[CQ-Contest] Packet Solution - Partial?

[Eric Hilding]

I'm not on packet yet, but I know computer software can be used to 
S-O-L-V-E problems (or at least partially), and most likely "spotting" as 
an animal will never become an extinct species.

1. Unless there is a DXCC or WAZ equivalent for spotting, ditch the 
source(s) of the spot (this resolves any bogus entry problems).

2. If 500 spots come in for DX station ABC123 in any given "rolling" hour, 
the telnet/whatever "central station" software ONLY posts 1 spot for that 
station within that "rolling" hour, for ABC123 spots within +/- 1Khz (this 
solves any fractional frequency derivations by different TXRX's).  In 
theory, no more than 48 spots would show during a 48 "hour" contest (or 
change  it to four hour "rolling" hour periods, etc., which means only 12 
spots total spots showing during the whole contest).  Most "run" stations 
are on the same freq for 4 or more hours (well, maybe not at this point of 
the Sunspot Cycle :-)

3. As someone said, the Packet Genie is already out of the bottle.  It just 
needs to be better M-A-N-A-G-E-D at the point of input, retrieval & 
reducing the overall clutter and game playing (a kinder, gentler term for 
cheating).

4. IMHO, all stations deserve to be "spotted" to increase everyone's FQ 
("Fun Quotient"), although from what I can see, the use of packet has taken 
contesting more toward an event of almost "scheduled QSOs" vs. good 
old-time operator skill(s) and "lady luck" ;-(

5. Welcome to the Brave New World of Contesting.

73...

Rick, K6VVA