[CQ-Contest] For Sale: fully automated FT-8 QSO Machine customized to your call

[Bob Shohet, KQ2M]

As a Single Op. Non-assisted kind of guy, I don’t like the idea of computerized contest stations, although from a tech standpoint I think it would be a really cool accomplishment if it could be done WELL.

As to whether or not a computerized contest station would be a lid, that depends on how skilled and ethical the operator is who is programming it and how they program it.  If you program it to be a lid then it will be.  But if you program it to operate like a world-class opr. who respects the rules then it could be interesting to watch and listen to.  We might even learn something from a machine that is more potentially efficient that a human and non-emotional.

I still believe that the best skilled humans will beat the best machines on cw and ssb (not FT8) for two reasons:

1) People doing the programming will not be world class ops. so the machines will not be programmed to operate with the same level  of skill and understanding of strategy.  Game over.

2) Humans excel under chaotic conditions when all kinds of confusing and irregular information is coming in that can’t be anticipated and programmed in advance for a machine.  A well skilled and experienced human will know what to do and when to change strategies multiple times in order to post the best score.  A machine will be left behind strategically on CW and ESPECIALLY on SSB, where the combination of hundreds of different accents, modified by qrm, qrn, intermod, flutter and/or auroral effects, would make it impossible for a machine to compete.

However, if the programming and tech employed is advanced enough to utilize AI and machine learning, then it could be a horserace after a sufficient learning period for the machine.  Although the world class opr will still have the edge as he/she will make instant decisions on propagation paths, bands to operate, frequencies to use, changes in rate and accent, and many other strategic factors that the machine will not have in its programming.  

The one factor that I could see changing the dynamic is if 2B+SIQ (NOT 2BSIQ) is used.  With a machine being able to hear 6 bands at once and having access to 6 radios and being able to transmit on same (although not simultaneously), I can easily imagine where a really well programmed machine at a great station at a great qth could beat any opr in a 48 hour DX contest, especially when 3 or more bands are open simultaneously to run. 

No human will ever be able to make 500+ qso’s per hour on CW, although it would be fun to watch Dan and Chris try.   :-)

73

Bob KQ2M


From: PETER 
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 3:46 PM
To: CQ Contest ; ko7ss at yahoo.com 
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] For Sale: fully automated FT-8 QSO Machine customized to your call

Back when computerized logging was just emerging, Gene, W3ZZ, I and a few others were discussing it and the notion of computerized contesting. At one point Gene made the sage comment that a computerized contest station would be a lid and Vic, W4KFC, would beat it anyway.

While Vic is gone I’m firmly convinced the same is true today.

Pete W1RM

------ Original Message ------

From: ko7ss--- via CQ-Contest
To: CQ Contest
Sent: August 27, 2019 at 1:15 PM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] For Sale: fully automated FT-8 QSO Machine customized to your call

This is not new stuff, SV5KDL and others have been leading the pack in automated FT8, now FT4 contesting and DXing. http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=ft8+robot&_sacat=0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byJyxYi4I8Q http://sv5dkl.blogspot.com/2017/12/sv5dkl-ft8-robot-fully-automatic.html Now you can enter any category you like and wonder if the guy that beat you was hooked up to a local skimmer, running high power with the new OM power amp combiner (hook up 2 X OM-4000), or out at dinner while the contest was on! 73, Bill KO7SS _______________________________________________ CQ-Contest mailing list CQ-Contest at contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
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