[CQ-Contest] Cheating with Technology

Wed Mar 12 22:58:33 EDT 2008

I think there are a number of reasons why people get involved in contesting.   There are those who like the technical aspects of station building and see contests as a way to "prove out" station designs, changes, etc.  They get their kicks from the technology side of things.   Another group likes the competition inherent in operating.   They see value in building operating skills rather than technology for technologies sake.

On SO2R - SO2R is about skill, not technology (this is a dead horse that has been beaten many times).  SO2R advances the radio art from a skill building perspective.   Managing interstation interference is a related technical challenge.  This also advances the radio art.

On Skimmer - Skimmer has the potential of leveling the playing field when used to generate spots.  I think the idea of a network of skimmers for spotting and propagation studies is a good one that advances the radio art.   Using skimmer in the single op category demeans the skills that many ops have worked hard to develop.   These skills are not considered a chore to those who have worked hard to hone them.   Using skimmer to copy calls and populate a band map does not advance the radio art.

On Remoting - If the transmitter, receiver and antennas are within the designated station circle then why should anyone care where the operator is located.   Managing communication latencies is a technical challenge.  Does it advance the radio art?   Maybe.   It might likely break down some of the economic barriers to building large stations.   This would be a good thing that advances contesting and dxing.   Does it negatively impact the value of operator skill?   I think not.

These are of course just my personal opinions.

I think the basic test of whether a technology should be allowed is the ask this question.  "Does it advance the radio art from the perspective of the major constituencies?".    I realize that this is somewhat subjective question.   This seems to me to be the stewardship of the contest sponsors.

Hopefully they will quickly sort this out and weigh in on skimmer.

I'm a newcomer that has just gotten into contesting in the past few years.   I wasn't an active ham before computers became popular, but I'm old enough to remember what it was like before computer technology became mainstream.

My .02 cents worth.

73 - Guy, N7ZG

> From: bparry at rgv.rr.com> To: Tom at k5rc.cc; cq-contest at contesting.com> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:20:07 -0500> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Cheating with Technology> > I just don't understand where we are going with this. It appears that folks> want to pick the technology that suits them and call it fine. (SO2R, or> propagation software, or logging software, or remote stations, at al. and> call them cutting edge technology that improves us all. Other technology for> some reason is "persona non gratis" (anything having to do with packet is> equated with sexual assault of children).> > >From contest results, the EVIDENCE I see is that SO2R is a far more valuable> asset than packet. Virtually all the top scoring Single Ops use SO2R. Single> OP scores always seem higher than single op assisted. I don't want to do> SO2R but I say more power to those excellent operators that can use it.> > This new skimmer software seems cool to me. Maybe it is the final coming of> the end, I don't know. I'm not smart enough to see into the future, but I> think that a couple of problems with packet might be fixed if we used the> skimmer instead of individuals inputting calls into the packet system.> > You see, I know a secret! I am never going to win one of these contests. I> operate the contest because I think they are fun and I like to work new band> countries and old friends. I refuse to be told by someone I am a bad> operator if I miscopy too many calls or I use packet. So I choose not to> enter my log! I enter my log into the 3830 Reflector (in the proper> category). I can see how I have done. If contests are made into name calling> contest, lots of guys may decide not to participate. Should make SS on> Sunday afternoon even more fun!> > I think that everyone needs to step back and remember why we got in this> hobby. > > Bill W5VX > > -----Original Message-----> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Tom Taormina> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 11:09 AM> To: cq-contest at contesting.com> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Cheating with Technology> > > You forgot a big one, Dick. We cheated by using technology to fly to the> Moon. We should have used wooden boats and sails.> > Tom Taormina, K5RC> Virginia City Nevada> http://k5rc.cc> NACHO-W7RN RANN-K7RC> CQ Contest Hall of Fame, FOC 1760> > > > Message: 1> Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:13:48 -0700> From: "Dick Dievendorff" <dieven at comcast.net>> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Get out of jail free card> To: <cbrakob at earthlink.net>, "'Jim George'" <n3bb at mindspring.com>,> "'Kelly Taylor'" <ve4xt at mts.net>, <wn3vaw at verizon.net>,> <cq-contest at contesting.com>> Message-ID: <000001c883f7$7952cf10$6bf86d30$@net>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"> > Right. While we're at it, we should ban those pesky memory keyers, it makes> redundant the important contesting skill of manually operating a Morse key.> > And while we're at it, get rid of those pesky computer logging programs, it> makes redundant the important contesting skill of writing legibly and> maintaining a dupe sheet in real time.> > And those durned microcontroller computers that are essential to every> modern transceiver should also be banned. No software power, just people> skills.> > Dick, K6KR> > > _______________________________________________> CQ-Contest mailing list> CQ-Contest at contesting.com> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest> > _______________________________________________> CQ-Contest mailing list> CQ-Contest at contesting.com> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
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