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

[W0MU Mike Fatchett]

I think Randy hit the nail on the head.

We just want to know who is running the motors and who isn't.

We have races on foot, on Skis on motorcycles, boats, cars, trucks and even
airplanes.  They usually are not held all at the same time at the same venue
which makes contesting a bit trickier.

I have heard similar complaints the moon bounce crowd about new software
that can decode incredibly weak signals making moon bounce contact very
doable with much more modest stations.  This is incredible software.  

Like it or not none of this technology is going to go away.

Mike W0MU 


CC Packet Cluster W0MU-1
W0MU.NET or  67.40.148.194

"A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may
never get over." Ben Franklin 



-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Kelly Taylor
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2010 12:57 AM
To: K1TTT; reflector cq-contest
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] A new "DX cluster" experience for contesters

It seems as though this conversation centres a lot around the question of
progress.

Is it the role of amateur radio to stand by and let the world advance around
it?

I would say no, and I'm sure that in the larger context, even our Irish
friend would agree, especially since I don't hear him using a spark gap.

The question, then, is at what point does technology become unsuitable for
contests of skill?

Sure, it would be a whole lot quicker and easier to run a marathon on a
Segway, but that's not the point of a marathon, is it? Similarly, golf would
be a whole lot easier if, say, Phil Mickelson could take out a range finder
and determine EXACTLY how far the hole is away. Chess games would be so much
more efficient if each grand master could consult a computer on each move.
(I think these examples are better than the sailboat/powerboat thing.)

So: Is a DX contest merely a test of how quickly you can pack points into a
log? Or is it a test of the whole bag of skills that go in to the art of
working DX? Or is it a test of your ability to integrate all available
technology into a winning score?

Where does that line get crossed? If I don't even have to decode a QSO
myself; if I don't have to turn that big knob myself and find the rare ones
others don't; if I don't have to develop my own understanding of propagation
and paths and openings from my QTH myself; if I don't even have to be in the
same room, then what of my skills am I demonstrating?

Or is it enough to say that there's an unlimited category and those who want
to push the envelope compete by themselves and those who want to stay
traditional can stay in the unassisted?

Kelly
ve4xt


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