[CQ-Contest] Public access to logs

[Ron Notarius W3WN]

...but not if I didn't know until well after the fact, Igor.  (Especially
since Bill worked the guys on Ducie on 12 meters while I was at work &
nowhere near a rig!)

And I can argue the other side of the coin, too.  For example, 5A7A
confirmed a QSO with my call on 40 Meter RTTY -- which I didn't make, since
I'm not set up as of yet for RTTY or other digital modes.  So presumably,
whomever they actually worked could check the log and then tell them there
was an error (which I will gladly confirm)... whether or not the error can
be corrected being another issue.

Now, as I think has already been mentioned in this discussion, the fine
print in the ARRL rule is that the log restriction is for DXpeditions; so if
I understand that correctly, that argument is now moot and the integrity of
the DXCC program is unaffected.  And I'm sure that somewhere in the fine
print of the contest rules, CQ has a statement to the effect that submitted
logs for any CQ sponsored contest become the property of CQ and that they
can do pretty much whatever they want to with them after the fact.  However,
I also believe that just because you can do something doesn't automatically
mean that you could or should.

That being said, a decision to make those logs in whole or in part publicly
available should not, IMHO, be made after the fact of submission.  As useful
as data analysis and data mining are (why ask for submission for a SCP
database when you can just parse the calls out of the submitted logs?) or
can be, a retroactive decision like this is an unwelcome surprise to many.
There are many, like our buddy Hans, who have their own reasons to not wish
their logs out in public.  You may not know what their reasons are, or agree
with them, but they are due the respect of the contest sponsor to have full
disclosure on a decision like this before it is applied.

I would have been more comfortable with CQ's decision had they announced
that it would be, say, effective for all contest submissions in 2008 and
forward, and not applied retroactively to contest logs already in hand.

73

-----Original Message-----
From: Igor Sokolov [mailto:ua9cdc at gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 12:49 AM
To: wn3vaw at verizon.net; CQ Contest Reflector
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Public access to logs


> Chuck,
>
> You're still confused?  OK. Let's try it this way.
>
> W3WH (who doesn't live that far from me) worked VP6DX on 12 meters.  (Not
> a
> contest QSO, incidently!)  I didn't.
>
> With an open log, it is child's play for me, should I have been so
> inclined
> (and I'm not), to look up the exact time of the QSO and claim that they
> actually worked me.  Further, with an open log, I can even look up
> adjoining
> QSO's to "prove" that it was actually me.

You can achieve the same by just listening to W3WH QSO and a bit before and
after that.
I am really glad the logs of CQWW participants are published on the web
now.That makes me trust contest results and gives a lot of useful info when
analyzing my UBN. It also expose cheaters to the public and allow scrutiny
of their logs to anyone. I hope other contest sponsors will follow. I do not
mind DXCC protecting the integrity of their program but not at the expense
of contest organizers who try to make their contests more interesting.

Just IMHO

73, Igor U9CDC
73, Igor UA9CDC