[CQ-Contest] When do we spot? Should it be required?

[Mike Smith VE9AA]

I have been watching this thread with great interest.

 

As a small to barely medium pop gun I struggle to get spotted on SSB.

A couple others in my area have huge superstations and are perhaps the only
thing being heard as the band opens and closes to vrious areas, so get
spotted easily on SSB.

 

Even so, there are times they are on the bands working EU's by the
bucketload (some of whom I COULD be working, but the cluster/telnet/someone
only has their call on the bandmap and folks are getting used to not
spinning the knob)

This past weekend has proven (read the 3830 reports and be in the contest
for all the evidence you need) that a lot of folks are simply clicking on
spots, yet

do not know how to (or choose not to) spin the big knob anymore.  The
smaller SSB ops are at a distinct disadvantage.  Unless you are uber rare or
uber loud, your chances of getting spotted go way down.

 

*IF* smaller stns such as myself were to be spotted, we'd have a much fairer
crack at running as well.same as I do on CW.

 

Of course the solution is to build a bigger station, but right now it is
weighted heaviest towards the big or rare guys.

 

I do not notice nearly the disparity on CW.  I am 3dB in Wales and someone
else nearby might be 35dB, but we both get CW spots.  If the DX can't hear
my 3dB signal, it's

on me to improve that or "suck it up Princess" as they say.  On SSB it's not
nearly as fair. (Yeah, sux to have a weaker signal, I know, I know)

 

I also know not everyone has (cheap) Internet or can tie up the phone line
(modems, remember them?) and or even Internet access at all !  I don't think
that's going to work.

 

So, what's the solution?  Who was it that said the 70wpm squawk on CW?
What's the max speed that could be done at I wonder?  Even @ 70wpm, that
seems like it's going to eat a lot of time up over a contest

as the spotting should be continuous (every CQ), the same way it is on CW.
(Subaudible tones CW?)

 

That would be ideal..something that can be generated by the operator over
the air until the RBN's speech recognition catches up. (which might be
decades) 

 

Mike VE9AA

 

Mike, Coreen & Corey

Keswick Ridge, NB