[CQ-Contest] Contest Spam

[Kenneth E. Harker]

     So, I received the following spam from AH2R.  It was unsolicited email -
although I have worked them in contests, I doubt that my own callsign has 
ever even shown up in their logs, and I certainly never asked to be on any
sort of announcement list.

     I would like to think that contesters would be above this sort of 
pre-contest QSO solicitation through bulk (SPAM) email.  Is this really the 
sort of behavior that we want to see contesters embrace?  Is this not 
operating the contest before the contest starts?  Will all competitive 
stations now feel the need to spam as many hams as they can in order to 
keep up with their competitors?  He who has the largest distribution list
wins?

     This isn't even a "please get on the air, this is a fun contest, here's
the exchange, the mults, etc." kind of message you see once in a while trying
to encourage newcomers or casual contesters to get on the air.  This is a 
blatant solicitation for QSOs that even goes so far as to indicate a 
particular narrow frequency range to work them on HF!  I'm surprised that 
they don't outright ask for skeds.

     I really don't like to see this sort of thing going on in contesting.
It undermines the spirit of just getting on the air and working what your
skills enable you to work.  Email spamming ability should not be a radio 
contesting skill.



----- Forwarded message from AH2R <gcc at seo.or.jp> -----

> Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 13:39:53 +0900
> To: gcc at seo.or.jp
> Subject: AH2R on CQ WW SSB
> From: gcc at seo.or.jp (AH2R)
> X-Mailer: AL-Mail32 Version 1.13
> 
> Hi contesters,
> 
> We, Guam Contest Club, will be on the air during CQ WW SSB
> on the end of this month. (October 25 - 26)
> 
> This time we set a target as the Oceanic leader in Multi-OP 2-TX
> category and World Top 5. Also we are trying to build an Oceanic 
> record in this category.
> 
> Callsign:    AH2R
> Country:     Guam Island, KH2 (Zone27, IOTA OC-026) 
> Entry:       Multi-OP 2-TX
> OPs:         Aki, JI3ERV/NH2C; Toshi, JR7OMD/WI3O; Osamu, JP1JFG/N2IU;
>              Kaz, JG3RPL/N1BJ; Kou, JH7QXJ; Sam, JR8VSE/NH2N; Noz, JE8KKX/AH2K
> QSL:         Via JH7QXJ (Direct (see QRZ.com) or JA bureau, NOT KH2 bureau)
> 
> Sunrise/Sunset: 20:13/07:56 UTC
> 
> ***Special Notice***
> Due to the band plan, our operation on 40m is limited  
> between 7075 and 7100. Listen carefully!!
> 
> Any questions or comments are welcomed. Don't hesitate to 
> email to gcc at seo.or.jp
> 
> We are also planning participation of CQ WW CW next month.
> Details will be released later. 
> 
> See you in the contest!! 
> 73
> 
> Aki, JI3ERV/NH2C
> Chairperson of Guam Contest Club

----- End forwarded message -----

-- 
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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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