[CQ-Contest] Second Century of Radio

[Pete Smith]

At 05:26 AM 5/27/2009, Paul O'Kane wrote:
>...Regarding the deeper principles of radio contesting, I am of
>the view that there are but two of them - use amateur-band RF
>throughout the signal path between the operators concerned,
>and don't use other communications systems to arrange,
>facilitate or complete contest QSOs. If our shared interest,
>amateur radio contesting, becomes (or already is) something
>else, then I suggest it needs a new name to reflect the
>changes.


I think your second principle is too restrictive.  I'd suggest 
instead that we need to define a "bright line" to separate ham radio 
contesting from whatever this CQ100 business is about.  The analogy 
that keeps coming to mind is sailboat racing, where any technology is 
allowed on board the boat, so long as wind power remains the sole 
mode of propulsion.  It's not that you can't have different classes, 
or preclude active coaching on wind conditions etc. from the shore, 
but that if you cross the line, you're no longer racing a sailboat.

So what's the ham radio contesting equivalent?

773, Pete N4ZR
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