[CQ-Contest] Encouraging Spotting of SSB QSOs in Contests

[Chris Plumblee]

If you’re not using DVK on the PC (for instance, if you’re relying on an
external DVK or rawdogging it with no DVK) N1MM has no way to know when
you’re running. It doesn’t make any difference to the user whether you’re
in Run or S&P when you’re using your live voice for all elements of the
exchange (voice of experience…pun intended), but if N1MM thinks that your
run QSOs are S&P QSOs and spots them on your frequency, the situation is
far from ideal.

73,
Chris W4WF

On Thu, Dec 1, 2022 at 11:15 AM Steve London <n2icarrl at gmail.com> wrote:

> Please explain the circumstances that N1MM doesn't put you into run mode
> immediately.
>
> N1MM puts you into run mode immediately if you use the F1 key to send CQ,
> or check the Run box, or use Alt-U to switch to run mode, or...(probably 5
> other ways).
>
> 73,
> Steve, N2IC
>
> On Wed, Nov 30, 2022 at 11:00 AM Richard F DiDonna NN3W <
> richnn3w at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > One problem with spot all S&P QSOs is that often N1MM doesn't put you
> into
> > run mode immediately.  So you suddenly have a bunch of packet spots for
> > stations on your run frequency.  Not an ideal situation.
> >
> > On Wed, Nov 30, 2022 at 11:48 AM Pete Smith N4ZR <pete.n4zr at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Well, of course there is an intermediate step - users of N1MM Logger on
> > > any mode can select the Option "spot all S&P QSOs".  My hunch, totally
> > > unsupported by real data, is that people hesitate to do that because,
> if
> > > they are operating Unassisted, they don't want to be accused of
> cheating.
> > >
> > > 73, Pete N4ZR
> > > Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network
> > > web server at<https://reversebeacon.net>.
> > > For spots, please use your favorite
> > > "retail" DX cluster.
> > >
> > > On 11/30/2022 10:39 AM, George Fremin III wrote:
> > > > On Sat, Nov 19, 2022 at 10:44:00AM -0500, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> I've been appalled by how few stations spot in phone contests,
> > > > >From the early days of the DX spotting systems via packet radio
> > > > (packet DX clusters) there has always been an issue with getting
> folks
> > > > to submit spots to the system.  It all relied on humans inputing this
> > > > data - and there were only small numbrers of stations submitting
> input
> > > > but a vast number of stations consumming it.
> > > >
> > > > I am sure you can find folks complaining about this in the archives
> of
> > > > this very email reflector.
> > > >
> > > > There were efforts made to get folks to add spots to the system.  As
> I
> > > > recall there were even reports done and posted to CQ-Contest that
> > > > listed all the calls and the number of DX spots they posted over the
> > > > past contest weekends.  That in itself became a contest of sorts -
> > > > could you make the high spot list.
> > > >
> > > > But, we do not do this anymore.  And I am not sure anyone would care.
> > > >
> > > > I suspect that spots being put into the system by humans going down
> > > > over time.
> > > >
> > > > There is no reason to do it at all on CW or FT8 or RTTY - the
> > > > automated systems take care of those modes.  It has gotten folks out
> > > > of the habbit of spotting stations - so when they go to SSB they dont
> > > > do it there.  It also has made it seem like there is no activity on
> > > > SSB in or out of contests. And I think this is a bit of a feedback
> > > > loop - no spots on SSB but plenty on CW/FT8 - so folks go to those
> > > > modes to some extent.  You can really see this in multi-mode
> contests.
> > > > We are starting to see what I think is a skewing of the activity in
> > > > things like IARU to CW - where the spots flow freely and where if you
> > > > go to SSB and call CQ you do not get the instant answers that you do
> > > > on CW - so you QSY back to CW.  Even though there are many more
> people
> > > > that know the voice than the ones that know the code.
> > > >
> > > > Does that mean I want an SSB RBN?  No, I would prefer that it did not
> > > > exist on CW either.  Or DX spotting at all for that matter.  But I
> > > > know that it will likely not go back.
> > > >
> > > > I have seen suggestions that SSB should add some sort of beacon to
> our
> > > > signals so that an RBN system would eaisly work - and I fully expect
> > > > that sort of talk to increase over time.  Just like the ADS-B systems
> > > > on airplanes. And this step to self spotting is just the first step
> in
> > > > this direciton.  It would be nice if it was over the air but I guess
> -
> > > > why demand that?  When you can more eaisly call CQ on the internet
> > > > every time you push F1.
> > > >
> > > >
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> > >
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-- 
Chris Plumblee
407.494.5155