[CQ-Contest] Packet statistics

[Scott Nichols]

Interesting to read the annual hubbub about packet in CW SS...

Some stats:

2004 SS CW - Claimed Scored to Nov 9/04:

  Prec B - Avg score of top 30 stations - 198,120 with 27 of 30 
achieving sweeps
  Prec U - Avg score of top 30 stations - 141,151 with 25 of 30 
achieving sweeps

2003 SS CW - Official Results:

  Prec B - Avg score of top 10 - 215,552
  Prec U - Avg score of top 10 - 172,820

2002 SS CW - Official Results:

  Prec B - Avg score of top 10 - 219,552 with 10 sweeps
  Prec U - Avg score of top 10 - 176,499 with 9 sweeps

SS CW All Time Divisional Records:

  Prec B - Avg score of 16 Divisional all-time records - 220,296
  Prec U - Avg score of 16 Divisional all-time records - 168,026

Now, I'm no statistician, and I'm sure there are 5,000 other factors to 
consider in evaluating the above, but it appears to me that "B" top 
scores consistently are ahead of "U" top scores, at least in CW 
Sweepstakes...Does this not seem to indicate that packet provides no big 
advantage in achieving a top score ? I'd like to do the same type of 
analysis for CQWW...Might be a different story in a contest with many, 
many mults...

I personally think the Europeans have it right by allowing packet in all 
categories in most of their contests...Eliminates the packet class 
cheaters...If you think it helps, connect and use it...If you think its 
a waste of time, don't use it...At least the playing field is 
even...It's become a fixture in radiosport...Lets face it....If you want 
to WIN, you have to run, run, run and get Q's...Most of the mults will 
come to you anyway...Using packet adds an element of fun for those of us 
who like to do DXCC on 3 bands in CQWW, or are fascinated at being able 
to click on a callsign on a screen and instantly be in the middle of a 
nice juicy pileup etc etc...Same as SO2R adds an element of fun for 
those guys...No seperate SO2R class yet, but much bigger advantage in my 
opinion...

One thing I will comment on, last weekend in CW SS, I could tell when I 
was spotted by the sudden flurry of stations calling me after a 
lull...Interestingly, many of them were giving me B's, A's or 
Q's...These are the ones I consider packet class cheaters...

73, and CU in all of the next 4 or 5 weekends...Gotta love this time of 
year...

Scott VE1OP