[CQ-Contest] Random acts of kindness, Unassisted Categories, Rules, etc.

[Paul J. Piercey]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Ken Widelitz
> Sent: December 3, 2006 20:58
> To: Tree; cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Random acts of kindness, Unassisted 
> Categories, Rules,etc.
> 
> How many times have you called or read a 3830 posting in 
> which the story is related about calling "CQ, looking 
> especially for North Dakota" only to have a North Dakota (or 
> whoever you are looking for) come back? It does happen 
> occasionally. Those times are "highlight" times, one of the 
> things you contest for. It makes you pump your fist and let 
> out a "YEAH, BABY!"
> 
> I know in SS Phone two weeks ago, I was VY2TT and on the 2nd 
> radio heard a station comment, "I just need Maritime for a 
> sweep." It was a highlight for me to hear that, call the 
> station and give him his sweep. Yes, it does happen.
> 
> OTOH, on Sunday afternoon, needing one section for the sweep, 
> I have programmed my CQ message to indicate the need. I admit 
> to hoping that if a station in that section doesn't happen 
> by, I might be the beneficiary of a "random act of kindness." 
> And yes, that has happened. And yes, I have acted on it. And 
> yes, I have submitted my log as "unassisted" or not as 
> "unlimited." That is part of the "buzz" of the Sweepstakes contest.
> 
> And, BECAUSE THAT IS CLEARLY ALLOWED BY THE RULES. If I 
> haven't used packet, if I don't have another operator in the 
> shack, if I haven't solicited the QSO by non amateur means 
> DURING THE CONTEST, I AM A SINGLE OPERATOR!!!
> 
> I have never done this, but if I set up a schedule for a 
> specific time and specific frequency by telephone BEFORE the 
> contest with a VY1, VO1 and W0 in ND and worked them per the 
> sked, I would still be a single operator UNASSISTED according 
> to the ARRL Sweepstakes rules. If you want to get the rules 
> changed, fine. If you want to play by your own, more limiting 
> set of rules, fine. But the rules are what they are and as 
> they stand, in Sweepstakes, you can act on "random acts of 
> kindness." You can make telephone skeds before the contest. 
> And you are still considered single op unassisted.
> 
> Would I ever send "CQ, looking for Tristan Da Cunha" in CQWW? 
> Of course not.
> It is not part of the buzz of that contest. But if I did and 
> got a "random act of kindness" and acted on it, according to 
> the rules I would still be unassisted.
> 
> Anyone can change their SS CQ message to indicate a need and 
> hope for a "random act of kindness." Since anyone can do it, 
> how can it be said to be unfair? If your own personal ethics 
> prohibit your doing this, that is your own personal 
> interpretation of the rules. That doesn't make it unfair.
> Obviously, I have no problem with this. OTOH, I once needed a 
> section for a sweep with an hour to go in SS and decided I 
> wanted the sweep cup more than I wanted to enter the "B" 
> category. I turned on packet, found the section spotted, made 
> the sweep and entered my log as Unlimited. And I won the 
> Unlimited category that year. And I have no problem with that 
> result either.
> 
> Flame suit on and I don't care.
> 
> 73, Ken, K6LA / VY2TT

Yep, part of the fun of SS for me is trolling the bands looking for someone
looking for a VO for the sweep. I got no problem with that and I try to make
the contact whenever I hear it.

I would have a problem if the phone rang and it turned out to be someone
asking me to get on 14.xxx at yyyy UTC to make a contact or someone posting
a self spot on the cluster asking for a VO to call on 14.xxx to make the
contact. That, I would not respond to.

73 -- Paul VO1HE