[CQ-Contest] SO1R vs. SO2R

[Bill Turner]

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

On Sun, 30 Jul 2006 05:36:36 -0000, you wrote:


>So why is SO2R different?  It is different because it places substantial 
>skill demands upon the operator for benefit to be gained.  Without 
>acquisition of these operator skills, which btw aren't so easily come by, 
>SO2R is an operator liability.

------------ REPLY SEPARATOR ------------

Absolutely correct. What you don't see however, is that when two
highly skilled operators compete in an otherwise equal situation, the
two radio setup will win every time, and by a large margin. The
fundamental advantage is the hardware, not operator skill. Lack of two
radio skill can be overcome with practice. Lack of a second radio can
not be overcome by any amount of skill or practice.

I should point out that I'm speaking primarily of RTTY contesting, not
CW/SSB. I don't do enough CW/SSB contesting to have an opinion there.

One of the top RTTY contesters, AA5AU, who has won every plaque in
sight, stated that going to SO2R gave him about a 40% score advantage.
That's for the SAME operator, SAME location and SAME station except
for the second radio.

That is an advantage roughly equal to that of HP/LP, SO/MO or
assisted/unassisted and it deserves its own category just as those do.
When contests are often won or lost by a percent or fraction of a
percent, having a 40% advantage is too much to ignore. 

And of course, that's why the two radio guys go to all the trouble to
do it in the first place.

Bill, W6WRT