[CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> No way. If there are three bands open in 4 land and one band 
> open in Zero land, how is Skimmer going to provide a 
> competitive advantage to the guy in Zero land? You could try 
> and make the same argument about Packet spots, and it 
> wouldn't hold up for the same reasons. Packet spots don't do 
> any good if you can't hear the spotted station.

If you are running Skimmer at your own station and it hears the 
station, you should be able to work it.  

Those in 8-land, 9-land, 0-land, etc. often miss short openings 
because they don't think a band will open.  Skimmer running on 
a second radio or third receiver will alert the operator when 
those short openings/multipliers appear.  Skimmer technology 
will not completely eliminate the advantage enjoyed by those in 
coastal New England but it is one more tool the single operator 
can employ to narrow the gap.  

73, 

   ... Joe, W4TV 
  


> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of 
> steve.root at culligan4water.com
> Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 10:07 AM
> To: CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer
> 
> 
> Joe, W4TV wrote:
> "Will skimmer change the way some people operate a CW contest? 
> Of course. Could it change the "competitive balance" and allow 
> operators in areas that are not geographically favored to be 
> more competitive by finding more multipliers? Certainly. "

> No way. If there are three bands open in 4 land and one band 
> open in Zero land, how is Skimmer going to provide a 
> competitive advantage to the guy in Zero land? You could try 
> and make the same argument about Packet spots, and it 
> wouldn't hold up for the same reasons. Packet spots don't do 
> any good if you can't hear the spotted station. Similarly, 
> Skimmer is pretty worthless if it's listening to a dead band. 
> Any technological improvement that increases operator 
> efficiency, ability to acquire more multipliers, or put more 
> people in the log will always disproportionately help the guy 
> in the geographically favored area. The rich always get 
> richer. 73 Steve K0SR 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com 
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest