[CQ-Contest] CQ-Contest Digest, Vol 46, Issue 38

[Chet, N8RA]

The thing I get most out of contesting is the fun from building and 
improving the station, trying new things, seeing what works, what doesn't, 
finding and fixing problems. If everything stayed the same, I would probably 
find a new activity.



Real time score scoreboards fell into the category of "a new idea to try". I 
am fortunate to have the infrastructure to allow it: an always-on internet 
connection and powerful enough computer, so I gave it a try during the last 
Russian DX contest. I found it to be another incentive to hang in there and 
keep slugging away. It was another thing to look at now and again, just like 
the wattmeter, or the glow of the antenna switch LED confirming that I was 
indeed using the new antenna, and encouraging me to keep going.



Did I think it was giving me outside "assistance"? Nope, I feel that would 
be a real stretch to think so.



But to be fair, I did operate that contest in an "assisted" category. The 
scoreboard did not offer anything to help there. If I was running single op 
tied and blindfolded, would that violate the blindfold?  Interesting 
question! Maybe some of the single ops in the coming test could try it and 
comment on the actual experience.


N8RA

Message: 4
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 14:08:01 -0400
From: "Bob Cox" <bcox at sentientmedical.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Real Time Scoreboards
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Message-ID:
<EDAE903EE775994DAD0621078DE20D32C9AC79 at smsmail1.sentientmedical.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"



Dear Fellow Contester,

The CQ WW Contest Committee is discussing whether use of real-time
contest scoreboards is likely to convey information about band
openings and profitable tactics to an extent that participants using
the scoreboards should be categorized as assisted. The 2006 CQ WW contest
rules have already been published and they will govern the 2006 contests.

We welcome your comments on this, and suggest the possibility of also
sending the comments to the CQ-Contest reflector so that others can
see them and possibly follow up.

Comments can be sent to live at cqww.com


73
Bob, K3EST
CQ WW Director
For the CQ WW Committee