[CQ-Contest] FT4 - Robotic Contesting

[Mike Smith VE9AA]

I would agree that SOME of the human element has been 'enhanced', but I am still decoding CW by ear (and SSB too of course, although someday I am sure SSB contests will be digitized.

Someday.....if I live long enough, I am sure I would be able to start a contest @ 0000z Sat and come back at 2359Z Sunday and see how I've done.

That'll be a sad day.

I don't think you'll ever see me doing an FT# or whatever contest where *this* much is automated. It's not that I am against it.  I just don't see how people derive any pleasure from it? My computer worked your computer.  Big deal.

And, as long as my ears are working, I'll decode the CW with my brain, thank you very much.

Mike VE9AA

Mike, Coreen & Corey
Keswick Ridge, NB

-----Original Message-----
From: Ria Jairam [mailto:rjairam at gmail.com] 
Sent: May 5, 2019 10:45 PM
To: Mike Smith VE9AA
Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] FT4 - Robotic Contesting

> IMO, if you remove too much of the human element from the picture, the
> 'rush', the 'reward', the 'competition' (if you want to call it that) is
> lessened.

I think some are arguing that there has been a lot removed over the years already - super check partial and other lists, single channel CW decoders (allowed in assisted categories in CQ contests, allowed in all categories in ARRL contests), computer CW keyers, DVK, macros, ESM and even computerized logging itself.

 
I was watching video from back in the 70s from \and you had guys screaming their lungs off into an actual microphone… today you have people recording phonemes and the software strings that together to form everything from callsigns to the exchange. Not to mention CW contesting which can be an entirely push button affair now, and not even - with ESM you enter the callsign and just press enter all the way. 

BTW I’ve noticed with JT modes that sometimes you do have to manually intervene when the software can’t decode properly. 

In my experience with these weak signal modes, when I am DXing or even contesting there is a comparable “rush” when I see a new decode on my screen, and hope that it completes. 

Just another tool in the box, the way I see it.

Ria
N2RJ


> On May 2, 2019, at 4:48 PM, Mike Smith VE9AA <ve9aa at nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:
> 
> Hey guys n' gals, 
> 
> 
> 
> I am not against FT# contesting, but I certainly won't pretend to understand
> it. (nor am I a Luddite)
> 
> 
> 
> IMO, if you remove too much of the human element from the picture, the
> 'rush', the 'reward', the 'competition' (if you want to call it that) is
> lessened.
> 
> 
> 
> IE: I derive the greatest pleasure from CW, then SSB, and much much less for
> RTTY. (I don't do very much RTTY - and that is one reason) Watch my computer
> work someone elses computer with a few mouse clicks and some guessing as to
> the callsign and exchange depending on QSB/QRM etc.?  Some editing of
> function key files to tweak my exchange "better" than maybe Joe-Blow down
> the road who sends everything except his hat size. Being quick with the
> mouse.(timing)  Much less than SSB or CW, but at least there's some human
> interaction.
> 
> 
> 
> When the JT modes hit 6m, it created a situation for the CW/SSB ops, that
> lessened the overall appeal of 6m as "everyone was up the band on the JT
> modes".
> 
> 
> 
> Again, not against it, but don't "get it".  Maybe it's that
> generational/instant gratification for very little outlay of energy
> mentality. Maybe it's just the soup de jour.  I dunno.
> 
> 
> 
> Even though I am admittedly not a huge proponent of RTTY (as explained
> above), I don't think RTTY contests and awards should be watered down by
> including FT#, PSK31 or whatever.  There is still some human element in
> RTTY, however small that might be.
> 
> 
> 
> Respectfully, 
> 
> 
> 
> VE9AA Mike...CW and SSB forever !
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Keswick Ridge, NB
> 
> 
> 
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