[CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer

[Stan Stockton]

Rudy,

These are my opinions - most have them and mine is
very strong.

In that previous e-mail I stated that no one was wanting 
to ban Skimmer.  I am sorry I made that statement because, 
after reading everything I have read, my opinion is that it 
should be banned from use in CW Contests in ALL categories.  

This technology will do something no 
operator or crew of operators could ever do 
with their own operating abilities (simultaneously 
copy every signal on the band) and IMO 
is a technology that  will lead to the destruction 
of the sport   

We might actually attract more people to CW Contesting
if fully automated stations were developed for RTTY 
with no operator involvement needed at all.  I suspect 
there would then be some who would want to learn to 
copy CW and would want to compete in CW Contests,  
instead of a computer game if we did ever not let it ever 
progress to the point where the basic skill involved 
was knowing how to use a computer mouse.

As has been mentioned before by many, including me, 
EVERY other organized competitive activity you can think 
of has drawn the line to preserve the sport by prohibiting 
certain technologies from being used.  Now is the time 
it should happen in CW Contesting.

--- Rudy Bakalov <r_bakalov at yahoo.com> wrote: 

> Stan,
> 
> I am suggesting the possibility that Assisted has outlived its purpose and should be replaced a broader category that includes several criteria that separates the pros from the amateurs.  It can be as simple as self-designation based on a generic description or as complex as a formula that assigns points for station features (e.g., SO2R set up, multiple towers, use of spotting assistance, etc.)
> 
> Rudy N2WQ

I think that handicapping CW Contesters is not a good thing.
Giving someone points for only having one tower
or figuring out how many points to give someone 
with one tower and ten rotating antennas on that tower
versus someone with a 3 element tri-bander just won't 
work or be very interesting for those who actually want a
competition.  Even where handicapping is somewhat fair, 
ask a scratch golfer how interesting it is to play in a golf 
tournament using handicaps with a bunch of 18 
handicappers in the field.

People could still use their Skimmers, remote 
receivers, excessive power, transmit on more than
one frequency on the same band simultaneously, etc. 
to make contacts in the contests.  Those activities 
should just be against the rules if you are entering 
and want to have your results listed or considered 
for an award.  

Stan, K5GO