[CQ-Contest] VY1JA Two QSO's Talk about Murphy..

[Bob, W3IDT]

While beginning to fiddle with RTTY in the recent past,
I entered the NAQP RTTY contest...

Had spotting ON, so Multi-Op per NAQP rules.

Made ONE contact.
Was at the end of the Multi-Op listing in NCJ.

At least it was a "participation multiplier" for PVRC.

Bob, w3idt

.............................
. Robert F. Teitel, W3IDT   .
.                           .
. W3IDT at arrl.net            .
. W3IDT at comcast.net         .
............................. 					

On 11/5/2018 10:29 AM, Art Boyars wrote:
> Two comments/stories.
> 
> First, I hold the record for minimum score in a real contest (see below,
> for meaning of "real").
> 
> Not so many years ago I was still using CT-DOS for a Stew Perry TBDC.  When
> generating the Cabrillo log, some glitch in the software left some extra
> characters at the end of each QSO line.  The Contest Sponsor's log checking
> software decided that those characters invalidated each QSO.  I wound up
> with a published score of zero.
> 
> Second, negative scores are not new.
> 
> I believe that in the most recent Poisson d'Avril Contest, the Sponsor
> tweaked the log checking software so that all entries (other than the
> Sponsor's) wound up with negative scores.  Thus, the Sponsor's amazing
> string of victories continued.
> 
> Credible rumors have been reported that for the next running of the Poisson
> d'Avril the Sponsor will use advanced technology-- building on the
> technology of Skimmer, RBN, and Live Scoreboards -- to monitor all ongoing
> QSOs, and hack into each participant's computer to modify the log before it
> is submitted.  The log will appear correct on the user's screen, but every
> QSO in the submitted log will be busted.
> 
> What about  the possibility that contestants might develop computer
> security systems that result in un-corrupted logs being submitted?
> 
> The rumors report that the Sponsor is already working (perhaps with Amazon,
> although that data is less reliable) on deployable mini-drone low-power
> RF generators that create QRN, QRM, and even bogus QSO signals.  A drone
> (or drones, if needed) will hover near each participant's antenna(s), so
> each participant will actually be busting every QSO.  Manipulation of the
> logs will no longer be required.
> 
> The RF drones will be linked in microwave smart-mesh networks to protect
> against the possibility of counter-correcting log errors -- two
> contestants' logs having matching errors that accidentally create a valid
> QSO.
> 
> The rumors include an even less credible, but even more futuristic, aspect:
> The Sponsor is funding research into warping sunspots and other aspects of
> space weather that affect HF propagation.  The goal is to have the bands
> completely dead for all participants except for the Sponsor, who will make
> but one QSO -- with him/herself, operating a remote station.
> 
> These two advanced efforts are being led by Pd'ACARPA -- the Poisson
> d'Avril Contest Advanced Research Projects Agency.  In-house, the Agency is
> called just "CARP".  CARP's source of funding has not been exposed, but
> many believe that some funding comes from the money saved by the sponsors
> of "real" contests sending the various winners print-it-yourself
> e-mail certificates instead of providing proper calligraphy-on-parchment
> certificates.
> 
> Now, having reported these things to the CQ-Contest Reflector community, I
> offer the following advice for your protection.
> 
> First, the first story is true.  (You could look it up.)  We should
> probably look over our Cabrillo logs before we hit he Send button.
> 
> Second, the second story is a complete fiction (except the part about the
> Sponsor winning every running of the Poisson d'Avril Contest; I really
> admire the creativity that has gone into the Pd'A).  However, I must make
> that disclaimer/clarification because whenever I post something humorous or
> sarcastic here on the CQ-Contest Reflector, somebody takes it seriously and
> starts a whole contentiousness.
> 
> 73, Art K3KU
> 
> 
> 
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