[CQ-Contest] Dead horse: CQ WW rules apparently prohibit CWSkimmeruse

[Paul J. Piercey]

Not even close. The cluster is stuff that you may or may not be able to work
that is input to you from others around the world. The skimmer gives you
stuff that is heard by your own radio in your own shack that you can hear if
you turned the knob a little.

You have to look at the source and if the source is your own radio, how can
it be assistance?

73 -- Paul VO1HE
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Mark
> Sent: March 13, 2008 16:30
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Dead horse: CQ WW rules apparently 
> prohibit CWSkimmeruse
> 
> Since the spots output from the skimmer look like the spots 
> from packet (ie callsign and freq) then it seems sensible 
> that the two methods are also equivalent, ie assisted.
> 
> If it quacks like a duck ....
> 
> Mark n2qt
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joe Subich, W4TV" <w4tv at subich.com>
> To: "'Scott Robbins'" <w4pa at yahoo.com>; <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 11:29 AM
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Dead horse: CQ WW rules apparently 
> prohibit CWSkimmeruse
> 
> 
> >
> >> "The use of DX alerting assistance of any kind places the 
> station in 
> >> the Single Operator Assisted category."
> >>
> >> It doesn't say "The use of DX packet cluster, the use of Telnet on 
> >> the Internet, the use of 2M FM repeaters..." or anything else.
> >
> > I don't know how one can consider CW Skimmer, as long as it 
> is running 
> > on hardware in the operator's own shack, to be "DX alerting 
> > assistance" instead of simply a technological way to operate an 
> > infinite number of simultaneous receivers.  The ability to 
> copy CW by 
> > machine (WriteLog, CW Get, MixW, etc.) has been around for 
> many years 
> > ... unfortunately, CW Skimmer only further extends, enhances and 
> > democratizes that ability.
> >
> > There are those of us who may not LIKE the technology and believes 
> > that is devalues operator skill but there is nothing that 
> can be done 
> > to outlaw CW Skimmer any more than one can outlaw CW 
> decoders, memory 
> > keyers, mechanical pencils or digital signal processing.
> >
> >> A piece of computer software decoding CW signals is not a person 
> >> performing a spotting function.  If the callsign is decoded by a 
> >> method other than the human ear, that is not a person spotting a 
> >> callsign, it's a machine.  A computer.  A computer is not 
> a person.  
> >> The rule says PERSON.  Not person operating a computer 
> that spots the 
> >> callsigns for you.
> >
> > This logic would put any operator who uses CW decoding 
> software into 
> > the assisted (or multi operator) category.  The logic is 
> simply flawed 
> > ... every operator "Spots" a station calling CQ before they 
> work them.  
> > Simply put, your logic would require that we drive cars using reins 
> > and verbal commands instead of a steering wheel and foot pedals.
> >
> > Technology drives change which drives innovation which drives 
> > technology.  The cycle is called progress and there is no much that 
> > anyone can do to stop progress.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com 
> >> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of 
> Scott Robbins
> >> Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:41 AM
> >> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> >> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Dead horse: CQ WW rules apparently 
> prohibit CW 
> >> Skimmeruse
> >>
> >>
> >> >The "assisted" category always referred to operators receiving 
> >> >information indirectly from other operators via the packet
> >> cluster or
> >> >similar networks.
> >>
> >> It does not refer to that at all in the CQ WW rules.
> >>
> >> The rules say (verbatim):
> >>
> >> "The use of DX alerting assistance of any kind places the 
> station in 
> >> the Single Operator Assisted category."
> >>
> >> It doesn't say "The use of DX packet cluster, the use of Telnet on 
> >> the Internet, the use of 2M FM repeaters..." or anything else.
> >>
> >> It says:  DX alerting assistance of any kind.
> >>
> >> If I have a piece of software that is alerting me and pointing my 
> >> attention to stations on the bands that I have not worked, that I 
> >> have not found, that I have not copied the callsign of by 
> ear - that 
> >> is definitely DX alerting assistance.  It doesn't specify 
> WHO or HOW 
> >> that assistance is obtained.
> >>
> >> Is a piece of software that copies callsigns and tells you 
> where they 
> >> are assistance?  You bet it is.
> >>
> >> We can take the rules even further.
> >>
> >> Verbatim from CQ WW rules:
> >>
> >> "Single Operator High:  Those stations at which one person 
> performs 
> >> all of the operating, logging, and spotting functions."
> >>
> >> Those stations at which one PERSON performs ... SPOTTING functions.
> >>
> >> A piece of computer software decoding CW signals is not a person 
> >> performing a spotting function.  If the callsign is decoded by a 
> >> method other than the human ear, that is not a person spotting a 
> >> callsign, it's a machine.  A computer.  A computer is not 
> a person.  
> >> The rule says PERSON.  Not person operating a computer 
> that spots the 
> >> callsigns for you.
> >>
> >> There are actually two parts to this discussion we are 
> having on this 
> >> forum at the moment.  One is:  What should CW contesting be?  The 
> >> other is:  What is allowed within the rules of a given CW contest?
> >>
> >> Scott W4PA
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> ______________________
> >> Looking for last minute shopping deals?
> >> Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.
> >> 
> http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shoppin
> >> g _______________________________________________
> >> 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
> > 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>