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

[Michael Coslo]

On Nov 26, 2006, at 4:08 PM, Ev Tupis wrote:

> ----- Original Message ----
> From: K0HB  <k-zero-hb at earthlink.net>
>> I take exception with limiting the definition of "assistance" to  
>> include
>> only "organized methods".  One can certainly "assist" randomly.
>
> And if you are the target of a 'random assist', must you then DQ  
> yourself?
> ---------------------------
>
> If you *act* upon receiving the random assistance (information),  
> then you are no longer unassisted.  Like golf, this aspect of the  
> sport is where "honor" applies.
>
> Interestingly, in IARU Region 1, I notice that there is an  
> allowance for non-competing official event observers.  Hmmm...

I took a look at the CQWW rules.

Guess what - they are >>>incredibly<<<  vague! to wit:

1. Single Operator High: Those stations
at which one person performs all of the
operating, logging, and spotting functions.
The use of DX alerting assistance of any
kind places the station in the Single
Operator Assisted category.

That's it! No wonder we venture into the ridiculous here.

A beacon is nothing if not DX alerting assistance!

ARRL is a bit better

general rules

3.7.2.2.Multioperator and Single Operator Assisted stations may use  
spotting nets.

another general rules

2.3.1.1.In those contests that do not have Single Operator Assisted  
class, this category includes those single operators that use any  
form of spotting assistance such as from nets or packet.

at least they do have some definitions.


Ev - at first I was inclined to view your posts as part of the  
slippery sloping  - such as the "wife bringing you a sandwich"  
example. But I was wrong.

It is obvious that the intent is not to have someone during the  
contest tell you that 10 meters is open to Yahootistan - propagation  
is good today! It is to differentiate between those who use spotting  
nets, packets,  and dx clusters.

	The cure for this is so very simple! It can be done with perhaps 10  
percent of the effort put into the threads in this group. Define what  
assistance is. Duh!

Definition

Assistance as pertaining to radiosport is:

Use of packet
Use of spotting nets
Use of Internet DX clusters

Did I miss anything? This is not vague, I would say.

-73 de Mike KB3EIA -