[CQ-Contest] The Next BIG Step in contesting

[Jim George]

I was a referee at one of the OJ stations in Finland at WRTC 2002.  The 
scoreboard was very exciting.  It was *the* big new idea in Finland, and I 
think it is the next BIG step in contesting.  This could be the thing that 
brings in the video game sort of interest.  The prospects of "real 
stats-real time" and endless.  And I say that as a Luddite sort who eschews 
computers and uses DOC 5.0 486DX PCs to run my contesting software.  I'm a 
pretty dedicated SO2R SOAB non-packet type personally, but our ranks are 
not increasing-probably decreasing over the long term, even though we are 
hard core.  I do think on-line reporting could open up terrific additional 
interest in contesting worldwide.  Talk about a way to interest the under 
thirty crowd in radio sporting.  This is it!

Many stations will not have the capability to run a real time reporting 
program as one must be connected on line, and run Windows, etc.  However it 
opens up an fascinating potential to give it a try with a new category 
that's "assisted" or "unlimited" with an additional twist.  Or it simply 
can be a subset of these.  I would suggest the "on line reporting" aspects 
be supported by software according to some standard data format.  The 
"contest cam" could be an additional feature.  At first, like satellite 
radio, the "players" would be technology early adapters, but the numbers 
will grow and this eventually will be a major attraction.

Even the Single Ops can play with the software configured with lock outs to 
ensure they can be on line yet not access packet, etc.  This is allowed now 
with CT and other programs.  "Send out spots but not access spots."

It's a thought, but I think we are onto something important here, and it 
will lead to another revolution in radio sporting.  A whole new generation 
will become interested in this.  Otherwise we are a non-growing part of a 
non-growing hobby.

Jim George
N3BB/5

At 12:57 PM 11/19/2004 +0000, Randy Thompson, K5ZD wrote:
>W1VE actually built something that did this for WriteLog.  WL users could
>add a plug-in and their scores would show up on a web page in real-time.
>Never got critical mass, but a way cool idea anyway.
>
>Yes, it would impact how some people operate the contest.  But, it would
>sure make things more exciting and sporting!
>
>Randy, K5ZD
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
> > [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Gary Letchford
> > Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 10:42 PM
> > To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> > Subject: [CQ-Contest] The Next BIG Step in contesting
> >
> >
> > OK Guys,
> >
> > I've seen the messages coming in by the dozens every day creating a slight
> > indentation on my delete key.  I read some of them and as many have said,
> > this has been all covered before.  So I'm going to take the next
> > step in the
> > pursuit of technology that we now have with telnet and such.
> >
> > One of the truisms is that many of the aspects of contests are unobserved.
> > It's not like a race where you can watch them running around the
> > track.  If
> > someone cuts accross the track while everyone else is going around the
> > track,  you know the guy is cheating.  So what could we do to make some
> > things more observable?
> >
> > ON LINE SCORING!!
> >
> > It seems it would be reasonably easy to have a program report to a telnet
> > address certain items in the log.  Perhaps Call, contacts,
> > mulitpliers, band
> > station currently on, and whatever else you are creative enough to choose.
> > Every station that has the capability sends this info to a server to be
> > compiled every 5 minutes or so.  Everyone then has a function key
> > that they
> > can hit and get a summary of stations.  Perhaps you could configure it so
> > that you just choose specific competition (others in same
> > category) or wide
> > open and see everyone.
> >
> > I'm just looking at the tip of the iceburg of possibilities,  but imagine
> > the fun of knowing where everyone else is in the competition?  Would it
> > create some problems?  Probably .........like if it looks like everyone is
> > doing great on 40 meters, by observing the changes in the 5 minute scores,
> > everyone will end up on 40 meters at the same time.  Then there
> > would be the
> > guys who say that they don't want anyone to know where they are
> > because they
> > are so smart and everyone will be able to piggy back on their superior
> > knowledge of band conditions.
> >
> > Any possibilities of including something like this in one of the great
> > programs out there?  Then set up a contest that we could use it
> > in?  Sounds
> > like fun to me.
> >
> > 73
> > Red K0LUZ
> > Longwood, FL
> > _______________________________________________
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> > CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> >
>
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