[CQ-Contest] Ambiguity, again [was: ZoneProp REMINDER]

[Bill Turner]

From the ARRL's White Paper on contest practices:

<snip>

"First, meeting on the air during a contest to arrange strategy,
compare multipliers, or organize contacts places all participants in
the Assisted category in ARRL and most other contests. 

<snip>

The only time there's a problem with supporting your friends and club
members is when actions are taken by an organization or individual to
influence the competitive environment to the exclusive advantage of a
participating organization or individual. Having a strategy session
before the contest is also a good idea - it makes the contest more
enjoyable for everyone and helps new operators learn the ropes. Just
don't stray over the line into making pre-contest schedules or ONLY
working your associates. A good way to approach this type of operating
is that the activity should benefit all of the stations operating on
the band or mode. If your plan is advantageous to only one station or
to one club or team, you've probably carried things too far."

<snip>

The complete White Paper is at
http://www.arrl.org/contests/hf-faq.html#during

You can jailhouse lawyer this all you want but the intention is clear:
Once the contest begins, an unassisted station finds 'em and works 'em
BY HIMSELF. Nobody spoon-feeds him information. Whatever is said on
the air is fair game provided it is broadcast to all, not something
directed to you personally.

If that isn't clear to anyone, it's because they don't want it to be
clear.

Bill, W6WRT