[CQ-Contest] SKIMMER = BUMMER

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> QUESTION:  If I  respond  to W4TV's call @ 50 wpm, should Joe 
> ever decide to participate in a contest that is, will his 
> skimmer help him to know that I went back to him? 

I'd recognize any of the calls I've held - and entered contests 
with over the last 30 years - including AD8I, W8IK, K4IK and W4TV 
at 50 WPM.  However, I would certainly not be foolish enough to 
respond to anyone at that speed since it only encourages busted 
exchanges and/or repeats particularly when conditions are marginal.  

Like every other "tool" in the contester's arsenal, skimmer needs 
to be used properly and legally ...  that include confirming the 
calls skimmer copied and running a local copy (no remote receiver 
or multiple, networked skimmers).  Just like an SO2R station is 
not supposed to be transmitting on both radios simultaneously 
(of course some do). 
  


> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of 
> n6tj at sbcglobal.net
> Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 8:03 PM
> To: k1ttt at arrl.net; 'CQ Contest Reflector'
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] SKIMMER = BUMMER
> 
> 
> And just maybe the sun will rise in the west one day too.  Oh 
> sure, those of 
> us who have benefited from the greater than normal pileups 
> that packet - and 
> I soon suppose skimmers - bring  to our lonely running 
> frequencies, have 
> also observed the gradual diminution in operators' skills.
> 
>  Simply stated, over the long haul, operators who don't need 
> to learn how to 
> copy CW callsigns, won't.  And, it then will follow, the 
> busted packet spots 
> and busted skimmer spots will increase, the DX operator's 
> dupe rate will 
> increase, the waste of the DX operator's time will increase, 
> and the number 
> of stations he can ultimately QSO will decrease.
> 
> Please enlighten us novices as to just how this will help you 
> to work more 
> DX?  Or to  advance the state of the art?
> 
> QUESTION:  If I  respond  to W4TV's call @ 50 wpm, should Joe 
> ever decide to 
> participate in a contest that is, will his skimmer help him 
> to know that I 
> went back to him?  Perhaps for those who can no longer copy 
> their own calls 
> in a pileup because of pp 2, above, then just maybe skimmers 
> will not be 
> totally worthless............
> 
> Vy 73
> 
> Jim Neiger   N6TJ
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "David Robbins K1TTT" <k1ttt at arrl.net>
> To: "'CQ Contest Reflector'" <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Saturday, April 26, 2008 4:23 AM
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] SKIMMER = BUMMER
> 
> 
> >> > ....... To deny those who
> >> > lack your particular skill set and dedication the ability to 
> >> > participate in a significant portion of contests would go a long 
> >> > way toward hastening the demise of contesting - at least CW 
> >> > contesting.
> >>
> >> No, Joe. Turning it into just another datamode will hasten 
> the demise 
> >> of CW contesting.
> >>
> >
> > Making it possible to work it like 'just another datamode' 
> will allow 
> > the new generation of licensees who didn't have to pass a 
> cw test to 
> > operate cw and keep cw contesting alive longer.  Maybe even some of 
> > them will learn to
> > copy without the computer after a while.
> >
> >
> > David Robbins K1TTT
> > e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
> > web: http://www.k1ttt.net
> > AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > CQ-Contest mailing list
> > CQ-Contest at contesting.com 
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> 
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