[CQ-Contest] The Skimmer Rule Challenge

[Zack Widup]

I wasn't clear exactly about what a code reader is, but if it's something 
like a PK232 which decodes Morse into text, then I think the same as 
Dave.

My feelings on them are that I'd never use one myself, since I can still 
copy about 55 wpm OK (tinnitus is NOT fun). But if someone wants to, I 
just can't see how it fits "assisted" at all.

I still think "assisted" is defined as spotting help from another PERSON. 
Anything within my own station that mechanically or electronically shows 
bandmaps/callsigns just isn't assistance to me. If the source comes from 
someone else, either inside or outside the station, it's assistance. This 
includes packetcluster, pingjockey, various internet logging/spotting 
networks, phone calls, or W9### stopping by to tell me "VY1JA is on 
14040."

We recently discussed on the VHF contesting group if things like auroral 
oval plots in real time off the internet, Hepburn forecasts, radar storm 
maps for rainscatter, etc. would be considered assistance.  The conclusion 
was that they are not, as they do not directly give a callsign and/or 
frequency of someone to work.

FWIW that's my opinion.  Probably not worth much.

73, Zack W9SZ


On Sun, 22 Jun 2008, David Robbins K1TTT wrote:

>> Does anyone want to argue that using a "Code Reader" is NOT assistance.
>
> Sure, I'll argue that!  You are arguing that a piece of software/hardware
> that operates slower and less accurately than your brain is 'assistance' in
> a contest environment, bull!  I consider a code reader, any code reader,
> including those built in to WL and the many other available ones, as exactly
> the same as a rtty demodulator, and those are not considered assistance in
> any contest.
>
>
> 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
>