[CQ-Contest] Assisted

Sat Aug 18 13:07:23 EDT 2018

This is where I think people end up overthinking it.  True "fairness" is just not going to happen in any contest, ever.  The closest you can get to it is something like WRTC, and that isn't feasible (or likely real enjoyable) for normal operation.  I think this group mostly consists of folks who are either serious competitors, or at the very least, highly interested in contesting on a regular basis.  We obsess on the details, because they are the difference between being competitive and just "being in the game."  There is also a gap between NA and EU/AS, because I  *think* most EU/AS contesters came out of a culture of "radiosport" rather than an all around hobby.  We also obsess on cheating, which, we have to do the best we can to limit it, without letting it dictate how the non cheaters do things.

The equation for me is all about ..maximum fun and maximum participation.  Again, I know this doesn't matter or even make much sense in EU/AS because "use all tools available" has been the way since Day 1.  It is a bigger deal in NA, where 

A) the group of contesters is somewhat older
B) We have contests like SS where the Unassisted categories can be more competitive than the unlimited ones.

Long way of saying, I don't see how having Unassisted categories and even promoting them hurts anyone or could decrease participation/fun in any way.  They are important to a lot of folks here, and it gives a much easier path for the casual guy/gal to "get in the game."  Getting the details correct matters, but really, we all know what "A boy and his radio(s?)" means.  I'm guessing 90 pct of active Hams operate that way.  It is a category "for the rest of us," which doesn't mean there won't be huge differences between capabilities in that category.  What matters is that it is fun for them.  Yes, it opens up another level of potential cheating.  Not doing it because of that is silly.

73
Steve KL7SB

p.s.  The one exception to any "Boy and His Radio" rule is Tim N3QE.  Yes I know he'd qualify.  Yes, I know he is legit.  He's still "2 boys and a radio" himself just by sheer talent :)

-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of RT Clay
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2018 5:50 AM
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Assisted

It depends:

A. #2 lives in W1. #1, #3 in CA. #2 beats both in a DX contest B. #2 lives in AZ. #1, #3 in IL. #2 beats both in Sweepstakes

I hope everyone in this thread operates the NA Sprint coming up- that is a contest where assistance makes no difference!

Tor
N4OGW

--------------------------------------------
On Fri, 8/17/18, Jeff Clarke <ku8e at ku8e.com> wrote:

 Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Assisted
 To: cq-contest at contesting.com
 Date: Friday, August 17, 2018, 9:31 PM

 Yuri,

 You really need to compare the

 1) A boy with Flex 6600,
 KT36XA (tribander) and dipoles and/or Inv. L's  at 80'

 OR

 2) A boy
 with Kenwood TS-830S, TA33jr at 40' and low dipoles.

 WITH

 3) Someone with multiple towers with mono-band  yagis on 40-10 meters and  maybe a 4 square  on 80 and a full size vertical or more on 160.

 Of course #1
 and #2 are close to being equal but neither of these are  close to #3. Maybe Google the calls that are  near the top in the weekly  CWT's, NS  and NAQP and you will find those who have the highest scores

 have a station that would be more like #3.
 But those that are stuck with
 a station you
 described for #1 and #2 are grouped into the same category

 as #3. Is that really fair?

 Bottom line is I think what
 people are asking is that there should be a  tri-bander/wires category so those people in #1  and #2 don't have to  compete directly  again #3. I guess I don't see what the big deal is to

 add another category. Do you think it would  be fair for a F1 race car to  compete again  a NASCAR? It wouldn't even be close. You could use this

 same analogy when comparing antennas.

 Jeff

 On 8/17/2018 07:49 PM, John Geiger wrote:
 > Or a boy with his Icom 718 and a dipole,  the most unfair of all.
 >
 > On Fri, Aug 17, 2018 at 5:23 PM, Yuri  <ve3dz at rigexpert.net>
 wrote:
 >
 >> Okay,
 let's look at "A Boy And His Radio + Tribander /  Wires" category.
 >>
 >> 1) A boy with Flex 6600, KT36XA
 (tribander) and dipoles and/or Inv. L's at  >> 80'
 >>
 >> competes with:
 >>
 >> 2) A boy with
 Kenwood TS-830S, TA33jr at 40' and low dipoles.
 >>
 >> Looks
 fair?
 >>
 >> Same
 category.
 >>
 >>
 I bet the TS-830 guy would cry about unfairness...
 >>
 >> Have a great
 weekend, everyone.
 >>
 >>
 >> 73  Yuri
 VE3DZ
 >>
 >>
 -----Original Message-----
 >> From:
 CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com]
 On Behalf Of
 >> Mark Bailey
 >> Sent: Friday, August 17, 2018 5:32
 PM
 >> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
 >> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Assisted
 >>
 >> Hi Steve:
 >>
 >> A boy and his
 radio category may be a good idea "tribander/wires  anyone),  >> but I still think we need  to retain single operator categories which are  >> played on the radio and without the  internet and AI programs/robots.
 >>
 >> 73,
 >>
 >> Mark, KD4D
 >>
 >>
 >>
 _______________________________________________
 >> CQ-Contest mailing list
 >> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
 >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
 >>
 >
 _______________________________________________
 > CQ-Contest mailing list
 > CQ-Contest at contesting.com
 > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
 >

 --
 *Jeff Clarke*
 Information
 Technology Professional
 Ellerslie,
 Georgia

 KU8E.com <http://www.ku8e.com/>

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