[CQ-Contest] Eliminate SO Unassisted?

[Bill Tippett]

VE4ZT:
 >We can accept a class for packet. Why is it so hard to
accept it if Skimmer is deemed to be equivalent to packet?

         Not only equivalent but *indistinguishable* from
Packet by log-checking software.  If Skimmer is OK for
single-op unassisted, and you cannot distinguish the
operating signature from assisted, then the obvious
solution is to make one single-op class without any
restrictions.  In the words of K3MD on the Skimmer
poll page:

"Most likely the way this should be handled is to place users in the 
assisted or MS category, depending on the contest. However, since 
there is widespread abuse of the assisted category in entries sent in 
as SO, the wider question would be, "should the SO (nonassisted) 
category be eliminated?"

                 http://www.contesting.com/survey/204
(BTW that poll is now closed, 32% for Skimmer, 58% against)

         In fact there is now a new poll question by VE5ZX which 
poses K3MD's question:

"WAE and RDXC recently merged assisted and non-assisted single 
operator categories. Would you favour such a move for the CQWW contest? "

                 http://www.contesting.com/survey/

         But surprisingly the WRTC 2010 organizers are being 
pig-headed.  Are they anti-technology Luddites?  Don't they know that 
the true test of operating skill is all these neat technology tools 
and not the operators themselves?


"No way!" was the answer from WRTC 2010 organizer Igor "Harry" 
Booklan RA3AUU when asked if the Skimmer would be allowed in the 
World Radiosport Team Championships in Russia.

"No cluster. No skimmer. No super check partial. No other 
assistance," Booklan told radio-sport.net.

                 http://www.radio-sport.net/skimmer8.htm

         This thing just keeps getting weirder and weirder...(and 
funnier)!  As I said to K3MD, "

I love your sports medicine logic. Since so many athletes are using 
steroids, let's just declare steroids legal."  ;-)


                                 73,  Bill  W4ZV