[CQ-Contest] cq self spot

Sun Feb 26 17:03:59 EST 2017

That concept (every S&P station spots the RUN station) would quickly 
overload the RBN. Currently there are a limited number of Skimmers 
feeding into the RBN. The RBN aggregates the spots coming in by 
evaluating them by a set of rules. My understanding is a station the 
aggregator spots a call sign once every 10 minutes as long as it remains 
active and remains on the same frequency.

Imagine the flood of spots that would need to be evaluated if every RUN 
station worked generated data to be examined. I don't know the capacity 
of the RBN, but it was overwhelmed by CW spots from a small number of 
Skimmers a few years ago during a WW contest. It was necessary to update 
the hardware to provide timely spots. There were times when spots were 
arriving (IIRC) an hour late!

I like the idea of the SSB RUNNING station being allowed to self-spot 
once every 10 minutes.

This whole spotting controversy was heavily debated when the CW 
capability was first rolled out. Here we go again!

73 de Bob - KØRC in MN

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On 2/26/2017 1:35 PM, Joe wrote:
> Ok, how about this,
>
> No self spotting, BUT... to be able to participate in the contest, 
> anytime you are in S&P mode, your program automatically sends out a 
> spot whenever you work someone.
>
> That would be as close to the RBN as possible for now? Everyone gets 
> spotted that are Running a freq and getting worked at least once.
>
> Joe WB9SBD
> Sig
> The Original Rolling Ball Clock
> Idle Tyme
> Idle-Tyme.com
> http://www.idle-tyme.com
> On 2/26/2017 11:58 AM, Ria Jairam wrote:
>> To understand why the self-spotting issue was raised, we need to back 
>> up a
>> bit.
>>
>> In CW contests, RBN and private skimmers will automatically pick you 
>> up and
>> spot you on the cluster networks, courtesy of W3LPL and others. This is
>> essentially the same as self-spotting because nobody has to work you for
>> you to be spotted, and as soon as you are detected by one of these 
>> robots
>> (RBN or skimmer) you are automatically put on the cluster.
>>
>> In SSB contests there is no such facility, so it is generally luck of 
>> the
>> draw for someone to work you then they will spot you. This is because 
>> there
>> is no practical skimmer (voice recognition?) for SSB as of yet.
>>
>> The accusations were that some folks were self-spotting and trying to 
>> hide
>> it, meaning that they would use a cell phone or another IP or "phone a
>> friend" all of which are clear rules violations.
>>
>> In order to take away that incentive for cheating and put everyone on a
>> level playing field, it was suggested to allow limited self-spotting.
>> Otherwise, since some folks are going to self-spot anyway, and the 
>> contest
>> committee may or may not find them, it puts honest competitors at a
>> disadvantage. And the logic was that since essentially self-spotting
>> happens in CW contests due to RBN/skimmer, that allowing limited
>> self-spotting would be harmless.
>>
>> In other words, take away the advantage that self-spotting cheating
>> currently gives, by allowing everyone to do it. This would have a
>> detrimental effect on cheaters because now they cannot really gain any
>> advantage from self-spotting.
>>
>> Hope I made sense.
>>
>> Of course, there are purists who see this changing amateur radio into a
>> computer game - my friends, that is not my intention. The intention 
>> is to
>> remove the ability to gain from cheating by making it so that even if 
>> you
>> self-spot it gives no advantage whatsoever.
>>
>> With the current system we have the luck of the draw of a random person
>> spotting you or even organized people in a club asking fellow members to
>> spot them.
>>
>> Just my 2c. It's not perfect but it is fair, IMO.
>>
>> Ria, N2RJ
>>
>> On Sun, Feb 26, 2017 at 1:43 PM, Barry Merrill <w5gn at mxg.com> wrote:
>>
>>> There's an even bigger difference; actual spots from hams or RBN convey
>>> propagation information, self spots.don't.
>>>
>>> Barry, W5GN
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On 
>>> Behalf Of
>>> Jorge Diez - CX6VM
>>> Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 7:57 AM
>>> To: Charles Harpole <hs0zcw at gmail.com>
>>> Cc: CQ-Contest Reflector <cq-contest at contesting.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] cq self spot
>>>
>>> There's a big difference
>>>
>>> The first one improve your skills, you must learn about propagation, 
>>> know
>>> where to point your antennas, etc etc etc
>>>
>>> The other one not
>>>
>>> So what's next, why we use radios? If we can do all over internet, 
>>> no qsb,
>>> no qrn, we do not need to spend time and money building stations and
>>> improving with better antennas, just connect to internet, choose a 
>>> nickname
>>> more funny than our callsigns and go...
>>>
>>> For DX what´s the next step?  JT65 with a software that do the QSOs 
>>> alone
>>> for us while we are working?
>>>
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Jorge
>>> CX6VM/CW5W
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Enviado desde mi iPhone
>>>
>>>> El 26 feb. 2017, a las 08:08, Charles Harpole <hs0zcw at gmail.com>
>>> escribió:
>>>> What is the difference between a CQ and a self spot?
>>>> Both call attention to you, both announce your desire for contacts,
>>>> both are self-promoting.
>>>>
>>>> We in SEAsia seem seldom spotted in contests, maybe  due to our low
>>>> numbers or remoteness or something.  Out of contests, if I did not
>>>> spot myself, I could call CQ for a long time because few tune around,
>>>> I guess.  If I have an hr to enjoy contacts and do not want to waste
>>>> the first half hour calling CQ, I send in my own spot.
>>>>
>>>> In contests, why would non-mechanized spots be sent out--that is, why
>>>> would a fellow competitor help anyone find the gem he found and thus
>>>> helping others score better?
>>>> I like the ham spirit, but other than bragging ("Look who I just
>>>> worked!"), and ham generosity, why spot at all?
>>>>
>>>> 73
>>>> Charly, HS0ZCW
>>>> PS, do big clubs have private, members only, spotting facilities?
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-- 

73 de Bob - KØRC in MN