[CQ-Contest] Where to Draw the Line was: Re: Does Using ViewProp Make You Assisted

[Paul O'Kane]

On 27/11/2013 20:21, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote:

 > After 5 years of advocating that any use of CW Skimmer should
 > constitute "assistance", I have changed my mind about where the
 > line should be drawn between Assisted/Unlimited and Unassisted,
 > when it comes to technology.

 > There are at least two reasons for this:

<snip>

 > 2. Developments over the last 5 years have made CW Skimmer much
 > less a game-changer than other developments, such as the worldwide
 > availability of the Reverse Beacon Network.

N4ZR may have changed his mind, but CW Skimmer is
still a multi-channel CW decoder - and he clearly
expects all CW operators to use it to stay
competitive.

<snip>


 > Why is this important?  Because no single Skimmer can match
 > the RBN for its contribution to a station's score.

That may be true, but CW Skimmer is still a multi-channel
CW decoder.  That's the important bit.


 > 3. The cost of local CW Skimmer capability is minimal.

The cost is irrelevant, the principle is not.
Inexpensive multi-channel CW decoders are still
multi-channel CW decoders. Just because calculators
are cheap, it doesn't mean they're appropriate in
mental-arithmetic contests.

<snip>


 > For these reasons, I agree with Rick that the time has come
 > for a definition based on the station's boundary.  However,
 > I think the general rule should be "No information from beyond
 > the station boundary, regardless ofmode of reception."
 > Specific exceptions could be added, such as one for "generalized
 > propagation information, such as WWV solar indices".

Agreed, so long as there is a specific exception for
multi-channel CW decoders, and for any other technology
contest sponsors may prohibit in individual events - for
example, SCP in WRTC 2014.


 > Is it time?

No, it's not time, and I respectfully suggest that
it will never be appropriate for single-ops to use
multi-channel CW decoders in CW contests.

And now a gripe - I expect I'm not the only cq-contest
subscriber getting weary of N4ZR plugging the RBN, 16
times already this month, by adding the following to
his every post -

    Check out the Reverse Beacon Network at
http://reversebeacon.net, <http://reversebeacon.net,/>
    blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com.
    For spots, please go to your favorite
    ARC V6 or VE7CC DX cluster node


73,
Paul EI5DI