[CQ-Contest] SKIMMER = BUMMER

[n6tj at sbcglobal.net]

No matter how one chooses to parse the words, one of the unique, intrinsic, 
and abject joys of amateur radio, in general, and contesting in particular, 
is the beauty of our ability  to COPY signals and call signs.

To settle for less, and to have someone / something  do it for you, is 
simply foolish and contributes little more  to our beloved pastime, other 
than to demonstrate that someone can build the technology.  Just because we 
can build a nuclear weapon, does that mean we should use it?  I hope not.

For those poor souls who need crutches to (1) copy morse code and (2) think 
they've either 'leveled the playing field' or proved anything,  please go 
spend some quality time learning CW skills, and practice, practice, 
practice.  You can do it, and we, and you, will be so very glad that you 
did.

Thank you very much

 73

Jim Neiger   N6TJ


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <w4tv at subich.com>
To: "'Sandy Taylor'" <ve4xt at mts.net>; <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 10:14 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer


>
>
>> C'mon Joe, it's completely ludicrous to say Skimmer breaks no
>> new ground. Since when has there been anything, other than
>> packet, that tells you who is on and where they are.
>
> The only thing Skimmer does is present the data in a different
> format.  It's certainly not the first CW decoder - they've been
> around for 15 maybe 20 years.  It's certainly not the first
> panadapter - they've been around for 40? years.  It's certainly
> not the first broadband receiver - they've been around for 80
> years.  However, skimmer combines those elements along with a
> little thought and a lot of programmer ingenuity to present
> the information in a very usable format.
>
> Skimmer doesn't do anything that the operator can't do (the
> operator can scan the band and copy every signal he encounters)
> but skimmer does it faster and more efficiently but with less
> accuracy.  Putting a skimmer on the 2nd radio simply makes
> that radio more efficient.  It's the CW equivalent to some of
> the multiple channel PSK software - for example the "broadband
> decode" feature of WinWarbler that will even fill a local
> bandmap during a PSK contest (what few there are).
>
> Skimmer breaks no new ground ... of that there is no doubt if
> you bother to pay attention to technology.  Slimmer simply
> applies existing technology in a new area.  The existence of
> WinWarbler's "broadband decode" feature for nearly two years
> has shown what is possible.  CW Skimmer has applied that to
> CW and I don't think it will be that soon before another clever
> programmer does the same with traditional RTTY.  Phone will
> take a little longer because analog voice is just a bit more
> complicated to decode than any of the digital (including CW)
> signals but it will happen at the amateur level - I'm sure it
> is already happening on the government/professional level.
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Sandy Taylor [mailto:ve4xt at mts.net]
>> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:10 PM
>> To: 'Joe Subich, W4TV'; k-zero-hb at earthlink.net;
>> cq-contest at contesting.com
>> Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer
>>
>>
>> C'mon Joe, it's completely ludicrous to say Skimmer breaks no
>> new ground. Since when has there been anything, other than
>> packet, that tells you who is on and where they are.
>>
>> All the other examples you cite still require the operator to
>> have done SOMETHING. Skimmer doesn't.
>>
>> I can only guess you're saying such preposterous things to
>> stir the pot a bit. I can't imagine you're being the least
>> bit serious.
>>
>> 73, Kelly
>> Ve4xt
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
>> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Joe
>> Subich, W4TV
>> Sent: April-24-08 7:24 PM
>> To: k-zero-hb at earthlink.net; cq-contest at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer
>>
>>
>>
>> > Memory keyers and logging programs (book-keepers) do
>> > not search out and identify stations for you to work
>> > which are outside your audio passband.
>>
>> CW Skimmer is a new application of existing technology (CW decoders,
>> broadband receivers, panadapters, additional receiver, etc.) that
>> allows an operator to be more productive IN ANOTHER AREA of the
>> contest art.  Other than the manner of presentation it breaks no
>> new ground.
>>
>> A local Skimmer is to CW Decoders and SOnR as computer logging
>> is to the paper logs and dupe sheet.  It breaks no new ground
>> in function ... only in form.
>>
>>
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: K0HB [mailto:k-zero-hb at earthlink.net]
>> > Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 6:19 PM
>> > To: W4TV Joe Subich; w5ov at w5ov.com; cq-contest at contesting.com
>> > Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer
>> >
>> >
>> > >
>> > > Skimmer is no more "assistance" than a memory keyer or computer
>> > > logging.
>> > >
>> >
>> > Of course it is, Joe.  Memory keyers and logging programs
>> > (book-keepers) do
>> > not search out and identify stations for you to work which
>> > are outside your
>> > audio passband.
>> >
>> > 73, de Hans, K0HB
>> > Just a boy and his radio
>> > --
>> >  ><{{{{*>    http://www.home.earthlink.net/~k0h
>> >
>>
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>
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