[CQ-Contest] Idea for re-defining categories - long

Sat Apr 9 11:22:36 EDT 2016

Hi Duane:

I strongly disagree with allowing local skimmers, robots, and other similar technological aids in single operator classes - whether locally or remotely located.

I propose an alternate guiding principle:

All information used to increase the participant's score during the contest period is decoded by the participant by ear using only the frequency bands and modes used for the contest.

I believe the digital modes are a completely different case.  Since I don't compete using those modes, I won't comment further on those modes.

This is consistent with the CQ WW rule placing operators using code readers in the Assisted class - and for some of the same reasons.

It is intentionally more restrictive than the current rules.

73,

Mark
KD4D

On April 9, 2016 10:56:40 AM EDT, Duane - N9DG via CQ-Contest <cq-contest at contesting.com> wrote:
>Perhaps it is time for contest sponsors to rethink contest categories
>in general based on a yet another recent lengthy thread about assisted
>vs non-assisted.. They continue to insist upon trying to lump wholly
>within the station skimmers and other computing process heavy types of
>technologies as being the same thing as DX spotting networks and other
>EXTERNAL to the station derived band condition and Q making information
>technologies. They are not even close to being the same thing.
>
>I don't buy the argument that the "end result is essentially the same,
>so they are the same", nope not at all. That argument goes on to say
>that it is because the technology does the signal "decoding for the
>operator", well truth is, so so does everything else about the radios
>we use. Until someone can stick PL-259 in their ear and decode the
>signals coming down the feedline without a radio, then everything
>EVERYTHING else about our radios can considered "assistance" by that
>same logic too. Where to draw that line really is arbitrary.
>
>There is a really simple "test" to figure out if a station is assisted
>or not. And that is - would the station be able to continue operate
>identically for finding and working Q's if the big switch is pulled to
>turn off the entire Internet (and DX clusters of all descriptions)
>completely? ASSISTED stations would not be able to continue operating
>in the same way if the Internet went away. A non assisted station would
>continue to operate exactly the same way, and not lose any Q making
>capability at all. It really is that simple for how to decide what is
>assisted vs. what is not.
>
>The one and only thing that I think can be held constant, or even
>should be tried to be held constant over time regarding station
>technology, is that all information used to find and make Q's in the
>contest must come down the feedlines of the antennas used in the
>competition, AND that it ALL fit inside the station's defined location
>/ circle. Trying to draw arbitrary lines between one type of technology
>vs. another as long as it is wholly contained inside the station is
>just plain futile. If skimmers are too disruptive, then why aren't
>narrow roofing filters, the narrow roofing filters certainly do provide
>a big edge. And why not also exclude scopes like found on Icoms for the
>last 20+ years, they too provide plenty info about Q's to be made. Or
>what about computer logging, CW/voice keyers, super check partial
>logging lists etc.?? Then there's the silliness about running skimmer
>in waterfall only mode being OK, well I can tell you right now with
>just a little practice it is v
>isually very easy to see what signal is a CQ and which is not, just by
>looking at the visual traits of the traces left on the waterfall
>screen. And you can even copy slow speed CW by reading the dots and
>dashes if you want to.
>
>You would think that a technology like "wholly WITHIN the station
>location" skimmers, or similar technologies would be applauded for at
>least partially obsoleting the completely non amateur RADIO paths of Q
>making information that the Internet based DX spotting and clusters all
>are, but nope.
>
>So with the above in mind here's my rough idea for how categories (and
>overlays) should be defined (multi-op categories would follow a similar
>pattern):
>
>Single Op CLASSIC (category for those who like to think they are just
>"a boy and his radio" - essentially freezes station technology circa
>1985):
>1 RX.
>1 TX.
>Only scopes that display spectrum information such as panadpaters and
>waterfalls, but ones that do not decode signals in any fashion.
>No signal content decoders of any kind, all QSO content information
>must be achieved by aural means.
>No DX spotting networks, packet clusters, DX repeaters, i.e outside
>assistance.
>No station Internet, phone, etc. connectivity of any kind.
>No propagation prediction, or other current propagation condition
>reporting tools etc. of any kind be used during the contest period.
>Allow logging software and/or stand alone CW memory keyers / voice
>keyers.
>No remotely controlled stations.
>Allow / encourage computer logging and electronic log submission
>(because no contest sponsor in their right mind would want to
>discourage computer logs!).
>Allow antenna switching and pointing control via logging software.
>No other automation.
>
>OVERLAY Category - NO SCOPES: No spectrum or waterfall type scopes of
>any kind, or any technology that provides any spectrum visualization.
>
>
>
>Single Op UNASSISTED (draws the line between assistance and non
>assistance where it should be, i.e. external to the station Q making
>information vs. entirely from within the station itself sourced Q
>making information, the actual technology makeup used within the
>station itself is irrelevant):
>No RX restrictions.
>1 TX.
>No DX spotting networks, packet clusters, DX repeaters, etc. i.e
>outside of the station sources of Q making information..
>No station Internet connectivity of any kind.
>No propagation prediction, or other current propagation condition
>reporting tools etc. of any kind be used during the contest period.
>Allow the use of ANY other technology, including visual displays of any
>type, and including skimmers, or other decoding technologies, etc. AND
>which MUST BE ENTIRELY contained within the station's defined location
>/ circle, AND also that use ONLY the antennas and feedlines for the
>bands used within the competition to extract information from.
>Allow antenna switching and pointing control via logging software, or
>by any other, but entirely local to the station's location
>technological means.
>REQUIRED that the human operator makes the DECISION, and then take the
>PHYSICAL ACTION to TX and work each and every QSO that the station
>logs.
>No remote station operation allowed.
>No restrictions on CW keyers / voice keyers.
>REQUIRE computer logging and electronic log submission.
>
>OVERLAY Category - AUTOMATED: If any QSO is made using the station's
>technology without the operator having to first decide, and then
>initiate the individual contact by physical means, then it is
>considered an AUTOMATED QSO, and therefore the station MUST then enter
>with an AUTOMATED category overlay.
>
>
>
>Single Op ASSISTED (pretty much anything goes except fully automated
>Qs):
>No RX restrictions.
>1 TX.
>Allow DX clusters, phone calls, local repeaters, or anything else that
>can provide Q alerting assistance by using any means that may be both
>internal and external to the station's location.
>No restrictions on Internet connectivity.
>Allow the use of propagation prediction, or any other propagation
>condition reporting tools during the contest period.
>No restrictions on CW keyers / voice keyers.
>Allow antenna switching and pointing control via logging software, or
>any other technology means.
>No automated QSOs, the operator is required to make the DECISION, and
>then take PHYSICAL ACTION to TX and work each and every QSO that the
>station logs.
>REQUIRE computer logging and electronic log submission.
>
>OVERLAY category - REMOTE: Remote station operation is allowed provided
>that the remote link is just a "long mic, speaker, control, and display
>lead". So therefore ALL RX/TX on the bands used within the competition
>MUST take place ENTIRELY from the remotely controlled station's
>location (circle).
>
>
>These categories are designed to allow those who want minimal station
>technology to have a category. Those who don't want arbitrary
>restrictions placed on the technology used entirely within the station,
>and who want nothing to do with getting Q making info by parallel paths
>of communications fed into the station. And finally, these categories
>also accommodate those who want to run fully remote or fully automated
>configurations.
>
>Duane
>N9DG
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