[CQ-Contest] The Skimmer Rule Challenge (Randy Thompson)

[Bob Henderson]

I have a proposal for the rule makers which addresses what I perceive to 
be the major threat to the future of contesting.

I love contesting and have enjoyed it for over 40 years.  I cherish the 
difference in character between CW, SSB & Data mode events and the 
different skills required for success in each.  I believe emerging 
technologies pose significant threat to the survival of these 
differences and risk setting us on a path at the end of which all will 
have converged to become data mode events managed by sheer computing power.

A simple step is all that is required to prevent this, so sustaining the 
requirement for operator skill and ensuring survival of the character of 
these different events.

Human decoding and transcription of signals in the unassisted category 
of CW & SSB events should be mandated.  Use of any kind of machine 
capable of receiving CW or SSB signals and converting them to data 
should be specifically prohibited.

Vive la difference!

Bob, 5B4AGN, P3F

> Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 11:19:40 -0000
> From: "Randy Thompson" <k5zd at charter.net>
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] The Skimmer Rule Challenge
> To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Message-ID: <025b01c8c56b$b777bf70$346410ac at K5ZD1>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
>
> OK guys, we are seeing lots of great discussion and opinion about the
> skimmer.  Also calls for the rule making process to be transparent.
> However, we aren't seeing a lot of proposals or discussion about what the
> rule should actually be!
>
> Here is your assignment.  Propose new rule wordings for single op and single
> op assisted that are simple, easily understood/translated to multiple
> languages, will be widely accepted by the contest community, and makes it
> clear what the difference is between assistance and not assistance. Oh, and
> it needs to apply equally for SSB, CW, and RTTY.
>
> You have 30 days. Go.
>
>
> Randy, K5ZD
>