[CQ-Contest] Why SuperCheckPartial makes you assisted

[Drew Vonada-Smith]

Stu,

It is nice to hear this view.  I hope people can restrain themselves to a civil discussion about it.  I have felt this way a long time and I resisted using SCP (and call history files) until last year.  When I decided to become more competitive last year, the now ubiquitous nature of SCP made me feel I had to start using it.  So, yes, I caved, and others would be right to point this out.

Some might notice that my DX contest result articles have stressed log accuracy less than some previous.  This was by design.  I believe that SCP, grooming the log (note: *legally*) during the contest and other such aids make it difficult to wave the flag about our skill in accurate operating.   It's a worthy goal to be sure, but I do not believe that we are accurately measuring it.  So, I cannot get excited about 10,000 QSO golden logs, because I see it as utter nonsense.  Not cheating, just a bogus metric.

To address a few points:

1) This really is in a different class of aid than antenna switching and loggers with duping.    Dupes are allowed, and logger scoring isn’t what is used by the sponsor.  Other items improve station efficiency.  SCP helps you get the callsign instead of hearing it.  Yes, virtually all of us use it as a crutch for that whether admitted or not.  Then again, frequent contest operating also gives you this same skill by remembering calls, doesn’t it?

2)  No one is arguing what is cheating or not, what is detectable or not.  This is about our assessment of integrity and the best way to maintain it.  In this world there is a difference between what can be done, what is legal to do, and what one should do.

All this being said, realistically, I think that this one is out of the bag and won’t go back in.  I won’t suggest that we try to do so.  But I am very understanding and appreciative of Stu's point of view, and I am glad that we question such things.

73,
Drew K3PA

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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2015 21:14:39 +0000
From: Stu Phillips <stu at k6tu.net>
To: "CQ-Contest at contesting.com" <CQ-Contest at contesting.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Why SuperCheckPartial makes you assisted
Message-ID: <D278C1DC.888B%stu at k6tu.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"


Posting emails likely to cause a proverbial s-storm is not my intent and certainly not my standard MO. but my role as the maintainer of SuperCheckPartial as well as a regular user of it in contests leave me personally in no doubt?

Using Super Check Partial makes you assisted category in a contest.

Before you reach for the reply key to rip me a new one, let me start with a couple of email snippets from a world class contester (who I respect greatly BTW) reinforcing why I need to release SuperCheckPartial before this coming weekend?s CQ WW contest.

"It seems to me releasing the next SCP file a few days BEFORE CQWW CW would make good sense and help many operators achieve a clearer log.?

And?

"I hope you will reconsider since log accuracy is such an important component in the success or failure for everyone in this event.?

Emphasis added by me to make the point although no reconsideration was required?  I do listen to feedback FWIW.

I?m sure like me you?ve had experience of using SCP to help pull a call sign out of a pile up/QRM/QSB because it gives you a clue for the possible things to listen for ? of course, this can be a double edged sword as it can convince you HEARD what you WANTED and so make a bad QLF.

How much more time do you spend verifying a call sign when it does NOT appear in SCP versus when it does?  I know that I am doubly vigilant for a call sign bust both on CW and Phone when the call is NOT shown in the SCP window in my logger.  This improves my accuracy and my rate as I?m less likely to double down on call sign verification.

In the end adherence to the letter and spirit of contest rules comes down to individuals and their own decisions.  When it comes to the spirit of the rules ? not what?s written but what one personally thinks is right, that?s a freedom of choice that I completely endorse and respect

For me going forward, I will submit my entries in the assisted category whenever I use Super Check Partial ? its clear that it helps with accuracy and likely rate.  Just like using cluster spots or pre-fill files (another set of thorn bushes I?m not going to touch).

Respectfully presented & 73

Stu K6TU

PS:  There will be a note going out shortly revising the SCP release schedule to accommodate the feedback I?ve received (and folks difficulty in planning ahead ;-).


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