[CQ-Contest] Operator error

[Richard Ferch]

The case under discussion is not at all the same as miscopying IL for IN, 
for which no-one is arguing that the log checking should not be strict.

The point here is that the station on the other end copied correctly what 
was actually sent. The problem is that what was sent was not what was 
logged. The error was made by the sending station, and yet according to 
your logic the receiving station should be penalized.

How can this happen? Very easy. You are running and I am S&Ping. I call 
you, you send me your exchange, I send my exchange back and log the QSO (a 
single keystroke does both with some software; or, it could be that I am 
just over-eager and press Enter to log the QSO a bit too soon - my mistake, 
not yours). My software increments the serial number displayed on the screen.

My exchange was hit by QRM, QRN or QSB so you ask me for a repeat. I look 
at the number displayed on my screen and send you a repeat serial number, 
but it's the wrong one. That's entirely my mistake. You copy correctly what 
I sent, log it, and send your QRZ? message for the next QSO. Someone else 
with a stronger signal calls you, and even if I realize what happened 
(there is no guarantee of this) and try to correct my mistake by calling 
you again, it is too late.

Now if I recognize my mistake (which is certainly not always the case), I 
may be able to fix my log to record the QSO with the re-sent serial number 
in the Cabrillo file (indeed, this is an example where post-contest 
manipulation of the log may be the ethically correct thing for me to do!), 
but I won't be penalized if I don't.

Maybe that turns my honest mistake (sending the wrong number by accident 
and unknowingly) into a crime (knowingly misrepresenting what I sent in my 
log), but either way there is nothing you can do about it. Indeed, you 
don't have the slightest inkling that it has happened. Nor is there any 
indication the log checkers can use to determine that I did not send what I 
logged.

There is absolutely nothing you have done that warrants a penalty, but if 
our two logs disagree and the log checking is strict, you are the one that 
will be penalized for miscopying what my log says I sent. If the log 
checking is not "dumbed down", there will be a miscarriage of justice and 
you will be the unsuspecting victim.

73,
Rich VE3IAY

>Dave,
>
>I can't imagine this being true. Either the exchange is right or it's wrong.
>
>Following that logic if I work another station and he copies me as K9GY 
>(sorry, Eric) he'd get credit for it because it's only off by one letter?
>
>....and copies my QTH as IL instead of IN. That's only off by "one".
>
>I hope the League hasn't dumbed down log checking to this extent
>
>Sounds like log checking by the firm of Clinton & Kerry.
>
>Hmm, maybe we could change the contest name from Sweepstakes to MIStakes. 
>CQ MS, CQ MS.....
>
>What fun....
>
>K9GX
>
>Elizabeth, IN