[CQ-Contest] Skimmer in CQ WPX CW

Sat May 24 01:46:49 EDT 2008

There's two parts to this. The first part is clear by Randy's statement, 
regarding using skimmer within your own station not connected to anything 
else (internet). You can do that and remain in the Single Op class.

The second part is for the people in Assisted or Multi Op class where they 
CAN be connected to the internet and receive spots. I believe Stan's 
question is in that context. A skimmer sitting somewhere in EU is in effect 
a remote receiver for someone gleaning spots from it while operating in NA.

Correct me if I'm wrong, Stan, but I think this is what you are asking 
about. But being 6 hours into the event, it's probably pretty moot at this 
point.

73 de Bob - KØRC in MN

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Robbins K1TTT" <k1ttt at arrl.net>
To: "'Stan Stockton'" <k5go at cox.net>; "'Randy Thompson'" <k5zd at charter.net>; 
<cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 9:00 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Skimmer in CQ WPX CW

I think he made it perfectly clear:

"The current single op rules do not prevent the use of a skimmer located
within your own station."

Note the 'within your own station' part of the sentence...  is that not
clear enough to mean that using a skimmer located on another continent is
not within the single op rules??

David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
web: http://www.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:cq-contest-
> bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Stan Stockton
> Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 13:47
> To: Randy Thompson; cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Skimmer in CQ WPX CW
>
>
> Randy Thompson said:
>
> >We can create hypothetical situations all day and try to
> > >define what the ruling would or would not be.  The
> > >contest sponsors can only work within the boundaries >of
> >the published rules and the evidence they have as to >what
> >happened during the contest period.
>
> Randy, sorry this is not hypothetical.  It is reality.  Are
> you saying that it is OK for someone to operate using my
> "hypothetical" scenario?
>
> With one click of the mouse a stream of callsigns can be fed
> to you from another continent where you are running.  If a
> blanket statement is made that Skimmer is allowed without
> defining what mode it is allowed in, you are allowing a
> remote receiver to be used in conjunction with a code reader
> to feed a list of stations calling you and the reports that
> are sent.
>
> Assuming you don't want to allow what I will call the
> "remote receiver function" of Skimmer, the question remains
> would the stations using that remote Skimmer Setup via
> internet, who do not have control over what the remote
> Skimmer operator does with it, be automatically disqualified
> if the remote Skimmer operator decided to make that one
> mouse click, providing everyone who was using that network
> with a stream of callsigns calling them on their run
> frequency.
>
> That is a pretty long sentence, but I think it comes down to
> a simple YES or NO.
>
> >With the coming of software defined radios that can >copy
> >AND record an entire band for the whole >contest, we begin
> >to have some serious tools for >analyzing what actually
> >happened.
>
> Randy, this sounds interesting, but has absolutely nothing
> to do with the subject at hand.
>
> >For now, I suggest everyone get on the air, enjoy the
> > >contest, and then submit your log.  Contests exist to
> > >provide a competitive challenge and fun.
> >Better to enjoy the actual experience than to worry >about
> >hypotheticals.
>
> Randy, this is not an Operating Event like Field Day.  It is
> a WRTC qualifying event and a major World Wide CW Contest.
>
> It is reasonable for competitors to know what is allowed and
> what is not allowed when they put in a full time effort to
> win.  It is reasonable to ask for a clarification of the
> rules and that is what I am doing.
>
> 73...Stan, K5GO
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Stan Stockton [mailto:k5go at cox.net]
> > Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 4:30 AM
> > To: Randy Thompson; cq-contest at contesting.com
> > Cc: 'Michael Höding'
> > Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Skimmer in CQ WPX CW
> >
> >
> > >Thanks for sharing Michael.  Will be interesting to see
> > >how it goes
> > >during the contest.
> >
> > >Dear Contesters: Just to be clear, my original email said
> > > >that a single op could use a skimmer WITHIN THEIR >OWN
> > >STATION.  Using one connected via the Internet requires
> > >entry in the
> > >assisted or multi-op categories.
> >
> > Just curious Randy.  Someone in Europe has a CW Skimmer
> > set
> > up and a multi-operator or assisted entrant in the USA is
> > using it.  The guy in Europe happens to click on the
> > option
> > that provides all callsigns instead of verified callsigns
> > (ones that are calling CQ) or "happens"
> > to tune the receiver to a particular frequency and click
> > that
> > option.  The USA entrant immediately sees a stream of
> > European callsigns appear on his screen on his frequency
> > calling him - same thing as a remote receiver in Europe
> > only
> > with a code reader involved..  Is this grounds for
> > immediate
> > and automatic disqualification or is there a grace period
> > where it is OK for everyone to use a remote receiver while
> > clearing the screen of callsigns that are calling?
> >
> > Is it OK if I am in the multi-multi category and someone
> > (with or without my knowledge) decides to feed me a stream
> > of
> > callsigns calling on a run frequency from a
> > Skimmer set up?   If someone is feeding a packet cluster
> > and feeds in callsigns that are not calling CQ, are all
> > the
> > entrants who are logged into that cluster automatically
> > disqualified?
> >
> > All I have seen is that it is OK to use a local Skimmer if
> > you are Single Operator unassisted and a not-so-local
> > Skimmer
> > set up if you are in any other category.  If these and
> > many
> > other questions that are more esoteric than these have not
> > been thought through and dealt with in the rules making,
> > it
> > would appear that we are just flying by the seat of our
> > pants, using a major World Wide Contest to see what
> > happens.
> > God help us, if this is the case....
> >
> > 73...Stan, K5GO
> >
> >
>
>
>
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