[CQ-Contest] Spots, Lies and Audio Tapes - a proposal

[Gary K9GS]

First, hats off to Scott for a well written and thorough reply.  I'm 
going to add recording capability to my to-do list.

On the subject of recording contests it seems like there are two routes 
to take:

1)  PC based solutions such as the qsorder plug-in for N1MM or Total 
Recorder.  I assume with both of these solutions you have to feed audio 
into the sound card line-in?  I did read KK9A's e-mail regarding 
problems with RFI, corrupted files, etc.

2)  Scott mentions a hardware solution using an outboard digital 
recorder.  This seems like a much more foolproof way to go.  A quick 
look on Amazon, however, reveals hundreds of models ranging from $25 to 
several hundreds of dollars.  It looks like not all have a way to 
connect line-level audio.  With a stand-alone digital recorder is a PC 
interface usually available so that the recorded file can be downloaded 
from the recorder and sent to the contest sponsor?  I would hate to have 
to Fed-Ex my recorder to Randy ;)

Are there any recommendations for specific models that others have used?

Which brings me to a final question.  My K3 provides a line-out.  I 
don't know if the line-out has transmit audio or not?  I assume you 
would want both sides of the QSO audio?  Maybe Scott's solution to 
record headphone audio is the best way to go as long as you have the 
transmit monitor turned on?

On 5/26/2015 1:40 PM, Scott K0DQ wrote:

<snip>
>
> On the other hand, the audio record provides a very strong tool for
> detecting several cheating violations, but especially assistance.  Listen to
> audio of assisted and unassisted and it's two different worlds:  like
> digital vs. analog, or carpet bombing vs. precision guided weapons.  All of
> the hypothetical band map scenarios and other claims of "lucky" tuning in a
> stochastic environment are answerable by "Show me the sound."  Where in your
> recording  is the aural record of station's callsign?  Where is the audio of
> the other xx signals which RBN and SDR clearly showed were interspersed with
> the mults you conveniently found?
>
> Recording is not hard or onerous.  For the past several years I've recorded
> all my contests for practice and preparation - but also as a record in case
> there were ever a question as to whether I was using assistance.  There are
> a range of easy options, ranging from contest software programs (e.g.
> Win-Test) to  a simple outboard audio recorder (I just bought one for under
> $50, put a Y connector in the headphone line, and recorded 54 hours of
> stereo audio with plenty of disc space and battery power remaining).  Again,
> this is not rocket science.  It was a WRTC requirement which all stations
> managed to figure out in a field day scenario.
>
>
>
> -- 
> 73,
>
> Gary K9GS
>
> Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org
> Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com
> CW Ops #1032   http://www.cwops.org
>
> ************************************************