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

[Jim Neiger]

I was seriously contemplating not dipping my paddle into this pond of abject 
silliness, but these words from K1TTT: "knowing when and how to use current 
technology always makes you a BETTER operator............." finally shoved 
me out of the boat.

Self-serving statements like the above abound.  That's the great thing about 
being a democracy and freedom of speech.  Some possess unlimited ability to 
trivialize  amateur radio operator skills  in general, and contesting, 
specifically.  Because you can hook up a computer, does that somehow 
demonstrate some skill in communicating? or ability to copy CW? or a learned 
understanding of propagation? or which mult you can move where/when?  For 
me, no.  For K1TTT and his Skilled Technology Operators, undoubtedly,  yes.

 After several hundred thousands of QSO's as ZD8Z since 1968,  during my two 
most recent trips to Ascension  in December and in March,  I didn't even 
bother to get on the air.  Like G3SXW opined, for me now to get on and soon 
be spotted by the legion of packeteers, all calling on the same frequency, 
many having no clue as to my callsign,  IS NOT FUN.  I sincerely hope that 
none of K1TTT's Skilled Technology Operators needed Ascension for a new 
country.  I left Ascension the Friday of the  CQ WPX SSB, whereas in the 
past, I would've enthusiastically stayed on the island to participate.  Same 
thing for the upcoming WPX CW.  I will be on Ascension about then, but no 
desire to even hook up the station.   After decades of CQ WW SSB from DX 
somewhere, I haven't been out the past two Octobers.  I have no plans or 
interests to go anywhere this October, either.  Only 50/50 I'll do CQ WW CW 
this November.

 Unfortunately, K1TTT's  school of Skilled Technology Operators has also 
brought-out the bottom feeders, some of whom have mastered the skill of 
using these technologies  to cheat.  Many don't believe this happens.  Most 
couldn't care less.

I know, and I care, and it ain't FUN.

At the end of the day, everyone has the right to decide what works for them, 
or not.  My  friend 4L5A/D4B decided five years ago it was no longer fun for 
him.  I'm finally understanding why Alik  quit.  I think I'm there.

As far as I'm concerned, you all can debate RBN, robots, remote, skimmers, 
packet, super- technology,  until the cow's come home............. to 
justify the whatever works for you.  Absolutely your prerogative.

But, if it doesn't look like a duck, quack like a duck, or walk like a duck, 
it probably ain't a duck.  And the above ain't radio contesting.


Jim Neiger   N6TJ



--------------------------------------------------
From: "K1TTT" <K1TTT at ARRL.NET>
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2010 9:17 AM
To: <CQ-Contest at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] A new "DX cluster" experience for contesters

>> >It's the advancement of technology.  Use it or
>> >don't -- but don't say I'm any less of an operator because I do.
>> >
>> >--
>> >Mike DeChristopher, N0HI
>>
>>
>> Well... roaming the bands "manually" to look for stations/multipliers 
>> sure
>> makes you a better operator than when you just click the mouse on spots
>> that computers have found and presented to you..
>>
>> In my eyes, yes you are less of an operator when using the RBN/cluster
>> technology.
>>
>
> knowing when and how to use current technology always makes you a BETTER
> operator in my eyes!
>
> Believe me, properly using dx spots from any source in a contest is a lot
> harder than clicking away with the mouse!  Otherwise every assisted op 
> would
> easily beat all the unassisted ones, and we know that doesn't happen.
>
> David Robbins K1TTT
> e-mail: mailto:k1ttt at arrl.net
> web: http://www.k1ttt.net
> AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
>
>
>
>
>
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