[CQ-Contest] Merging Social Media and Contesting

[Jeff Clarke]

I think in the future contest sponsors need to define exactly what 
assisted means in their contest since the way the rules are sometimes 
written they can be ambiguous.

For Example :

*CQWW Rules for SO but allowed for SOA :*

/*QSO finding assistance*//: The use of any technology or other source 
that provides call sign or multiplier identification of a signal to the 
operator. This includes, but is not limited to, use of a CW decoder, DX 
cluster, DX spotting web sites (e.g., DX Summit), local or remote call 
sign and frequency decoding technology (e.g., CW Skimmer or Reverse 
Beacon Network), or operating arrangements involving other individuals./

/Self-spotting or asking to be spotted is not permitted. (not allowed 
for SOA either)
/


*ARRL Rules :*

/3.2. Single Operator Unlimited://
//
//The use of spotting assistance or automated, multi-channel decoders is 
permitted.//
//
//2.2.1. Use of spotting assistance or nets (operating arrangements 
involving other individuals, DX-alerting nets, packet, multi-channel 
decoders such as CW Skimmer, etc) not physically located at the station 
is permitted. (Exception: spotting information obtained from any source 
outside the station boundary via a closed or dedicated communication 
link may not be used.)//
//
//
//3.3.3. Single Band entries are NOT permitted to use spotting 
assistance. Use of spotting assistance will cause the entry to be 
reclassified to the Single Operator Unlimited, High Power category./


I think the CQWW rules are much clearer than the ARRL's.  In fact the 
ARRL DX rules makes no mention of self-spotting. Also note neither 
mention live streaming. I'm sure Ray, W2RE is a good guy and he wasn't 
intending on cheating or gaining some type of competitive advantage. 
He's been contesting a long time and given much back to the contesting 
community with his tower company and RHR. I think most active contesters 
know who the habitual cheaters are and he isn't one of them.

W2RE posted his score as SB 20 meters. If he submits his entry as SO 
assisted based on the rules I quoted above he should have no problems 
because he didn't break any rules for an ARRL sponsored contest. Contest 
sponsors also need to determine if running a live stream is considered 
to be self-spotting and update their rules for next time. (CQWW Rules)

I wish you guys wouldn't pile on and accuse W2RE of cheating because he 
didn't. Read the ARRL DX rules. http://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx


Jeff KU8E



On 3/12/2020 11:30 AM, donovanf at starpower.net wrote:
> I'm surprised at Randy's comment that " it is impossible to measure the impact or harm"
>
>
> Unique QSOs in the W2RE log will provide a measure of the impact
>
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: k5zd at charter.net
> To: "Edward Sawyer" <EdwardS at sbelectronics.com>, cq-contest at contesting.com
> Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2020 3:12:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Merging Social Media and Contesting
>
> I am in favor of big stations and remote operations. Live streaming so
> others can hear what it sounds like is also good. Promoting ham radio and
> contesting using social media is great (and needed)!
>
> I share the concerns about when the live PR effort bleeds into soliciting
> activity for the station doing this. The rules are fairly clear that use
> of non-amateur means to solicit contacts is prohibited (written back when
> people would use the telephone to get multipliers on the air).
>
> In this case, it is impossible to measure the impact or harm. I.e., we
> don't know how much it helped the score or if it would have changed the
> order of finish. Even so, the rules are the rules. It will be up to the
> sponsor to decide where they want to draw the line for their contest.
>
> Randy K5ZD
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CQ-Contest <cq-contest-bounces+k5zd=charter.net at contesting.com> On
> Behalf Of Edward Sawyer
> Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 8:56 PM
> To: peter.voelpel at t-online.de; cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Merging Social Media and Contesting
>
> IF you watch the video, you will see broadcasting of frequency on the
> sidebar chats being displayed - self spotting. Using a chat room. And by
> asking people on line to share the feed with their friends and get on and
> work him - he is soliciting contacts by non-amateur means.
>
> Ed N1UR
>
>
> From: Peter Voelpel [peter.voelpel at t-online.de] On Behalf Of
> dj7ww at t-online.de [dj7ww at t-online.de]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2020 8:24 PM
> To: Edward Sawyer; cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Merging Social Media and Contesting
>
> Ed,
>
> what numerous rules violations do you have in mind?
> So far I am not aware of any.
>
> 73
> Peter
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CQ-Contest
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces+dj7ww=t-online.de at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> Edward Sawyer
>
> I would suggest that anyone curious take a listen to the live stream
> recording on YouTube and look at the interaction Ray has with the "live chat
> room" on his website with the contacts being made.
>
> Asking people to look for him on the Cluster to see where he is.
>
> Even as an assisted operation, it demonstrates numerous rules violations as
> recorded.
>
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