[CQ-Contest] A new "DX cluster" experience for contesters

[David Gilbert]

I'm frankly confused.  Almost all the major contests have non-assisted 
categories where any sort of spotting network assistance is not allowed 
and no real-time internet connection is required, and some contests do 
not allow it for ANY of their categories.  Those who want to operate in 
"pure fashion" using only their radio (plus, of course, their memory 
keyers, SCP help files, call history files, CW decoders, etc) are free 
to do so.  In essence, these contests have "no wires" categories that 
preserve the sanctity of radio as you see it (sarcasm intended), while 
allowing "wired" assistance for other categories.  In truth, though, the 
most prestigious categories still tend to be the unassisted ones and for 
some major contests the assisted categories get relegated to the end of 
the score listings, so I'm having a real hard time perceiving the damage 
to the hobby that you and Paul seem to do.

So exactly how do these other technologies undermine the hobby?  And how 
is their use in any way illegitimate?  Please be specific.  It seems to 
me that their only crime is being different than what you or Paul prefer 
to do.  I can think of all sorts of competitive events where multiple 
categories with different levels of assistance or technology are run 
simultaneously ... why is radiosport any different?

I personally prefer to operate unassisted, but I see no less legitimacy 
for those who choose to operate differently as long as they adhere to 
the rules for the category they claim.

Dave   AB7E




On 4/12/2010 8:11 PM, Idle-Tyme wrote:
> Agreed!
>
> Just like the instant logging on the new contest from the ARRL  the
> Rookie Roundup.  Unless you have the internet,  too bad, youre not
> welcome in this contest.
>
> Sad when Radio has to have wires to play.
>
> Joe WB9SBD
> Driftless Zone Contesters W9ET
>
> The Original Rolling Ball Clock
> Idle Tyme
> Idle-Tyme.com
> http://www.idle-tyme.com
>
> On 4/12/2010 5:37 PM, Paul O'Kane wrote:
>    
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Pete Smith"<n4zr at contesting.com>
>>
>>
>>
>>      
>>> Metaphorical loom-smashing aside, I think that this
>>> development will have little impact in the world of
>>> single-op contesting, given the rules that have been
>>> put in place in the last couple of years.
>>>
>>>        
>> This development is, in terms of amateur radio contesting,
>> a weapon of mass destruction which, rather than being
>> subject to stringent controls, has been put into the hands
>> of anyone with an internet connection - in effect, all of
>> us.
>>
>> The fact that something can be done does not always mean
>> that it is worth doing.  The people who have developed
>> this technology can congratulate themselves on the
>> introduction of a fundamental change in the nature of
>> contesting, to the extent that it has been largely
>> debased.
>>
>> They may argue it's just a natural extension of existing
>> technology - the cluster.  If so, doesn't that raise a
>> question about the legitimacy of the cluster?
>>
>> Regardless of how we got here, or how well-intentioned
>> the developers were/are, we should not be here.  The
>> internet serves only to undermine amateur radio - by
>> putting the wires back into wireless.
>>
>> 73,
>> Paul EI5DI
>> _______________________________________________
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>> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
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>>
>>
>>
>>      
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