[CQ-Contest] Ethics

[John Laney]

Dick Green WC1M wrote:
> Actually, I was thinking about sponsors using observers during the contest
> to spot participants transmitting out of band. I don't know whether sponsors
> use observers on a regular basis, or how they might be used, but I do know
> of at least one case of it happening. 
> 
>  
> 
> Newer logging programs, like N1MM, Writelog and Win-Test, log the frequency
> to the nearest KHz in the Cabrillo file, so it's certainly possible for log
> checking programs to cross-check and remove illegal QSOs from both logs if
> at least one of the two participants uses one of those loggers.
> 
>  
> 
> We agree that the CQing station can't be held responsible for knowing the
> laws of other countries, but I still think the sponsor has the right to
> remove the QSO from both logs if it's not legal. I also think if an operator
> is sure the QSO is illegal, it shouldn't be logged. I would bet most VEs
> know that US stations can't transmit SSB below 14.150, 7.100, etc.
> 
>  
> 
> I think you're right about packet being the source of many an out-of-band
> transmission. Writelog lets you define band boundaries, but I don't know
> whether it can use that information to prevent grabbing an out-of-band
> transmission.
> 
>  
> 
> 73, Dick WC1M
> 
>  
> 
> From: Edward [mailto:sawyered at earthlink.net] 
> Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 6:02 AM
> To: 'Dick Green WC1M'; cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: Ethics
> 
>  
> 
> You must be assuming that the log shows frequency data.  In my case, I am
> using older software that logs all 20M QSOs as 14000.
> 
>  
> 
> In general, I disagree with the responsibility of the receiving station
> "having any responsibility" of knowing the "other stations regs". Why pick
> on VEs as "they should know US regs".  Heck, I don't know VE regs.  I have
> to assume after hearing decades of VEs working staions simplex on 14150 -
> 14100 and 7100 - 7000 on SSB that they can legally do that, but do I KNOW?
> Nope.
> 
>  
> 
> And what of the last few years when an I or a G or HB9 or whatever has
> called me on 7188 or even 7225 simplex?  I have no idea whether they can
> legally call.  All I know (through the grapevine) is that allocations are
> changing so they must have that ability now.
> 
>  
> 
> I think it is totally unfair to ask the CQing station doing 100+ an hour to
> be "hanging out an ethical filter" in the heat of the battle as they log Qs.
> 
>  
> 
> And contrary to the statement made earlier by someone that this is a 0.1%
> problem.  It absolutely is not.  I hear dozens of out of band Qs every
> contest on 40M as stations call simplex on EU stations running split.  I am
> assuming most are using the cluster to point and shout and not watching what
> they are doing.but that is just an assumption on my part.
> 
>  
> 
> Ed  N1UR
> 
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> 

Wait a minute!  All the logging programs I am familiar with log the 
frequency of the receiver at the time that the "enter" command is given. 
   Or maybe more accurately, it records the frequency of the main VFO, 
not the sub VFO.  When operating split, most of us will be transmitting 
on the sub VFO, which often has inferior receive filtering to that in 
the main VFO.   The receive frequency or the main VFO frequency will 
often be out of the US phone band, but my transmitter, controlled by the 
sub VFO, will have been in the US phone band.  If you do a lot of split 
frequency operation such as I do from the Caribbean, you will notice 
that if you are operating split, during a run, the recorded frequency 
may vary a kHz or two as you tune the main VFO up and down the band. 
Unless the logging programs are changed to record the frequency of the 
transmitter every time, the logging program only suggests what that may 
been and is not proof of it.  Also, sometimes, I will forget to give the 
"enter" command until after I have changed the receiver frequency or 
until after I have changed VFOs and the recorded frequency will be 
inaccurate.  You need to be particularly careful about this when you 
change bands.  73, John, K4BAI.