[CQ-Contest] Robots Restricted by Regulation

[Ward Silver]

Concerns regarding robot operations are somewhat addressed already by FCC 
regulation.  Stations operating under automatic control are restricted to 
very narrow segments of the HF bands.  This would prohibit "contest robots" 
for the most part.

The workaround for this regulation is to have a human operator authorize or 
initiate each contact or CQ - or at least monitor the operation.  Repeaters 
are supposed to operate this way.  This is the reasoning as to why ARQ-mode 
digital mode stations may operate outside the segments for automatic 
control - the operators are, in theory, listening first and in control of 
the station to insure compliance with rules and regulations.  Whether they 
are or not is a topic for another reflector.

In the case of HF contesting, continuously  monitoring the operation of a 
robot operator (and I don't mean turning one loose on a second radio to work 
mults while the primary operator holds a run frequency elsewhere) sounds 
horribly boring.  I have been a WRTC referee three times and I can tell you 
that siilently listening to someone else (robot or not) operate for 24 hours 
straight (or more) is not exactly the most exciting contest experience one 
could have.

So first, turning a robot loose at 0000Z on Saturday and coming back after 
the football games on Sunday to see the final score at 2359Z - that's 
illegal.  Second, sitting there and actually monitoring such a robot is as 
boring as can be - it's a self-limiting problem.  There is still the issue 
of cheating and verification, but that's another discussion.

73, Ward N0AX