[CQ-Contest] computers ruined contesting

[Kenneth E. Harker]

On Mon, Jul 07, 2003 at 07:44:19AM -0700, Leigh S. Jones wrote:
> 
> Computerized log checking (or the lack of it) is an issue across all
> contests at present; it affects the entire contesting community.  Log
> checking should be handled as nearly as possible in an equal fashion
> regardless of which contest is in question.  

The most important thing, in my opinion, is that the log checking be 
consistent and relevant to a particular contest.  There are log checking
issues relevant to the Sweepstakes that are not relevant to, say, the NAQP,
and vice versa.  The evolution of log checking software is such that 
the uniqueness of each contest is still being addressed.  What I think 
most people really want is a common log checking report format that they
can understand, regardless of the particular software that generated it.

>                                              Issues surrounding this
> subject should be above the influence of sponsorship, and in the hands
> of the contesting community.  

This is silly - if it weren't for the sponsorship, we wouldn't have log
checking at all.

>                               Decisions on this subject should not be
> made by the programmers of the log checking programs.  The programmers
> should be working to specifications that originate with open and
> democratic discussions and decision-making and the full concurrence of
> the contesting community.

Those who are programming the log checking software are not exactly ignorant
of the issues.  I think N5KO, N6TR, K8CC, et al. know a thing or two about 
what should and should not be counted as a good QSO.

> As evidenced by the nature of the discussion, our present log checking
> system is based on exactly the opposite set of principles.

The current system came about because people cared about doing it, it became
technically feasible with electronic log submissions, and selfless individuals
with the proper skills volunteered their time and energy and finances to make 
it happen.

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Beckwith" <mark at concertart.com>
> To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2003 2:35 PM
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] computers ruined contesting
> 
> 
> > At first glance these seem like legitimate questions for heated
> contester
> > debate:
> >
> > >What about K vs. 1000 vs. KW?
> >
> > >I know if I hear WA1ABC/DU1 and five minutes later
> > >I hear DU1/WA1ABC that it's the same guy.
> >
> > I like to vent just as much as anyone, but in the case of this
> thread, I
> > think once it has come out that the actual log errors turned out to
> be
> > completely different from those initially supposed, that would be an
> > appropriate time to stop and wonder if it was worth continuing to
> discuss
> > what turned out after all to be "pretend" problems.
> >
> > I believe we can safely say:
> >
> > 1. nobody gets dinged for changing where they put the portable
> designator,
> > whether sending or logging.  When Dan said "each log checker has
> their own
> > feelings about this," I bet the part he left out which he should
> have said
> > was "and all the log checkers have talked about it and decided to
> feel the
> > same about this."
> >
> > 2. nobody is getting dinged for changing from KW to 1000 either,
> whether
> > sending or logging.
> >
> > 3. in reality the checkers are somewhat lenient at times, and some
> people
> > are saying they shouldn't be so lenient.
> >
> > 4. tightening this aspect of log checking would result in a
> Pandora's Box of
> > undesirable side-effects, for example:
> >
> > When he said "five-nine-thousand" did he pronounce the final "d"?
> Is
> > "thousand" spelled with a capital T or a lower case T?  Was he
> actually
> > saying "1000"?  What if you just write "kw", do you get in trouble?
> >
> > On CW when he sent 599 K did he forget to send the power and was he
> turning
> > it back over to you?
> >
> > My point is, the checkers have thought about the side effects and
> drawn a
> > line where the job is getting done well in every day application.
> >
> > I have yet to see a post which shows this is not the case.
> >
> > Mark, N5OT
> >
> 
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-- 
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Kenneth E. Harker      "Vox Clamantis in Deserto"      kharker at cs.utexas.edu
University of Texas at Austin                   Amateur Radio Callsign: WM5R
Department of the Computer Sciences          Central Texas DX & Contest Club
Taylor Hall TAY 2.124                         Maintainer of Linux on Laptops
Austin, TX 78712-1188 USA            http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/kharker/
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