write a WhereRU crawler to go around the web and see
who
> is using it during a contest (great another hit on the firewall :-)  )?
>
> 73 Tim K9TM
>
>
> --
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>
>


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