[CQ-Contest] For $0.99 you get... [was: SS Packet DANGER, DANGER, Will Robinson!!!]

[Robert Naumann]

Ev,

Your conclusion: "It is the fact that you acted on that information that
places you in a more appropriate category" is not correct.

The rule says:

	2.1.1. Use of spotting assistance or nets (operating arrangements
involving other individuals, DX-alerting nets, packet, Internet, etc) 	is
not permitted.

Let me point out the key words in that rule that make this very clear: 

	OPERATING ARRANGEMENTS

If you do not have an arrangement ("plan" would be a better term) to have
someone scan the bands and feed you information, how could you be assisted?

The operator needs to do something to plan for the assistance for it to be
assistance. Think about it - you would have to plan with someone to come to
your station and sit in the other chair - you would have to plan on how to
connect to the cluster and not get caught - you would have to plan with
others to scan the bands for you and stop by and tell you about mults etc.

Could one be dishonest about it? Sure. Could you tell your local club
members to do exactly this for you and ARRANGE that they deny it? Sure. That
would clearly be cheating.

Someone randomly tuning by and telling you that a juicy mult is up a few KHz
and you working that mult is not cheating. Heck, that's pretty cool!

There are some purists who feel that you should ignore such random
information, but I don't anything unethical about it nor do I find anything
about it in any contest rules and - since there is no arrangement, it is not
cheating.

A lot of these questions have been asked for decades and are nothing new.
There seems to be a few "new kids on the block" who are seeking to stir up
trouble where there is none. This issue is one of them. Contrary to some
recent observations, the rules are very clear about this and other issues.

The scenario with some new TV chick in your kitchen for the weekend and
spending all sorts of money is not new either. The person who suggested this
scenario then asked what category the operator would be in. That's easy -
LOSER. Spending money is not the answer to winning contests. This too has
happened before. 

Perhaps before some of the newbies will challenge the status quo, some
research should be done into the history of how we have gotten to where we
are. I can assure you that it is not without a lot of intelligent thought
and consideration.

73,

Bob W5OV





-----Original Message-----
From: Ev Tupis [mailto:w2ev at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2006 7:36 AM
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] For $0.99 you get... [was: SS Packet DANGER,
DANGER,Will Robinson!!!]

----- Original Message ----

I just happened to be listening on my second radio when the CQ'er got the
unsolicited info about the VY1 up 7.  I go up 7 and work him.  Am I
"assisted" now, too?
---------------------------

If you are in an ARRL contest, the answer is embedded here:

2.1.Single Operator: One person performs all transmitting, receiving, and
logging functions as well as equipment and antenna adjustments.

2.1.1.Use of spotting assistance or nets (operating arrangements involving
other individuals, DX-alerting nets, packet, Internet, etc) is not
permitted.

It is not the fact that you overheard someone conveying information beyond
your ability to know it individually.  It is the fact that you acted on that
information that places you in a more appropriate category.

Regards,
Ev, W2EV

PS: I am not an agent of the ARRL in any way, shape or form.  My opinion and
$0.99 will get you a "Big Gulp" at the corner mini-market.


 
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