[CQ-Contest] SO2R REMOTE CONTESTING

[W0MU Mike Fatchett]

Rich and all,

This is obviously a wave of the future just like SO2R but different.  The
hobby is not in a position to start excluding anyone from contests.  The
technology today does not allow one to be very competitive while operating
remotely.  If I can build a station on some remote island and operate from
home using the internet, satellite or whatever might be down the road why
not?  The transmitting and receiving is all happening on that island.

The big issue to me,  which there is no way to police, is the use of remote
receivers, which there are plenty.  It sure would have been nice to find a
clear spot on a EU receiver this last weekend instead of hoping the one I
picked might be clear or using a receiver on the east coast to listen to my
run frequency and picking off 2nd/3rd layer stations that were just over my
noise.

The internet and remote stations might just be the ticket to get more folks
interested in ham radio.  Especially the younger generation living on city
and restricted developments.

I would agree that the contest sponsors should be addressing this.

Mike W0MU




-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Richard Thorne
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 6:56 PM
To: Joe Subich, W4TV
Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com; 'Eric Hilding'
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] SO2R REMOTE CONTESTING

Joe, W4TV, this note is not directed towards you, but you have, as well as a
few others have struck a cord with me, ie the operator should be in the 500m
circle.

OK folks, as one who has put a lot of time and effort into building a
reliable remote station for dxing and contesting, I'm starting to take this
personal.  Some of you are leaning towards rule changes that would exclude
my operating, not gonna happen on my watch.

I haven't heard one single argument why I shouldn't operate remote be it
7 miles up the road from my home, like I currently do, or a station in
Italy, which can easily be done.  Sounds more like, if I can't put up a
decent antenna and be competitive, either can you.

If the transmitter and receiver and antennas are within a 500m circle,
they're in a 500m circle. Period.  Don't give me the lame "but your not 
there" stuff.    I guarantee you I've put just as much work, if not 
more, in my station than you have in yours, due to the technological hurdles
I have had to jump.  

This lame argument against remote operations,  ranks right up there with the
past arguments that only station owners should operate their own stations
and not have guest ops, because the guest op doesn't have a station. 

And Joe, don't take this personal, even though I am, but if I have to be
there, I guess theres no sense in having my Microham band decoder in line
for auto antenna switching.  Heck since I'd be in front of the radio I could
make the simple arm movement to manually change my old heath kit antenna
switch ;-) .  Or there would be no sense in having my Idiom press rs-232
rotor control, I'd be there to turn the rotor. 

So in summary, if some one can put a remote station on Aruba and operate it
from home in the USA, more power to them. 

And for the record I'm not working you the person, I'm working your
transmitter location for points, a multiplier or a DXCC entity.  I could
careless where your sitting.

Flame suite on, but you best have yours on too.

Rich - N5ZC



Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
> Rick,
>
>   
>> However, "in an abundance of caution" I personally want to get a 
>> firm, iron-clad answer to this from the Contest Sponsors.
>>     
>
> Like you, I would want a firm ruling from the contest sponsors and a 
> decision on what constitutes "all equipment" particularly as 
> technology has the potential to change the nature of the transceiver 
> as we currently know it.
>
> My personal prejudices are that the operator should also be within the 
> "circle" but that may not be practical for some people.  However, in 
> any case, the operator should be within the same entity (or contest 
> multiplier).  Thus an operator in the US should not be permitted to 
> run a DX contest remotely from the Caribbean or other "DX" location 
> ... an operator in Florida should not do Sweepstakes remotely from VY1 
> ... even an operator in Ohio should not contest remotely from WV.
>
> Still, those "political" issues are separate from the technology 
> questions.
>
> 73,
>
>    ... Joe, W4TV
>  
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
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>
>   
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