[CQ-Contest] dodgy spotting

jljarvis jljarvis at adelphia.net
Sun Apr 14 12:22:23 EDT 2002


NS3T's second cut at data clearly shows that David, WA6BIM, wasn't doing 
anything wrong.  (Jamie's FIRST cut at data, by the way, did NOT
say that anyone necessarily did anything untoward...he made NO
ACCUSATIONS.  Some folks were sensitive.)

What we know, from Brett-VR2BG, from Jamie-NS3T, and from others on 
CQDXirc, is that not all spots come from the station whose callsign 
is indicated as the author.  If we were to take the top 3 on Jamie's 
list, I bet we'd find that at least ONE of them didn't make those spots.  

This is going to be hard to administrate, and hard to monitor.  The
potential for cloaked self-spotting exists, or for 'team' behavior,
where a friend cloaks--or doesn't--and spots his expedition buddy.  

I am not convinced that extensive spotting actually produces a real 
advantage.  Serious contesters will have you on their band map, which
probably dupe-filters.  Casual players may not be on packet at all.
There may be a few who chase DX, and chase spots...but they're not an
infinite supply of Q's...and duplicate spotting may only yield a very
small additional benefit.   

On the down side....those spots may attract QRP stations, who will 
destroy your rate, as you try to pull them out!  

Simple, relaxed rules are best.  Anything more can't be enforced.  
 
Jim Jarvis, N2EA
Essex Vermont

ps:  (VR2BG...you were pounding in, here in VT on 15 this morning, Brett!)



More information about the CQ-Contest mailing list