[CQ-Contest] Online Scoreboards

Thu Nov 22 15:02:13 EST 2018

I've had a lot of fun using the online scoreboard during weekly CWT tests.

One memorable week I did unusually well out of the gate on 20m (which is
rare from W9 with a low dipole) and got to see my call jostling for the #1
score shown on the scoreboard.  It lasted only a short time, but it was
lots of fun to be able to enjoy that aspect of the contest, even though by
the end of the hour my score was in the range it typically falls, which is
not at the top of the heap.

Nearly every week in the CWT I get the fun of trying to edge ahead of some
of the other stations who usually achieve comparable scores. It adds an
extra dimension of fun and camaraderie to see the scores and positions
updating in real time.

A few details that might help convince others to try it:

- You can set the update interval.  If you are worried about revealing too
much about your strategic decisions, you can set it to update only every 15
minutes, or even less often.

- You can hide the band breakdown, publishing only your totals.  This is
useful for those who feel that showing the band breakdown might reveal top
secret dimensions of their strategy.

- You might be surprised how motivating it is to gradually overtake the
next highest score on the board.  Even when I'm operating casually it's fun
to watch my rank climb up a few spots while I'm having a good run, then
take some time off to deal with whatever non-contesting responsibilities I
have, and then sit back down later and see that the rank has fallen back
down, only to get another good run and watch it increase again.

I found it interesting that in Sweepstakes some of the top scorers did not
use the real time scoreboard.  All it takes to know someone's serial number
is to listen to one exchange, and most of the top scorers end up with a
sweep, so I'm not sure there's any strategic advantage to sitting out of
the online scoreboard in Sweepstakes.

I recommend that everyone just set it up today so that it's turned on by
default in your logger. It's sort of a pain to remember to set it up once
the contest has already begun.

73,
Matt NQ6N

On Thu, Nov 22, 2018 at 11:14 AM MARK BAILEY <kd4d at comcast.net> wrote:

> Hi Juan:
>
> I strongly disagree.  I believe that Radiosport should retain Single
> Operator categories where the game is not played on the air and not on
> partially on the internet.  Requiring an internet connection is not is not
> in that spirit - neither is having access to scoring information from other
> stations that does not come over the radio.
>
> When operating in Single Operator categories, I don't have internet
> connections active.  The computer logging networks I use are not connected
> to the internet at all, ever (this eliminates problems with updates and
> anti-virus false positives).  When using spots for multi-ops (or WAE), I
> use a separate computer to connect to the internet on a different network
> for spotting.
>
> The good news (!) is that there is room for Single Operator categories
> without any interference with the "connected" Assisted and Multi-operator
> categories.  When you work me in a contest, you aren't usually even aware
> of whether I'm Single Operator or not (Sweepstakes being the exception due
> to the precedence).
>
> BTW, the WRTC competition did connect the competitors to an on-line
> scoreboard, but competitors had no access to the information.  The WRTC
> organizers provided the connection and carefully controlled it.  The
> competitors were prohibited by the rules from looking at the scoreboard (or
> having any other internet information).  Cell phones were taken for the
> contest period!
>
> 73,
>
> Mark, KD4D
>
>   First, during WRTC, the competitors did not have access to the on-line
> scoreboard information during the contest.
> > On November 21, 2018 at 5:56 PM Juan Hidalgo EA8RM <ea8cac at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Totally agree with Steve. That’s happened specially during WRTC
> qualification contest.
> >
> > It is time to include in the rules “the station must publish score
> during the contest” so less hopping categories after the contest.
> >
> > Today it is no problem to connect internet from anywhere in the world
> like 20 years ago, it is time to do some more changes.
> >
> > Regards.
> >
> >
> > 73 de EA8RM /  EF8R
> > EF8U Manager
> > Enviado desde mi iPhone
> >
> > > El 20 nov 2018, a las 20:49, Steve London <n2icarrl at gmail.com>
> escribió:
> > >
> > > The problem with the online scoreboard chase is that it not balanced.
> After encouraging folks to post their scores, I can choose to not post my
> score. Thus, I have real-time knowledge about the competition that they
> don't have about me. This is not true in any other sport.
> > >
> > > 73,
> > > Steve, N2IC
> > >
> > >> On 11/20/2018 11:50 AM, Bill via CQ-Contest wrote:
> > >>   With contest final results taking so long to come out,
> contestonlinescore.com
> > >> and 3830scores.com have become the defacto contest results for me.
> The online
> > >> chase is great - many thanks to Victor VA2WA and Randy K5ZD!
> > >> 73, Bill KO7SS in Arizona
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