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

[David Gilbert]

You missed my point.  I responded to your emphatic agreement with 
SM2CEW, who stated "In my eyes, yes you are less of an operator when 
using the RBN/cluster technology."  It may be easier to find a contact 
from cluster spots than from tuning around, but just because somebody 
elects to use the cluster does not necessarily make them a "lesser 
operator".  It just means that they are potentially capable of running 
up a higher score than someone who doesn't.  That's why the contest 
sponsors have (for the most part) either created separate categories for 
spotting assistance or prohibited their use.  I almost always operate 
unassisted but I guarantee there are lots of far more proficient 
operators than I am who (for whatever reason) choose to operate in an 
assisted category.

A contester who purchased (quite possibly via the internet) and paid 
someone else to install a 4-stack of monobanders on a 150 foot tower 
also is likely to achieve a much higher score than somebody with a 
homebrew 2-element yagi at 40 feet.  How is that any less an instance of 
using steroids to supplant amateur radio skill?  At least cluster 
assistance puts the person into a separate category.

Dave   AB7E

p.s.  I'm now as tired of arguing this stuff as everyone else must be.



On 4/18/2010 2:25 PM, Idle-Tyme wrote:
> On 4/18/2010 1:52 PM, David Gilbert wrote:
>    
>> So ... when will you be taking down your yagis and putting up a
>> ground-mounted multi-band vertical?  Or trading in your current rig for
>> a TS-520?  Or going back to paper logging?  Or going back to a straight
>> key?
>>
>>      
> No see that is still all in the chain between me, logging, my radio,
> antennas, and RF.
>    
>> You tell me where you draw the line that defines someone as being "less
>> of an operator" (other than simply being different than you do it).  In
>> my opinion, that kind of value judgment has no place in our hobby.  It's
>> just a different category of operation.
>>
>> Dave   AB7E   (who by the way strongly prefers to operate unassisted)
>>
>>      
> And thats good too.  And In my opinion you probably have some better
> skills,  than those that do not.
>
> I mean really?  I'm in a contest  twisting the big knob looking for new
> stations.. or new mltipliers.  you have cruised the band twice now and
> only made 4 contacts because you havent heard anything new mult or qso
> possibilities.  so you go back to cqing and thats it.  If you missed
> them because you just happen to tune past them when they were not
> talking oh well.
>
> Then go the other way,  your cqing and cqing,  thee run is going good.
> and after ten minutes you see it's slowing down and you look at this,
> http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/img/wiki_up/Avail1a.png
> and this,
> http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/img/wiki_up/BandmapWindow2.gif
> And start clicking on calls and work all these new stations and
> multipliers,  then you notice that while youre on 20 right now, You look
> at this
> http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/img/wiki_up/Avail1a.png
> and see it would be a good time to try 40.
>
>
> Without the wired internet you would not have known al;l this  unless
> you went and hunted for it.  what skill does it take to see a red call
> and say wow I need that one and click.  you don't even have to twist the
> big knob.
>
> this takes lots of skill laving a list to click on.
>
> It's just like the google of the ham bands it shows you whats available
> by simply clicking on it.  Boy thats hard.
>    
>>
>>
>>
>> On 4/18/2010 9:15 AM, Idle-Tyme wrote:
>>
>>      
>>> I 100% Agree!
>>>
>>> How about this another analogy:  To a Pure contester where no clusters,
>>> or skimmers, or spotting networks,  tune the big knob to find stations =
>>> body builder
>>>
>>> A contester that uses all this extra technology that is not radio and
>>> skill based = body builder on Steroids.  Yes he's bigger (has better
>>> score) but it was accomplished by artificial means.
>>>
>>> Joe WB9SBD
>>> Driftless Zone Contesters     W9ET
>>>
>>> The Original Rolling Ball Clock
>>> Idle Tyme
>>> Idle-Tyme.com
>>> http://www.idle-tyme.com
>>>
>>> On 4/18/2010 8:57 AM, Peter Sundberg wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>        
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Peter, SM2CEW
>>>> www.sm2cew.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>          
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>>>
>>>        
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>>
>>      
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