[CQ-Contest] The 2021 Unassisted Challenge

Jeff Clarke ku8e at ku8e.com
Sat Mar 13 15:12:32 EST 2021 

Martin,

You're taking what I said out of context. Note I said "new" contester 
not "experienced" contester. A new contester isn't going to be running 
two frequencies (like you gave in your example) and grabbing packet 
spots at the same time like AA3B would. I would equate most new 
contesters to be a casual operator who's going to use band map in N1MM 
and point and click to work stations. They're probably not going to try 
to run stations. Plus I don't see any special skills that you need to 
use the DX Cluster.

Jeff

On 3/13/2021 02:48 PM, Martin, LU5DX wrote:
> You are totally wrong Jeff.
> Operating using the DX Cluster takes a lot more skills than just 
> running two pileups without any additional information.
> I think I don't need to explain why, since your way of thinking 
> reduces the use of cluster to just pointing and clicking.
>
> 73,
>
> Martin, LU5DX
>
> El sáb., 13 mar. 2021 1:43 p. m., Jeff Clarke <ku8e at ku8e.com 
> <mailto:ku8e at ku8e.com>> escribió:
>
>     Many newer contesters don't know any other way to operate a
>     contest than
>     operating assisted. They spend every contest just pointing and
>     clicking
>     on spots, which doesn't really involve any skills at all. I see many
>     posts on 3830 of those who comment they did no S&P at all and make
>     all
>     their QSO's by clicking on spots in the band map. If you have a nice
>     station you can do pretty good operating this way. You can usually
>     have
>     a higher score than someone that is a more skillful operator but
>     has a
>     lesser station. Those of us who don't like this way of operating are
>     often criticized as being not "keeping up with the times" or old
>     fashioned.
>
>     I can totally understand why Bud thinks assisted is the way to go.
>     AA3B
>     along with others such as K3WW, K5ZD, N3RD and others are all
>     accomplished SO2R operators, like to operate assisted and have nice
>     contest stations. Adding assistance allows them to maximize their
>     scores. There are other accomplished operators such as N6MJ, KL9A and
>     N2NT and others that aren't really into operating assisted. So why
>     should a single person decide that everyone should operate the way
>     they
>     prefer to operate? I run the Georgia QSO Party and I make all my rule
>     decisions based on feedback I get and not my personal preference.
>     There
>     are rules I want to change but I don't because of that feedback I
>     get.
>     Bud heard lots of feedback on this reflector that opposed this rule
>     change but chose to ignore it and go with his personal preferences.
>
>     I've been a contester for many years and frankly I'm turned off
>     buy some
>     of the current rules in contests. The "skill" factor doesn't
>     really seem
>     to matter as much as it did in the past. Many of you that have been
>     around awhile before assistance and SO2R came about might remember
>     back
>     in the day when those who had the highest contest scores were
>     those who
>     made the right decisions such as "what band should I be running
>     on" or
>     "should I take a break right now".  Those days are gone because with
>     today's assistive technology you don't  have to make that decision.
>
>     Either way I will still operate contests (especially CW) because
>     that's
>     what I've done my entire amateur radio life. I'm not so concerned
>     about
>     winning anything because I'm out gunned. It's just for the love of
>     contesting I have.
>
>     Jeff  KU8E
>
>
>     On 3/12/2021 09:41 PM, N4ZR wrote:
>     > I had missed this change in the WPX rules, which I deplore, and I'm
>     > glad that N6MJ et al have taken up the cudgels.  In my opinion it
>     > never made any sense to merge assisted and unassisted. Even
>     though I
>     > largely operate assisted, the distinction is real and should not be
>     > ignored.  If the best operators went assisted, they would
>     definitely
>     > win, because S&P rates (when dueling 2-band CQs slow down) and
>     > multiplier totals will definitely show an effect. Let those who
>     want
>     > one or the other make their choice - don't pretend there is no
>     > practical difference.
>     >
>     > 73, Pete N4ZR
>     > Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
>     > web server at <http://beta.reversebeacon.net
>     <http://beta.reversebeacon.net>>.
>     > For spots, please use your favorite
>     > "retail" DX cluster.
>     >
>     > On 3/12/2021 6:23 PM, Ken K6MR wrote:
>     >> This is wonderful!  Many have talked about doing something like
>     this,
>     >> but you have grabbed the ring!
>     >>
>     >> Thank you and I look forward to the results.  Real contesting!
>     >>
>     >> Ken K6MR
>     >>
>     >> From: Daniel Craig<mailto:unassistedchallenge at gmail.com
>     <mailto:unassistedchallenge at gmail.com>>
>     >> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2021 10:05
>     >> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
>     <mailto:cq-contest at contesting.com><mailto:cq-contest at contesting.com
>     <mailto:cq-contest at contesting.com>>
>     >> Subject: [CQ-Contest] The 2021 Unassisted Challenge
>     >>
>     >> We invite U.S. Amateurs to participate in the 2021 Unassisted
>     Challenge.
>     >> The Challenge is open to Amateurs in the lower 48 States who enter
>     >> the 2021
>     >> CQ WPX SSB and/or CW contests in the single-op category but do
>     NOT use
>     >> spotting assistance.  Even though CQ WPX no longer recognizes
>     separate
>     >> unassisted categories, we feel the need to continue having such
>     >> categories.
>     >>
>     >> To enter, email your Cabrillo log (as submitted to CQ WPX) to
>     >> unassistedchallenge at gmail.com
>     <mailto:unassistedchallenge at gmail.com>. Please indicate from which
>     CQ Zone you
>     >> operated in the text of the message.  We also encourage you to
>     post your
>     >> score to www.3830scores.com
>     <http://www.3830scores.com><http://www.3830scores.com
>     <http://www.3830scores.com>> and select the
>     >> unassisted overlay.
>     >>
>     >> High Power and Low Power winners in CQ Zones 3, 4, and 5 will
>     receive a
>     >> plaque (six plaques available in each event).  We encourage
>     operators
>     >> throughout the world to participate as single-op unassisted
>     also, but
>     >> plaques are only available for the lower 48.
>     >>
>     >> Full details and rules coming soon!  Send any questions to
>     >> unassistedchallenge at gmail.com
>     <mailto:unassistedchallenge at gmail.com>. Please forward to your
>     friends and
>     >> clubs!
>     >>
>     >> Axel KI6RRN
>     >> Dan N6MJ
>     >>
>     >> Note: the Unassisted Challenge is not affiliated with CQ or CQ WPX.
>     >> _______________________________________________
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>     >> CQ-Contest at contesting.com <mailto:CQ-Contest at contesting.com>
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>     <http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest>
>     >>
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