[CQ-Contest] uRE: Rule Change Debate on Skimmer

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> If the CW Skimmer is not networked and gets the spots from 
> a receiver located in your shack, then it is like having a 
> second receiver and tuning it yourself to find stuff... only 
> it happens electronically. Unfortunately, with the work done 
> by some on the reflector to use networked Skimmers, I would 
> not be able to defend the use of the Skimmer as an unassisted 
> technique.
> 
> While I agree with Joe Subich W4TV in his assessment of this 
> topic, the networking aspect has relegated the Skimmer to the 
> same status as the cluster in my opinion.

One can use CW Skimmer locally without being connected to a 
wider network just as one can use a second receiver without 
locating it outside "the circle."  One is legitimate, the other 
is not.  The technology is not "assistance" but one could 
consider remote skimmers equivalent to using remote receivers 
which is not permitted in any class.  

That said, if skimmers are connected to the general packet 
network I see several serious problems.  

  The data is not "high quality" - it is full of incorrectly 
  decoded calls - and can not be trusted.  

  There is far too much data ... I've watched N4ZR's skimmer 
  for several weeks and the "Spots" it generates outnumber the 
  general cluster network by four or five to one.  Put several 
  dozen of those on the general cluster network during a busy
  contest and the network is likely to collapse from overload. 

  Put several skimmers on the general packet network and there 
  will be so many casual operators jumping on every skimmer 
  spot that any benefit of early detection is lost to the 
  single operator. 

The last problem is most likely to cause the use of local 
skimmers to be self-limiting.  If the information skimmer 
is capable of generating becomes too widely available it 
simply loses its value and skimmer becomes a distraction 
for the serious operator.