[CQ-Contest] Does Using ViewProp Make You Assisted

[Jack Haverty.]

I agree with Rick - the definitions of "assisted" or "unassisted" should be
in terms of communications methods used across your station's boundary
circle.

"Assisted" used to mean being helped by another living human.   With
computers, that doesn't happen nearly as much anymore.  Trying to draw
clear lines around various pieces of ill-defined and evolving technology is
probably impossible.

However, it is fairly easy to draw a line around a station, and determine
what kinds of communications signals are crossing it.  So, "unassisted"
could mean "nothing but amateur radio crosses that line".   Use of any
other communications means, for any purpose, to interact with anything
across that line makes you "assisted".  Internet or carrier pigeon or
signal flags - it's all assistance, using some communications mechanism
other than amateur radio to assist our amateur radio communications.

If you want to include "remote operation", simply define the way you draw
the line around a station to permit that -- the boundary includes the radio
location as well as the operator location, and a very narrow pipe
connecting the two, and only the two, by whatever means you like.

Note that this would permit Unassisted stations to use technology such as
spotting networks - but only if they were implemented using only amateur
radio.

Similarly, perhaps teams of geographically separated operators could
interact as a multi-multi entry, using only amateur radio communications to
coordinate their activities.

Just some thoughts for the annual debate...

73,
/Jack de K3FIV





On Sat, Nov 23, 2013 at 9:48 PM, Rick Kiessig <kiessig at gmail.com> wrote:

> While I agree that using ViewProp in its current form would make someone
> assisted, I also think it would help everyone if the contest rules were
> less
> ambiguous.
>
> Exactly what is meant by "providing call signs" and "multiplier
> identification" and "along with frequency information"? Concrete examples
> of
> what's allowed and what's not would be very helpful.
>
> Especially with increasing use of new and innovative forms of cheating (not
> always purposeful), I would like to suggest a new approach for next season.
> Rather than focusing on specific technologies, such as Skimmer or ViewProp,
> which will always be a moving target, why not draw the line between
> assisted
> and unassisted in a very clear, unambiguous place:
>
> Unassisted means no connections to the outside world, and no radio or
> contest related help from someone there in person. No Internet, phone, HT,
> satellite, or anything similar. Any such devices must be unplugged, turned
> off, or definitively not accessible to participants for the entire duration
> of the contest.
>
> Assisted allows Internet access.
>
> This would allow unassisted contesters to use any technology they wish,
> provided it runs entirely at their location. That might be a local Skimmer
> or other decoding software, or something new like ViewProp, provided it
> didn't connect to the Internet.
>
> This would also put the focus back on what you can build and integrate at
> your site. Tinkering is a big part of the hobby for many of us, and that
> should include software.
>
> If adopted exactly as above, this would also put remote operations
> automatically into the assisted category.
>
> I realize there is still a strong sentiment for "a boy and his radio" type
> contesting on the unassisted side. Unfortunately, with technology the way
> it
> is now, that line is hard to draw, and pretty much impossible to enforce.
>
> BTW, one reason this is an issue for me (other than as the author of
> ViewProp), is that the number of people who compete as assisted in this
> part
> of the world is relatively small compared to unassisted -- and competing
> against very small group turns a contest into something else entirely.
>
> 73, Rick ZL2HAM / ZM1G
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> Chris Hurlbut
> Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 3:29 PM
> To: Ken Widelitz
> Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Does Using ViewProp Make You Assisted
>
> Of course it makes you assisted.
> It provides "multiplier identification" as far as I'm concerned.  What a
> great way to keep an eye on 10m during marginal conditions!  When are the
> single ops in the Caribbean firing up on 160?  Easy, just look at the map!
>
>
> No frequency information required.  You know it's open, you will find them.
> 1000 examples would be easy to come up with, but a debate is not required
> in
> this case.
> -Chris KL9A
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 18, 2013 at 9:01 PM, Ken Widelitz <widelitz at gte.net> wrote:
>
> >
> >    I've just downloaded and started to plan with ViewProp. What a neat
> > tool!
> >    If I don't display the path grid which shows call signs, does
> > displaying the
> >    DX Atlas map that ViewProp creates make me assisted?
> >    Per CQWW rule VIII 2. QSO alerting assistance: The use of any
> > technology or
> >    other source that provides call sign or multiplier identification
> > along with
> >    frequency information to the operator.
> >    I think viewing the DX Atlas map is NOT assistance per rule VIII,
> > since it
> >    doesn't show call signs and frequencies. The ViewProp grid does not
> > tie into
> >    my band maps, so I can't see the calls and frequencies there either.
> >    73, Ken, K6LA / VY2TT
>
>
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