[CQ-Contest] Late to the skimmer party

[Richard L. King]

What Tree says pretty well sums up my own feelings about the skimmer.

I don't think it is much different, technologically, as the 
advancement contesters made to two radio contesting. It is still, 
basically, one operator with software and hardware to magnify what he 
is capable of doing while operating. So an argument can be made that 
the skimmer isn't truly "assisted".

But I agree that using the skimmer is a little much for a single-op 
entry. I think this is where we should draw the line and I encourage 
the contest sponsors to put the use of a skimmer in the assisted 
class. Let us contesters continue to do our own call copying in the 
single-op (not assisted) category.

73, Richard - K5NA



At 15:48 3/22/2008, Tree wrote:

>Hi all-
>
>Just got back from a two week vacation, so am late to the skimmer
>party.  Lots of interesting comments - good to see the discussion.
>
>Just think back about 20 years ago where the internet didn't really
>exist yet...  this discussion would take a lot longer to work out.
>
>I think the crux of this issue has a lot to do with how we all "feel"
>about it.  Obviously, for some, this "feels" like assistance - much
>like packet - and for others, it is just an extension of the constant
>march of technology.
>
>I guess one of the basic questions is "When is it too much technology?"
>By that - I mean - when is radio turned into something that is about
>as much "fun" as picking up your phone to talk to someone?
>
>That is a question we are all going to have slightly different answers
>to.  Some of us will want to protect the way we "think" about operating
>contests - and others will see this as an advancement in the state of
>the art.
>
>It is going to be an emotional debate - and as in the case of packet
>assistance - there will not be one answer that solves all of the issues.
>
>So - for this contester - I do "feel" that skimmers "go too far" for the
>"traditional" single-op.  I believe this technology has the potential to
>dramatically change how contests are won - and I do not see adding it to
>the equation is how I want to win contests.
>
>The main contest I think about when I say that is the SS CW contest.
>There are a lot of operators who have learned how to tune a second
>radio on their own to find new QSOs during the second half of the
>contest.  I believe this "human" effort is a great aspect to the
>contest - where hours of tedious "work" are rewarded by putting another
>10 or 20 QSOs in the log.  This "effort" is what helps determine who
>will make the top ten - or not.
>
>I have finished 11th in the past two SS CW contests.  I am still driven
>to try and get back into the top ten box from home - not an easy thing
>to always do.  I do feel that if I had put in more hard work, I might
>have found that VO1 that has eluded me both times - and made it into
>the box.  This motivates me to get on next time and see if I have better
>luck - and to improve my second radio skills and effort.
>
>I have very little doubt that the skimmer technology probably would have
>made the difference in both of these cases.  However, "for me" - that
>would end up feeling just like I used packet and it wasn't my set of
>ears that found the station through my own efforts.
>
>I believe that contesting is interesting because of the human element we
>bring into it.  Things like computer logging and sending CW to diminsh
>this some - but for many of us - that means we are now free to spend
>more of out time using our ears.  The skimmer goes to far - as it enables
>us to start winning contests by doing something that significantly reduces
>the effort our ears put into it.
>
>"For me" - the magic of radio happens between the headphones.  This is
>too much like using a digital mode for EME.  It removes the human too
>far from the magic and is therefore not as much fun...  for me.
>
>If using the skimmer becomes a "requirement" for me to make the top ten
>box in the SS CW contest - I will have a choice to make.  I hope that I
>won't have to.
>
>73 Tree N6TR/7
>tree at kkn.net
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