[CQ-Contest] Why the 10 min rule anyway?

[Ron Notarius W3WN]

Sorry Larry, but the fact remains that several Multi-Multi stations in
different contests got caught trying to get around the spirit, if not the
letter, of the Multi-Single category.

I agree in principle with the concept that any M/S effort should have ONE
and ONLY ONE transceiver operational (ie on the air) at a single time.  The
problem is in defining how long is "a single time."  The fact remains that
it has been PROVEN that some teams interpret this as meaning "at any given
moment" so that while Transceiver "A" is receiving, Transceiver "B" is
available to transmit, and vice versa.  That is certainly not within the
spirit of the M/S category.

That is why things like the 10 minute rule were put in place, and why
transmitter lock-outs like the Octopus (which I recall was used in ARRL
Field Day and/or ARRL Sweepstakes).  

It's not a case of someone deciding in advance they couldn't trust a team
effort.  It's a case of having discovered after the fact that at least a few
teams were, if not untrustworthy, then "creative" -- but bent the rules too
far.

Now:  Rather than cry about how unfair the 10 minute rule is... keeping in
mind the principle that it's supposed to stand for... how would you rewrite
the general M/S category to ensure that only a single rig is actually on the
air over a given period of humanly measureable and noticeable time, and not
computer managed into micro-sections?

73

-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of RW4WZ
Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 1:32 AM
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Why the 10 min rule anyway?


> >  
> > 73- Chuck KI9A
> >   
> Chuck,
>  
> >The answer is pretty simple.  To prevent a multi-transmitter station 
> >from using it's full capabilities to enter a category where 
> the number 
> >of transmitters in simultaenous use is limited (multi-1 or multi-2).
>  
> >The ten-minute rule takes away most of the advantage of 
> having multiple 
> >simultaneous transmitters while giving the contest sponsors 
> a tangible 
> >way to enforce the rules of the catagory in an objective, 
> measurable way.
>  
> >Otherwise, what's to keep a multi-multi station from entering as 
> >multi-single?
>  
> >Dave/K8CC
>  
>  
> Very simple,
> M/S can work only multiplayers on other band.
> M/2 can work anyqso on 2 bands.
> M/M can work anyone anywhere
>  
> Dave 9A1UN

And SOAB could work any qso on 5 bands with out the restrictions of 10 min
rule

Why ? It seems for me because Contest committee TRUST to single operators
and
DO NOT TRUST to people who are participate as a team that they will follow
the rule
One signal at any one time.

Let me remind the story how this 10 min rule was appear. In mid 70th several
USSR
MO station create homemade PA which allow to use it with several
transceivers and switch the
band as one of them begin transmit. This techniques allow us to follow the
rule of one signal at
any time. But CQ committee do not believe us and put all this "cheaters" to
MM category
Then appear the 10 min rule.

That's the story, but may be it is the time to revise this rule and take the
same approach for all
contesters when we talk about the rule ONE SIGNAL AT ANY TIME.

Larry

RW4WZ

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