[CQ-Contest] Self Spotting

[Ed K1EP]

"The point of contests should be to make lots of contacts. "

Not necessarily. The point for some, is to FIND lots of contacts, not just
make them. Everyone is different. When single op, I don't use spotting or
packet, I prefer the challenge. When at a MM, I adapt to whatever the
setup, but I still turn the knob to find contacts more than clicking.

On Feb 26, 2017 10:49 AM, "W0MU Mike Fatchett" <w0mu at w0mu.com> wrote:

> I am very surprised that nobody has created a huge multi user version of
> DR. DX for the internet.  I would be great fun.  DR. DX was pretty amazing
> for the time.  I know there is a modern day equivalent but it has not been
> implemented on a large scale where everyone is tied together, scoreboard,
> etc.
>
> This is one reason that Ham radio is having problems attracting and
> getting people on the air.  You can engage with people all over the globe
> very easily and for free.  No huge towers or investments needed.  Talking
> to someone in Russian, Germany, Japan, or wherever is much more common
> today.  I probably have more foreign friends on Facebook than I do local.
>
> Radiosport and ham radio are about having fun and learning for me.
> Sitting and calling endless CQ's on RTTY is not fun.  The point of contests
> should be to make lots of contacts.  If the rules are reducing the amount
> of contacts then we have failed. Are more contacts made when packet is
> allowed?  I think so.  NAQP RTTY last night might be an example.  Packet is
> discouraged and I noticed a number of people that were discouraged from the
> contest for just that reason.
>
> There is nothing magical, mystical or fantastic about unassisted anymore.
> For me it is something that has become archaic, old and very much behind
> the times.  I have a buggy for my draft horse and it is fun to drive now
> and then but I much prefer to hop in my pickup truck to get around town.
> Many of the rules are difficult at best to enforce, power, packet, etc and
> then when the rules are enforced the decisions of the organizers are
> criticized when there has been no real proof provided by either side.
>
> Interesting times we are in.
>
> W0MU
>
>
>
>
> On 2/26/2017 6:21 AM, Ed Sawyer wrote:
>
>> Why don't we just skip the radio part and just work each other in a chat
>> room.  That would be the fairest right?
>>
>>
>> Radiosport is ABOUT communicating over the airwaves and putting what we
>> hear
>> in the log.  Not about accepting what the bandmap populated and hitting
>> enter.  Its also about the technical challenge of producing a good loud
>> signal and being able to hear.  Otherwise its essentially gaming.  There
>> are
>> lots of outlets for people wanting to game.
>>
>>
>> I was CQing on 160 last night and had 2 EU stations call me that clearly
>> could not hear me but were broadcasting a Q (faking it), from the spot, to
>> try and get the Vermont Mult into the log.  I can hear them with my
>> beverages no problem.
>>
>>
>> I personally think Self Spotting is the end of contesting as we know it
>> and
>> should NEVER be allowed.
>>
>>
>> At least with the RBN, a radio does have to pick you up to put it on the
>> net.
>>
>>
>> Until there is an SSB RBN, the effort should be for fairer spotting.  The
>> easiest way is for the major contest clubs around the world to implore
>> their
>> members to set the "spot all S & P" on their software programs and for
>> that
>> to be the default position for programs going forward.  How hard is that?
>>
>>
>> Ed  N1UR
>>
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>
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