[CQ-Contest] The 2021 Unassisted Challenge

Jeff Clarke ku8e at ku8e.com
Sun Mar 14 13:32:26 EDT 2021 

Martin,

I don't think SOAB is dominated by 2BSIQ. My guess is only a handful 
(mostly the top 5 in each SOAB HP category) operate this way. The rest 
are operating the traditional way or SO2R where they are tuning for 
stations to work on a 2nd radio. You also need to be a special type of 
person to do 2BSIQ. I don't think an older person could handle it as 
it's very demanding. I don't even think I could do it at 60 years old!

Jeff

On 3/13/2021 06:23 PM, Martin, LU5DX wrote:
> Well, no.
> I mean not in general.
> If you are to compete in SOAB now dominate by 2BSIQ, looking for mults is
> no longer part of the equation. Eventually you would pass mults to one of
> your two, or three or n radios.
> Mults have become just a factor proportional to the QSO total.
> CT1BOH explains it very well.
> The same station with the same op would have to figure out very well to do
> to outperform his SOAB score using the DX Cluster. You have to evaluate
> exactly who to call, when to call without hurting your overall performance.
> Strategies vary a lot from region to region. But using DX Cluster is not
> easier than not using it.
> I took a break from SOAB (A)  at LP1H and entered SOAB from CE3CT 2013/2014
> CQ WW DX CW.  SOAB is by far more relaxed and straight forward than SOAB
> (A).
>
> To me, the problem about treating them as different categories is about the
> imposibility of proper results adjudication at all times.
>
> Vy 73,
>
> Martín, LU5DX
>
>
> El sáb., 13 mar. 2021 6:16 p. m., rjairam at gmail.com <rjairam at gmail.com>
> escribió:
>
>> It takes different skills, not a lot more skills.
>>
>> Contesting is not simply a game of running. It may be that way in some
>> parts of the world due to the ability to sustain high run rates but in
>> many places you do need to hunt for multipliers to compete
>> effectively. With spotting that becomes dramatically easier than
>> without spotting assistance.
>>
>> Fact is, they are different games and should be treated as such.
>>
>> 73
>> Ria, N2RJ
>>
>> On Sat, Mar 13, 2021 at 2:57 PM Martin, LU5DX <lu5dx at lucg.com.ar> 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> 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>.
>>>>> 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>
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2021 10:05
>>>>>> To: 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.  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> 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.  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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>>>>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>>>>>>
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