[CQ-Contest] SO2R Category

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Gilles, 

> I other sports, categories segmentation are made in order to 
> put equal strength competitors in a same group. (F3, F1 for 
> cars, size of boat for sailing,.).

In the case of radiosport, it is traditionally not the "advantage" 
as you put it that determines the category.  It is like the difference 
in singles luge vs. two man bobsled vs. four man bobsled, or singles 
vs. doubles in tennis, or individual medley vs. team medley in 
swimming, or the individual 1500 meter vs. 4 x 400 meter relay.  

In radiosport the categories are single operator, single operator 
assisted (one operator with spotting assistance) and multi-operator. 
Nowhere do any of the categories talk about the equipment used or 
any "advantage"/"handicap" it is simply "individual" or team sport. 
The difference in "single operator" vs. "assisted" in radiosport 
would be like a starting a two man bobsled with a four man crew 
for the extra "push" at the start ... not exactly even competition 
regardless of the hardware used! 

73, 

   ... Joe, W4TV 
 


> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Gilles RENUCCI
> Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:29 PM
> To: sawyered at earthlink.net; cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] SO2R Category
> 
> 
> I am absolutely OK with what you are saying about antennas. 
> My purpose was not to tell that ''SO2R'' should be a separate 
> category, but just that the ''assisted'' one, for the same 
> reasons as ''SO2R'' should not be a separate category.
> 
> I other sports, categories segmentation are made in order to 
> put equal strength competitors in a same group. (F3, F1 for 
> cars, size of boat for sailing,.).
> 
> In this vision, if an advantage A is stronger than an 
> advantage B, the guy using the advantage A will be in a 
> higher category that the guy with the B one. 
> 
> Obviously, for the ''contest'' radio sport, this is not the 
> case. : For example, the guy with several 4X4 stacks towers 
> and 100W will be in a lower category than the guy with 1000 W 
> and a unique wire multiband low dipole. Same thing for SO2R / 
> SO1R (everything else being equal).
> 
> It is why I am saying that, in an ADVANTAGE point of view, If 
> you are considering that SO2R is not a sufficient advantage 
> to justify a separate category, I do not understand why 
> (considering SO2R as a greater advantage than spotting 
> assistance) it is the case for the spotting assistance. That's up.
> 
> The reason why we cannot agree each others comes from the 
> different angle of vision about categories segmentation : I 
> am seeing categories as a way to put about same strength 
> stations in a same group, you are seeing categories according 
> other criteria's, like "Human help'' versus ''mechanical 
> help'' or simply ''ways of living radio''.
> 
> There is nothing to argue to that, it is just some 
> differences between the various personal preferences.
> 
> But, my opinion is that there are too much categories and not 
> rightly segmented mainly for historical reasons and I know 
> that this will not change before a long time.
> 
> Gilles / VE2TZT 
>