[CQ-Contest] What's your Opinion on 2BSIQ ?

[Jeff Clarke]

I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are about 2BSIQ ? Do you think 
it's fair to group those who operate this way in with a traditional 
single-operator or should it (and SO2R) be a separate category? I've 
found by looking at the 3830 claimed scores that those who do 2BSIQ come 
close to doubling the score of everyone else.

There's also a technically in the rules for most contests that you 
aren't really on a band unless you are transmitting. I just happened to 
come across a video on YouTube of a well known contester who recorded 
himself operating 2BSIQ. What he did is when he was operating on one 
band and in the middle of a QSO  he would be CQing on another band. So 
he was basically doing a Multi-2 minus transmitting at the same time 
with one operator and managing two pileups of stations calling him. Also 
consider that if you are Multi-Single you're limited to how many QSY's 
you can make on a 2nd radio while doing Single-Op SO2R there is no 
limitation. Is that really fair?  For M/S why not just allow unlimited 
QSY's on your 2nd radio  if you're only working multipliers on that 
station. It would be pretty easy to for those checking your log to 
validate this.

CQ kind of addresses these issues but why are the Classic rules 
different between CQWW and CQ WPX? I want to operate more than 24 hours 
in CQWW.  There isn't anything classic about only allowing 24 hours in 
CQWW. It's basically a category for old guys that can't do more than 24 
hours anymore. Also why isn't there a Tribander/Single Element category 
in CQWW?  Plus this category in WPX says you can't use a receive 
antenna. What's going on with that?

Why not make these categories consistent between all CQ sponsored 
contests using the WPX definition of Classic and Tribander/Single Element ?

*CQWW Rules :*

/1. Classic Operator (CLASSIC): The entrant will use only one radio, no 
QSO finding assistance, and may operate up to 24 of the 48 hours – off 
times are a minimum of 60 minutes during which no QSO is logged. If the 
log shows more than 24 hours of operation, only the first 24 hours will 
be counted for the overlay score. The one radio must not be able to 
receive while transmitting. Single Operator Assisted entries are not 
eligible for this category./

*CQ WPX Rules :*

/1. Tribander/Single Element (TB-WIRES): During the contest an entrant 
shall use only one (1) tribander (any type, with a single feed line from 
the transmitter to the antenna) for 10, 15, and 20 meters and 
single-element antennas on 40, 80, and 160 meters. Separate receiving 
antennas are not permitted in this category./*
*

/3. Classic Operator (CLASSIC): The entrant will use only one radio, no 
QSO finding assistance, and the one radio must not be able to receive 
while transmitting. Operator Assisted entries are not eligible for this 
category./

/
/

*ARRL DX Rules :*

The Multi-Single rules for ARRL DX are even worse. You have to take time 
away from your run station to work multipliers on a 2nd band. But there 
aren't any QSY limitations for a single-operator. So like the CQ 
contests you can operate like a traditional multi-2 station in a CQ 
contest without any limitations. ARRL - Why not add a Classic - 
Tribander/Single Element category like CQ has?

/3.4.4 Band Changes. Single Transmitter and Two Transmitter sub-category 
entries are limited to six (6) band changes per clock hour per transmitter./

/
/

I hope those who operate 2BSIQ in contests  don't take my comments 
personally. I'm not against the technological advances we have in 
contesting these days. I just think it's fair to those who don't have 
the means to have all the equipment necessary to do this not be grouped 
in with those who do.


Jeff KU8E