[CQ-Contest] Public access to logs

[Ron Notarius W3WN]

I know of no issues to date with someone trying to weasel their way into a
QSL card for someone else's QSO with a published contest log... but then,
how many people knew until recently that CQ was putting contest logs out "in
public" for all to see?

Now, how serious a problem is this?  I don't know... but the mere existance
of the rule to cover the situation tells me it must be or have been serious
enough, at least at the time the rule was created.

Keep in mind the broader context.  The DXCC eligibility criteria do not
exist in a vacumn.  There were reasons why they were created when they were,
or modified (or removed) thereafter.  Some examples immediately pop to
mind... such as the requirements to document (or be able to document) that
you actually where you said you where, thanks to Dr. Don Miller, Romeo, and
a cast of hundreds; or to document you had permission to operate; or that
160 meter cards could not be field checked, because a few wise guys added a
decimal point to 18 MHz QSO's; or even the criteria to determine what is a
DXCC "country" or "entity" based on size and/or population and/or political
status, after too many obscure navigation hazards in the middle of the
oceans became "eligible."

So rather than accuse the DXCC desk of "throwing it's weight around," I'd
prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt.  After all, they don't go out
of their way to make work for themselves, do they?

And I don't see how you can, as a practical matter, mandate log submissions
to LotW.  Oh, it's easy enough to do as a technical matter, and I could even
argue the benefits overall... but right now and for the forseeable future, I
think such a suggestion would backfire big time from a PR standpoint.
Especially from the anti-ARRL/anti-LotW crowd who are convinced, ignoring
all evidence to the contrary, that Logbook is nothing more than an attempt
by the League HQ to hijack eQSL.

73

-----Original Message-----
From: N7mal [mailto:n7mal at citlink.net]
Sent: Sunday, March 02, 2008 12:07 AM
To: Ron Notarius; cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Public access to logs


I would like to suggest we stay with the original topic regarding this
ARRL policy about rejecting QSOs for credit if a log is published. My
question
is how serious a problem is this.?. How many people(documented) are
'B.S-ing' their call into a log to get a card.?. How many people have
actually been caught doing this.?. In other words is this really a serious
problem or the ARRL throwing it's weight around. I think once you submit
your contest log to CQ(or whoever) you no longer have any liability, you're
not the one who published the contest log.
The ultimate solution, for contest logs, is mandatory submission to L.O.T.W.
There are no 'gray' areas with L.O.T.W. You are either in a log or not in a
log, there's no negotiating. If the contest station copied your call wrong
'SORRY you loose'.
It has been pointed out this is not the first time this subject has been
brought up. I've yet to see any definitive proof there is a problem with
contest logs. It would be nice if someone from the ARRL could enlighten our
group with some facts/figures. Then if an adjustment to the policy is needed
it can be addressed at that time.
Again my -2cents worth.
73


MAL
N7MAL
BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
http://www.n7mal.com
Everyone in the world is
entitled to be burdened
by my opinion

----- Original Message -----
From: Ron Notarius W3WN
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2008 0:44
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Public access to logs


You knowingly submitted ineligible & possibly fradulent cards to the card
checkers to try and fool them?

You know what... never mind.  I'm not rehashing the same responses... again.
The bottom line is that DXCC is the ARRL's award, & they make the rules.
You don't care for the rules, or for their high (and strict) standards?
Then don't participate.  It's that simple.