[CQ-Contest] WW SSB

[Kenneth E. Harker]

On Sun, Oct 30, 2005 at 07:06:09PM -0400, Alan Leith wrote:

> 2.  The useless spots on packet for Europeans.  Packet was moving so fast, 
> most of the time, I couldn't keep up with all the crappy spots.  I, for 
> one, didn't need to see a spot for an overpowered European contest station 
> that was 40 over.  I won't name the offenders who did the spotting but I 
> think they should have known better.
> 
> Al, VE1AL

(a) The reason that the packet cluster system exists is not to support 
    DXing rare stations - it was an invention that the YCCC used to improve
    their contest scores by making sure that each YCCC station would 
    share information about every single workable stations out there, 
    rare or not.  The cluster system has since spread and is used widely 
    by DXers, but the idea that the system is intended for spotting only 
    rare DX is a bit of revisionist history.

(b) A 40 over 9 European signal in VE1 surely will not be a 40 over 9 
    signal in Texas or California.

(c) Almost all cluster systems nowadays offer filters that let you 
    tailor the spots you see or don't see.  If you don't care about 
    seeing spots for 9A or F or I or whatever, you can filter them out.
    It's a much better solution to filter the information to your 
    requirements than to expect other people's behavior to change to 
    match your expectations.

(d) The contests would be better off without packet at all.  One option
    is always to turn it off and tune the radio instead.

-- 
Kenneth E. Harker WM5R
kenharker at kenharker.com
http://www.kenharker.com/