[CQ-Contest] RDXC updated FAQ - Remote operation

[Paul O'Kane]

Sun Feb 27 08:34:57 PST 2011
kzerohb at gmail.com wrote

 > If a 'non-amateur' communications link is 'cheating' then
 > the length of that link is immaterial, isn't it?

 > Paul, in a direct email, makes an apparent exception to his
 > rule by conceding that "anything goes in the 500-metre
 > circle at each end of the QSO".  Translation:  "It's not
 > cheating if it is on your own property."

 > I'm interested in knowing the rationale for this logical
 > disconnect in his rule.


Hans has taken the liberty of publicly quoting and
commenting on what I said to him in a personal email.

Regardless, here is my rationale.

In any competitive sporting event there are starting
and ending entities for the event. These entities may
be times, locations, or both.

In general - and there are exceptions which I'm happy
to deal with in however much detail is required - what
happens outside these times or locations is of no
consequence.

For example, when climbing a mountain you don't have
to do it from sea level.  In practice, you do it from
a recognised starting point, such as the nearest road
or, for very high mountains, from base camp.  How you
get to the starting point is your own business.  In a
sailboat race, you can use any form of transport, or
propulsion, to get to the starting point - it's only
cheating when those are used during the race.

In contests there are starting and ending times, and
for each QSO there are starting and ending points. The
current dispute is over the location, and extent, of
these points.

Contesting QSOs take place between people, just as
ordinary conversations take place between people, and
telephone conversations take place between people.

With ordinary conversations, between people, the
instruments of communication are integrated, our
mouths and ears, and the medium is sound waves.

With telephone conversations, between people, the
instruments of communication are the handsets, and
the medium is the PSTN or the cell phone network.

With contesting QSOs, between people, the instruments
of communications are the stations and the medium is
amateur-band RF.

Stations occupy a finite space, recognised by contest
organisers, hence the 500-metre rule.  Apart from
certain contest-specific rules related to entry
categories, no control is sought or expected on the
extent or source of radios, computers, networks
(whether wired or wireless), antennas and accessories
associated with the station.  The starting point, for
the necessary amateur-band RF, is the station boundary.

Hans misquoted me as implying "It's not cheating if
it is on your own property".  I prefer "Any
communications modes or technologies are allowed
within the boundary of the station".

73,
Paul EI5DI