[CQ-Contest] Remote Site Contesting Rules

[Dennis McAlpine]

The question of remote contesting or, to go a step further, distributed contesting,is becoming much more of a possibility as new equipment is being offered with that capability, e.g. the TS480, the Omni VII, etc.  Add to that the restrictions on antennas placed on many locations and this will soon become a more complex question.

In reality, we already have a contest that condones, and even encourages, distributed contesting.  Just look at the HQ stations in the IARU Contest.  One glance at the GB5HQ QSL shows that those stations are more than 500 meters apart.  Even the W1AW/NU1AW stations are usually multiple stations operating under the same call.  True, this is not quite the same as five stations using the call KC1XX loocated in different parts of the US operating in CQ WW but it's close.

With the Internet and some of the new equipment, it is already possible to operate a contest using multiple transmitters located across the country.  Imagine running JAs using a station in CA and, at the same time, running EU on another band using a station in PEI.  If the op is adept enough he could also have a multiple multiiplier station chasing mults using 3-5 multiplexed stations scattered around the country.  And, if the cost of that is too much, maybe people could get together and share stations.  For example, I would make my station in SC (this assumes I have one that anyone would want to use) for East Coast Eu runs in turn for using K6VVA's station in CA for JA runs.  With some decent switching, we could both operate at the same time.  Let's add in a station in New England to extend that EU run.  One can get carried away with this but it is soon coming to be a possibliity.

W4PA says he has already used the Omni VII in SS from a remote location.  W2AX has long had phone control of his station in VT from his home in NY, although it is not really contest capable.  With today's equipment and more deployment of high speed broadband connections, distributed contesting cannot be far behind.  Instead of building a station in PEI, maybe K1ZM will rent out space in his shack for those who want to increase their 160 m scores in CQ WW.  How about going to a per QSO charge, e.g. 1 cent per Q, 10 cents for a mult?

It is time to seriously begin the discussion of remote/distributed contesting and lay out some ground rules.  They will probably be changed as things evolve but at least they will be a start.  

73,

Dennis, K2SX/4

-----Original Message-----
>From: Eric Hilding <dx35 at hilding.com>
>Sent: Mar 13, 2007 4:46 AM
>To: cq-contest at contesting.com
>Subject: [CQ-Contest] Remote Site Contesting Rules
>
>(RE-Threaded from Packet debate)
>
>Tree, N6TR, wrote:
>
>> 3.7. All transmitters and receivers must be located within a 500-meter
>> diameter circle, excluding antennas.
>
>In a discussion with a fellow NCCC member after our Annual Awards meeting last night, a mini-debate about "remote site" operations and "rules" necessitates a question with regard to this "500-meter diameter circle" stuff (a reference was made to Tree's Packet debate post content).
>
>What about remote-site Contesting where all the "transmitters  and receivers" are located within the area as described, but the Contest op is sitting next to his home QTH fireplace on a snowy winter evening "operating" via a notebook computer in his rocking chair?  Umh, assumably there will be more "rocking chairs" in future use as Contesters continue to age :-)
>
>If point-to-point gear is used for the home QTH to remote site connectivity, should these be construed as "transmitters and receivers" in the food chain, thus squelching any such Contest participation for Awards purposes???  Don't many forms of "landline" connections use some form of "transmitters and receivers" in places?
>
>If there is no problem (on the surface), what may happen when others like myself now pursuing remote locations to mitigate pee-poor home QTH's invest tens of thousands of dollars (collectively, more like Millions) over the next 5 years,  only to get nuked by somebody's "new interpretation" of the rules that would ban such venues?
>
>IMHO, the current rules **SHOULD*** be amended to clarify "All HF or UHF/VHF Amateur transmitters and receivers specifically used on the bands of operation involved in the Contest must be located within a 500-meter diameter circle, excluding antennas.", and remain cast-in-stone for perpetuity.
>
>Personally, I think antennas deserve to be included in the entire 500-meter diameter circle mix.  
>
>This is a real potential can of worms that needs to get ironed out now.
>
>Inquiring minds would like to know (especially before writing out a bunch of checks).
>
>Tnx & 73...
>
>Rick, K6VVA
>
>
>
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