[CQ-Contest] ARRL DX contest and assisted rule

[Robert Chudek - KØRC]

A similar scenario came to my attention last weekend during the 160m CW contest. I was running unassisted. But during daylight on Saturday and Sunday I wanted to pick up some new entities in the TARA RTTY contest. I would want to run with packet in TARA. This is a similar situation to what John, W5TD described in his message.

But what really got me was this... I was using N1MM during the 160m contest. I shut that program down and started up DXLab Suite so I could check my RTTY standings. Well I didn't think about the logger automatically logging me into the spotting network. So it did. An innocent "mistake"!

Now, under very strict guidelines, the ARRL contest branch could check and see I had logged into a spotting network, compare that to my claim of un-assisted category in my submitted log, and change my category. I doubt this will happen.

There comes the time when your conscience really guides you in interpretation. I'm sure we can continue to dream up hundreds of scenarios which create "catch-22" situations like this. But it all boils down to individuals using "sportsman like conduct" and understanding "contest sponsor decisions are final".

73 de Bob - KØRC in MN

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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 07:55:35 -0800 (PST)
From: John Geiger <johngeig at yahoo.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] ARRL DX contest and assisted rule
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Message-ID: <5797.94231.qm at web58714.mail.re1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Here is another issue related to the "assisted vs
non-assisted" rules for different contests.  In the
ARRL DX contests coming up next year, I am thinking of
entering as a single band entry: 15 meters, low power.
 I have entered in the category before, and know that
I can make QSOs on other bands and include them in the
log.

Now here is my question:  I am getting close to
finishing up 5BDXCC, just needing 5 more countries on
80 meters.  After 15 closes and I go to 80 for QSOs,
can I use the cluster spots there (for that band only)
and not change my 15 meter entry to assisted?  I would
not be using internet spots for 15 meters while
operating there-only on the one band I am not using
for points.

73s John W5TD