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

[Randy Thompson K5ZD]

We all like to talk about things being in the "spirit of the rule."
However, the 'spirit' is often open to interpretation by each participant!

At the top tier multi-multi and multi-single efforts, there are often
multiple stations on one band.  This allows a second station to make QSOs
while the main station continues to run.  Most people who do this a very
careful to prevent multiple transmitters being on the same band at the same
time.  However, it does start to push the credibility of being multi
"single".

How would the multi-single rule be written to prevent this?  Think about it
before you answer.  Its not as easy as it seems!

Randy, K5ZD 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Ron 
> Notarius W3WN
> Sent: Sunday, August 02, 2009 3:15 PM
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Why the 10 min rule anyway?
> 
> 
> 
> 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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