[CQ-Contest] I hate ITU prefills

[Jim Brown]

I STRONGLY agree. I view use of crutches like this as close to cheating.

73, Jim K9YC

On 6/29/2017 11:00 AM, Tree wrote:
> It's still a depressing feeling for me seeing all of this activity around
> getting the ITU pre-fill database updated every year.  Does this activity
> stop after the contest?  I am sure there is enough momentum of the
> collusion that goes on - that some people think nothing of helping their
> friend out when they are sure if MRASZ was right or not.
>
> One of the things we try to measure during a contest is how accurate people
> are.  How well they can copy what they hear in the headphones and
> accurately log it.  This is a skill that would be very important if the
> amateur radio service is ever called into handling emergency
> communications.
>
> In an emergency - we don't have pre fills on the information we might be
> exchanging.  A phone number needs to be copied correctly in order to find
> the right person on the other end.  (This is something I was personally
> involved in after the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake).
>
> As the log checker for the IARU contest - it is fairly easy for me to bust
> exchanges for people who mis-copied the ITU designator.  However, a group
> of you have decided this is too much work during the contest and want to
> rely on a pre fill database instead of using your brain to figure out what
> is being sent.  This feels like you are playing the game by a different set
> of rules.
>
> I applaud those who avoid using such a database.  In truth - by keeping
> their brain engaged - they might actually have a more accurate log.
>
> Tree N6TR
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