[CQ-Contest] A New Perspective [was:WRTC Spot/Log Correlation]

[VE5ZX]

> This is a discussion of ham radio contesting - not a mathematical 
> discussion
> - right?

Correct.

> Syl, you're correct that to someone who may be unaware of the rules, the
> operation of a contest may appear chaotic. That is because the observer is
> ignorant of the structure defined by the rules, and cannot recognize it
> readily.

It is also true for the participant.

> I think that if you compare the "chaos created by rules" in a contest on 
> the
> 20m fone band from 14.200 to 14.300 to the true chaos of a DXpedition
> listening "200 to 300" you could easily identify the structure in the
> contest.

You are right about the structure on 20m during a contest. However, chaotic 
processes can exhibit fractal structures indicative of order.

Even given the rules of a contest there is no way the participant can 
predict the callsigns of the next QSO. This is similar to the fact that for 
a chaotic process its future values maybe unpredictable yet it can exhibit 
structure.

The structure of a contest emerges from the rules of the contest and the 
laws of nature in particular those that effect propagation even though it is 
impossible to predict who will communicate with who at a given point in time 
and frequency.

Contesting is a chaotic process with emergent structures.

Syl

Sylvan Katz - VE5ZX
Saskatoon, SK