[CQ-Contest] Sweepstakes -Automatic Fill - 93 or 67

[Stan Stockton]

W5OV wrote:

>Just pick two numbers and send them for the entire >contest. Before you 
>send any replies re-stating >something like "but the rule says"... 
>please refer to my >statement that the actual number does not matter to 
> >anyone so don't bother replying. But, then why does >the rule say 
>that? Again, it does not matter so drop it, >please! The check is 
>simply a number that represents >what used to be the word count in a 
>"radiogram"
>which is what SS is emulating. Again, the actual >number does not 
>matter and no one verifies that what >you send is actually anyone's 
>first year of anything - >guess why? Because *it does not matter*!

Bob,

Disregard the stated rule, drop the subject, don't reply, case closed 
because you say to refer to your stated opinion, which basically says 
the stated rule does not mean anything?

I'm pretty sure if it did not matter to the ARRL that many might start 
sending 55, 88, 73 or some other easier to copy number instead of 67 or 
some other number which has to be repeated more often.

Comparing my log checking reports from 2008 and 2007 the 2008 LCR shows 
64% more stations (74 as compared to 45) who miscopied CK 67 and sent in 
the log with the incorrect check in 2008 as compared to CK 93 in 2007. 
The QSO numbers were close from year to year - 1448 in 2008 and 1426 in 
2007.

I have no idea of the number of requests for repeats  were but would 
guess for everyone who logged it incorrectly there were at least as many 
and perhaps twice as many instances of having to repeat the check.  25 
or 50 extra instances of a repeat over that of a competitor can equate 
to a big difference in the final ranking.

Everyone should understand the rules and play by the same set of rules 
as opposed to having individual interpretations.  Until the rules 
change, I will send 67 unless someone else operates and uses my 
callsign.  Then, most likely, there will be two options based on the 
2008 rule which specifically changed from 2007 to allow either the 
station or operator check to be used.

73...Stan,  K5GO