[CQ-Contest] Self Spottig?

[Hank Greeb]

So, how do we limit "random" spotting by friends (or paid spotters) made 
in advance and coordinated by a third party?

I say this, because in the early daze of NPOTA (where self spotting is 
allowed) I had a friend in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan spot me when 
i'd call him with a frequency and mode. Similarly now for Michigan State 
Parks on the Air, and Parks on the air (two which allow self spotting) I 
announce on social media (Facebook) and the QRP-l reflector, my 
location, and ask folks who work me or hear me to spot me.  Each spot 
generates half dozen or so new contacts on a typical outing.

I've never done this with a contest which does not allow spotting, but 
it would be very easy to organize.  Besides, even without coordination a 
fellow within ground wave could monitor the bands for a friend, and spot 
whenever a "run" frequency changed.

It seems to me that so many types of "assistance" are allowed for single 
operator, that adding spotting networks would be a small addition.

But, since the contests are run by and for the "Big gun winners" my pip 
squoke comment will gain no traction.

72/73 de n8xx Hg
QRP >99.44% of the time

On 4/17/2017 10:41 AM, cq-contest-request at contesting.com wrote:

> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2017 20:36:31 -0400
> From:jimk8mr at aol.com
> To:wa5rtg at gmail.com,sawyered at earthlink.net
> Cc:cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Thoughts on DQs in CQWW
> Message-ID:<15b7956ebb2-6dd3-65be at webstg-a04.mail.aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
>
> There is some ado in self spotting in SSB, though I agree that friends doing it is a bit much for a DQ, absent other issues.
>
> Perhaps we need to limit spotting to X spots per hour per station? Whether it is done by disinterested ops, friends or oneself? Could the network shut off excess spots for all stations, while letting us in the basket of undesirables in W8 spot ourselves a few times until we reach our quota, when nobody else will spot us?
>
>
> 73  - Jim   K8MR