[CQ-Contest] N6TJ AXIOMS OF LIFE

[Tõnno Vähk]

We might debate for ever what is exactly anyone wants from amateur radio and which trends are making it more attractive and popular and which are dumbing down.

But this is Contest reflector and what concerns contesting it is clear that spotting is here to stay and that is a huge contribution to make the contests fun for all of us.

Suggestions of banning spotting networks for WRTC time are very bad idea because spots were the main reason we actually got to run such pileups and actually have fun. Taking this away would be the dumbest thing to do.

Availability of packet clusters contributes hugely to the participation in big worldwide contests and thank god it is so efficient.

Whining about how spots ruin your rate or how you get dupes calling is silly. Good ops do what they need to do. Lucky if you are in such a location where you actually get to have pile ups. Nowadays there are not many such places left. I worked 8,000 QSOs from 4O3A last year and its all one big CQ marathon. I wish I was having more callers and be spotted more often, why not. Can only dream about 60 minutes of pile up to make a decent rate. It never happened.

Ca 1/3 or entrants in CQWW claim assisted plus hundreds of casual ops use cluster but enter un-assisted out of ignorance or they just don't care. 

What is the problem? Everyone decides if he wants to use cluster or not. It is a huge fun for many to chase stations from cluster and the only way they will participate. Last thing we should do to take it away and halve the participation in the contests. The same way we should not prohibit commercial radios and go back to homebrew. 

If you wish to polish your skills then do your own S&P and be proud of it. Let the ones who enjoy something else in life do what they want to do.

Just pick your category and be sure you claim assisted if you use cluster! It is that easy! For others, just hope you get spotted and get somebody will call you once in a while:)

73
Tonno
ES5TV



-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Peter Sundberg
Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2010 9:21 PM
To: CQ-Contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] N6TJ AXIOMS OF LIFE

At 17:19 2010-07-18 , Richard F DiDonna NN3W wrote:
>I think the issue of spotting negatively affects only a small proportion of 
>operators - namely those who are single ops operating from locations where 
>they are the the only or perhaps one of two operators on from that DXCC 
>entity for the entire weekend.
>
>73 Rich NN3W


I strongly disagree. Spotting affects contest operating in general and it
is adding to the dumbing down of amateur radio. Building up an "impressive"
score that is dependant on DX-cluster spots has nothing to do with skills.
It is mainly a waiting game and others are doing the job. Using the reverse
beacon system is the same deal.

73 Peter SM2CEW









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