[CQ-Contest] Single Op/Get Scores Assisted

[Robert Chudek - K0RC]

Okay, visualize it this way...

You have two master chess champions vying for this year's title. The 
chess board is replaced by the amateur radio bands. Now the masters 
apply their skills of contesting instead of playing chess. Fair enough.

Now introduce "Prospector" as an aide available to both contesters.

How does this change the game? Is it still fair?

73 de Bob - KØRC in MN

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On 2/25/2013 2:20 PM, Jack Haverty. wrote:
> Imagine a server on the Internet.  Let's call it Prospector.  You send
> your logs to it, in real time.  It collects logs from a lot of people.
>   It also collects information from Skimmers et al.  Maybe WWV,
> WSPRNET, etc too.   It knows a lot about what's going on, who's on
> what frequencies, who's talking to whom right now, what bands are open
> to where, etc.
>
> When you connect to Prospector, you give it your profile.  So it knows
> what your equipment can do, what contest you're working, and it knows
> the rules of that contest.  It can compute your score from your log
> transmissions, and display your running score for spectator amusement.
>
> In return, Prospector sends you a constant stream of information.  No
> callsigns or exchange information is included.  It merely sends
> frequencies, and a projection of how many points you might make if you
> QSYed there.  So a target frequency, or even just a band segment, with
> lots of juicy multipliers would get a high potential-point rating.
> That rating would be based on your current personal situation, i.e.,
> knowing from your log what mults and stations you've already worked,
> etc.  It could also tell you whether to make a quick single-Q Pounce,
> or to go set up shop and start a Run.  It might even suggest a
> frequency that is clear.
>
> Someone using Prospector would, to me, seem to be "unassisted" by the
> WRTC rules 12.4 and 12.5.  You would still need to go and copy the
> callsigns and exchanges by ear.  All the service does is suggest
> frequencies to be investigated.
>
> However, I suspect Prospector would prove very helpful in getting a
> bigger score.  You don't really care what callsigns you work.  It's
> only the point value that's important.
>
> How's that for a hole?
>
> IMHO, the Internet is a communications mechanism which can provide a
> rich source of information.  If you use the Internet to glean any kind
> of information that might affect your score, you're being assisted.
> If you use *only* ham radio to collect any kind of information, you're
> unassisted.  If you use any form of communications other than ham
> radio, it's potentially assisting you.
>
> 73,
> /Jack de K3FIV
> [PS - it wouldn't surprise me at all if someone says that Prospector
> already exists...]
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 9:57 AM, brian coyne <g4odv at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>> Ah - ha _ I see yet another multi thread post coming on re what is, and what is not, assistance.
>>
>> Why cannot all Contest Committees adopt the WRTC Standard ruling which makes it pretty clear, to me anyway, what unassisted really means...
>>
>>
>> 12.4. Use of DX spotting (e.g., Packet, Web, etc.), skimmer or any
>> other spotting and supplementary information network is not allowed. You are not allowed to receive any assistance to learn the callsign or
>> exchange of any station other than by tuning the radio and listening by
>> human ear.
>> 12.5. The use of any callsign database or the ‘Super Check Partial’
>> tool is not allowed. If the logging software incorporates this kind of
>> feature, it must be disabled. The logging computer(s) may display a
>> ‘Check Partial’ list based only upon the callsigns already worked during the contest.
>>
>> Can anyone really pick holes in that? That is the way I like to play it, no assistance, audio or visual.
>>
>> 73  Brian 5B4AIZ / C4Z.
>>
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