[CQ-Contest] Fundamental Questions behind the endless Single Operator/Single Operator Unlimited (aka Assisted) discussions

[kd4d at comcast.net]

Good day, everyone:

For CW and SSB contests, I believe there are two fundamental questions behind the ceaseless debates about rules and merging of the categories.  I believe if we could answer these questions, the categories and rules would follow.  

     Note:  I believe that digital mode contests are fundamentally different.  Since I don't operate in these,
            I am not going to address them.

Fundamental Questions:

1) Is a contest QSO between two physical places?
2) Is there an essential role for a human operator in Radiosport?

The issues in the first of these questions are, IMHO, very clearly described in Duane's (N9DG's) fine post proposing Connected and Unconnected categories.
     http://lists.contesting.com/_cq-contest/2016-04/msg00163.html

A logical consequence of anwering "No" to the first question is the CQ 160 Contest rule allowing limited use of a remote receiver (one and only one remote receiver located within 100KM of the main transmitter site) in the Assisted Category.

I am not aware of any clear answer to the second question.  I don't believe that there is a consensus on whether the answer is "Yes" or "No".

I believe the WRTC Rules are an excellent summary of the results of ansering "Yes" and defining such a role.  I also believe the CQ WW rule placing entrants using "local or remote call sign and frequency decoding technology" in the Assisted category is another result of answering "Yes" and defining such a role.  I believe that N9DG's proposal including and multiple overlay categories defining the role of automation is alsoa result of answering "Yes" to this question.

I also believe that, ultimately, the evolution of the Unlimited category will be guided by answering "No" to both of these questions.  If a single operator category continues to exist, I believe its evolution will be guided by both answering "Yes" to both of these questions and developing a definition of the essential role of a human operator.

The good news is that two (or more) categories can exist in the same competition.

73,

Mark, KD4D