[CQ-Contest] Packet Cluster Practices

[Alan Zack]

NI1N wrote:
As far as the alarms go, people aren't spotting stations that aren't there
on random frequencies; they are spotting on a frequency that others have
already spotted for.  So, the first station that spotted them (who obviously
CAN hear them) would also set off your packet cluster alarm.  What's the
problem?

Then he answered his own question by writing:
I can see if stations in the USA are saying "nil here" for a station being
spotted by EU or JA.

My complaint is with people who spot the DX call then ask where is he?, or 
will he be on 80 meters today?
Please reread my original post.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom McAlee" <tom at klient.com>
To: "Alan Zack" <k7acz at cox.net>; "Cq-Contest" <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 10:22 AM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Packet Cluster Practices


>I never understood these complaints.  While dozens of them like we've seen 
>for K7C are a bit rediculous, there is some advantage to spotting stations 
>you can't hear if/when stations reasonably close to you can.  Perhaps 
>someone will reply with a "point your antenna at 300 degrees" comment and 
>you will be able to hear them.  That has happened to me more than once.
>
> As far as the alarms go, people aren't spotting stations that aren't there 
> on random frequencies; they are spotting on a frequency that others have 
> already spotted for.  So, the first station that spotted them (who 
> obviously CAN hear them) would also set off your packet cluster alarm. 
> What's the problem?
>
> I can see if stations in the USA are saying "nil here" for a station being 
> spotted by EU or JA.  But, if east coast USA CALL-A spots a station, and 
> east coast USA CALL-B says "nil here", well CALL-A already set off your 
> alarm.
>
> Sure, some people use the packet cluster to complain and we can do without 
> those.  But, others use it to figure out and/or learn about propagation. 
> That whining and complaining about DX operations I could do without; they 
> don't seem to have much of any use.  But, if someone needs to vent, I'd 
> rather them vent on the dx cluster than on the dx frequency.
>
> 73,
> Tom, NI1N
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Alan Zack" <k7acz at cox.net>
> To: "Bill Coleman" <aa4lr at arrl.net>
> Cc: "Richard Zalewski" <dick.w7zr at gmail.com>; "Cq-Contest" 
> <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 3:46 AM
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Packet Cluster Practices
>
>
>> You evidently don't have a PACKET CLUSTER alarm to alert you when a
>> designated DX station is spotted.  I find it to be a PITA when the alarm
>> goes off with a needed spot only to find someone is saying "where is he?" 
>> or
>> "can't hear him here".  If your rig was broken or the antenna 
>> disconnected
>> you wouldn't be able to hear anyone, not just K7C.
>>
>
>
>