[CQ-Contest] Non-assisted & Assisted

[kd4d at comcast.net]

HI Randy:

I didn't see this until now - I was tuning around on 160 meters this weekend.  :-)  I strongly disagree with the idea of combining the current single operator and single operator assisted categories.  I am very familiar with assistance and skimmers/RBN and use them in WAE (where I have no choice if I want to win) and operating M/M in CQWW (where I have no choice if I want to win).

Combining the categories will REQUIRE that anyone who wants to be competitive as a single operator to use these tools.  The best operators, using these tools, will have higher scores than they do without them.
  
For CW, this technology is a game changer and it is in its infancy.  The CW Skimmer/RBN will continue to improve rapidly.  It is becoming UNNECESSARY to tune a radio to know who is on the band and calling CQ.  Soon, we'll know who is doing S&P too.  The integration with logging programs hasn't really started either.  A M/M can't compete in the CQWW CW today, for example, without using the RBN.  My experience is that most of the S&P CW QSOs made by a serious M/M in the CQ WW are now found using the RBN and associated filtering tools instead of by tuning.

Just add Assisted categories for these contests.  With the improvements in computer log checking, supporting multiple entry categories is becoming easier, not harder. The data can be easily sliced and diced.  I don't understand why people feel strongly that the categories should be combined - the arguments I've read involving "cheating" apply equally well to power levels, for instance (just change "assistance" to power).

I enjoy both tuning around and hunting multipliers AND trying to win and would like to be able to continue to do both.  PLEASE maintain separate categories for "unassisted" and "assisted" - and add them to contests that don't have them (like WAE).

73,

Mark, KD4D

----- Original Message -----
From: "Randy Thompson K5ZD" <k5zd at charter.net>
To: "Pete Smith N4ZR" <n4zr at contesting.com>, cq-contest at contesting.com
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 8:11:45 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Non-assisted & Assisted

For these contests where there is no assisted category, instead of making
yet another category, why not just allow single ops to use assistance?!

Anyone licensed in the last 15 years has never experienced life without the
DX Cluster.  Perhaps it is time to accept this as it is - the new normal.

Randy, K5ZD


> -----Original Message-----
> From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> Pete Smith N4ZR
> Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 2:32 PM
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Non-assisted & Assisted
> 
> What Rich says is correct.  I would just add that the ARRL 10 and 160
> contests are severely anachronistic in this respect.  Nobody is
> suggesting that assistance be allowed for "pure" single-ops, but surely
> there should be a SOA category in these contests. That there is not dates
> back to the earliest days of DX clusters.  To my knowledge, nobody has
> advanced a reason for keeping the status quo.
> 
> I have been in correspondence with the CAC and various directors about
> this, and one told me that action might be taken in the January ARRL
> Board meeting, which has just taken place.  Why it requires a decision at
> that level is beyond me, but that's what we have.  Now waiting for
> detailed minutes to learn what, if anything, was done.
> 
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> Check out the Reverse Beacon Network at
> http://reversebeacon.net,
> blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com.
> For spots, please go to your favorite
> ARC V6 or VE7CC DX cluster node.
> 
> On 1/25/2013 8:51 AM, Richard DiDonna NN3W wrote:
> > Usually if it says nothing, the assumption is that you must classify
> yourself as multi-single as the single operator rules have language about
> the -operator- doing all of the activity.
> >
> > ARRL 160 and ARRL 10 do not have separate assisted categories -
> necessitating that assisted ops enter as multi single entries.
> >
> > 73 Rich NN3W
> >
> > Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone
> >
> > ----- Reply message -----
> > From: Ktfrog007 at aol.com
> > Date: Fri, Jan 25, 2013 7:30 am
> > Subject: [CQ-Contest] Non-assisted & Assisted
> > To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> >
> > If a contest's rules say nothing about Assisted operation, does that
> > mean it's allowed without restriction?
> >
> > Note that Single-Op has no uniform definition.  For example, in the
> > ARRL RTTY Roundup, Single-Ops cannot be Assisted, while in the CQ WPX
> > RTTY everyone can operate Assisted.
> >
> > 73,
> > Kermit (Ken) AB1J
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