[CQ-Contest] Why SuperCheckPartial makes you assisted

[kd4d at comcast.net]

Hi Ward:

It is NOT just what crosses the station boundary or local skimmers (multi-channel decoders) would be permitted.  That would remove the major distinction between the classes (IMHO).  I enjoy the unassisted categories and believe these should be retained and remain very similar to the way that they are defined now.  An essential part of that type of operation is finding QSOs and multipliers by having the operator searh the bands....

I think contests that do not now distinguish between unlimited/assisted categories (like WAE) will ultimately return to or create that distinction as the technology used in the unlimited/assisted categories continues to advance.  Maybe the names change to something like "Classic/Restricted" and "Unlimited".

The CQ 160 is permitting (some) remote receivers now (fortunately, only in the Unlimited/Assisted category :-) ) - a QSO now doesn't even require an RF signal to be exchanged between two stations.

There is no end in sight to the advances in technology/connectivity as both evolve and the changes that will occur in the unlimited categories.  The next "frontier" may be automation - of the second station in an SO2R operation (and additional stations in multi-operator categories) and, I expect sooner rather than later, totally automated operation in CW and digital contests.

73,

Mark, KD4D

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ward Silver" <hwardsil at gmail.com>
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2015 8:43:39 AM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Why SuperCheckPartial makes you assisted

Paul is correct. Read the rules of the category.  The word "assisted" 
leads to a multi-annual festival of confusion about whether assistance 
makes you Assisted.  It does not.

The problem is in the choice of name of the category and that is why the 
ARRL changed the name of the category from Assisted to Unlimited.  The 
determining factor is what information is allowed to cross the boundary 
of the station and in what form.  It has nothing to do with whether you 
use databases or other means of selecting call signs.

73, Ward N0AX

On 11/23/2015 11:18 PM, cq-contest-request at contesting.com wrote:
>> Using Super Check Partial makes you assisted category in a contest.
> No - all relevant technology assists.  In essence, what distinguishes
> "assisted" from "unassisted" is that you connect to external networks,
> typically the cluster or RBN, to improve your score - benefiting from
> real-time spotting information from other operators or from remote
> receivers.
>
> When you're not connected (and not using CW skimmer), you're unassisted.
>
> Rather than Assisted and Unassisted, the terms should be Connected and
> Unconnected.  Seems obvious to me:-)  
> Paul EI5DI


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