[CQ-Contest] Cheating

[Georgek5kg at aol.com]

Hello Tree,
 
Your observation about the multi-single station that was running two  
transmitters simultaneously on the same band in clear violation of the rules is  
very interesting and very disturbing.  It is hard to imaging someone  
stooping so low as to do this.  I too hope that that station, and any  others who 
were knowingly violating the rules, will submit check logs.
 
I really wanted to do a multi-single in the IARU, but was not interested  
in Single-Radio-Chair-Swapping with another op.  So, I just  single-op'd it 
which, by the way, I totally enjoyed.
 
My message: Follow the rules, guys.
 
73, Geo...
 
 
 
George  Wagner, K5KG
Sarasota, FL 
941-400-1960 cell  

 
In a message dated 7/18/2012 6:04:00 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
tree at kkn.net writes:

Hello  fellow contesters.

Let me preface this message by first saying that I  believe 99.9 percent of
contesters play by the rules.  This message  talks about the 0.01 percent
who don't.  Also - let me say that this  message is a personal message from
me - and does not in anyway represent an  offical communication from any of
the organizations I do log checking for  (ARRL and CQ and the Boring ARC).

During the recent IARU Radiosport  contest - I was operating from 9V1YC in a
multi-single.  This is the  first time I have operated this contest in this
category - and to be frank  - I didn't really know the rules.  Having read
them - I find that  transmitting with two signals at the same time is not
allowed.  Here  is what the rule says:

4.2. Multi Operator, Single Transmitter,  Mixed Mode only
4.2.1.  Must remain on a band and mode for at least 10 minutes
before changing  bands or modes.
4.2.2.  Only one transmitted signal is allowed at any given
time.

I think  this is pretty clear.  This really seems to limit the operation  to
that of a single radio - with people taking turns using  it.

However, I am sure some stations will push the envelope here and  have a
second station which is operating on the same band/mode as the  "run"
radio.  In order to prevent only one transmitted signal at a  time -
interlocks would have to be used.  This would be fine and would  be a
competitive advantage wihtout breaking the rules.  They would  only have one
signal transmitted at any given time.

Well - during  the IARU contest - our station observed one very well known
multi-single  station who was not using an interlock and had two independant
stations  running people on each end of the band.  We listened in stereo  
and
there was no interlock present.  Two signals were present very  often at the
same time.

In truth - it appears that the top  multi-single stations in the IARU pretty
much routinely ignore the one  signal requirement.  They seem to think
that "if you can get away with  it - then it is okay".

I feel this attitude really stinks.  It is  just like running high power and
claiming lower power in a contest.   It is CHEATING and it is not the way
the 99.9 percent of us want the game  to be played.

I really hope the people who are responsible for these  operations will
offer to submit their log as a check log and not pollute  their scores with
those played by the wrong rules.  Their reputations  will be forever
tarnished if they continue to associate themselves with  operations that
break the rules.

Also - I invite the 99.9 percent of  use who play by the rules to keep an
ear out for this type of blantant  cheating - and let the contest sponsors
know when they observe it.  A  stereo tape recording would be a simple way
to document the behavior.   Hopefully, we can stamp this out and get it out
of the  results.

Thanks for letting me vent.

73 Tree  N6TR
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