[CQ-Contest] Dead zero beat pile ups

[Tom]

N1MM+ has an option in the Telnet window, "Randomize incoming spot 
frequencies".   As each spot comes in, we add -60, -30, 0, 30 or 60 hz 
to the spot frequencies.  This option is on by default.

The main purpose of this feature is to cause casual contesters to call 
on more than the original spot frequencies in order to "spread out the 
pileup" for stations who frequently get multiple callers.  It also helps 
these casual contesters to get through, even though they don't know the 
advantage of calling off frequency in a  large pileup.

We restricted it to +/- 60 hz because the spot frequency is already as 
much as 50 hz off by rounding to the nearest 100 hz and subject to 
tuning error by the spotting station (mostly now skimmers).  We did not 
wish to penalize naive users by sometimes pushing them outside the 
spotted station's passband.

Once a casual contester figures out that he is randomly (mostly) calling 
a little off frequency, he can turn off the option if he so desires. We 
don't know how many users turn this feature off.

73,

Tom - N1MM