[CQ-Contest] ARRL to allow self-spotting in contests

[Richard F DiDonna NN3W]

Absolutely awful idea.  What on earth was the CAC or the League thinking.

73 RIch NN3W

On Wed, Feb 16, 2022 at 7:23 AM Randy Thompson <k5zd at outlook.com> wrote:

> From the ARRL Contest Update today:
>
> "New Rules in effect for all ARRL HF Contests in June
> Starting with the ARRL International Digital Contest, in all categories
> that allow assistance (Unlimited), the use of online and other non-amateur
> radio platforms including but not limited to social media, live video
> streaming, and internet chat rooms will be allowed. In all Unlimited and
> Multioperator categories, the prohibition of self-spotting, and asking
> another station to spot you, will also be removed."
>
> Wow.  It was one thing for the VHF contests to allow use of chat rooms and
> telephone calls, now this is extended to all HF contests. It should be
> interesting to see what unintended consequences result from allowing
> multi-ops and assisted competitors to spot themselves. You could spot
> yourself with every CQ if you wanted to. Or you can call people on the
> phone and ask them to get on the air. Or send out email reminders to work
> you during the contest.
>
> It is likely to have the most impact on SSB to produce spotting equal to
> what the RBN does for CW and RTTY.
>
> For an organization that has always been so timid and conservative on rule
> changes, the ARRL seems to have sprung this one without much consultation
> with the contest community.  I assume it is in reaction to the W2RE
> incident several years ago in ARRL DX where he used live streaming on
> Facebook during the contest.
>
>
> Randy K5ZD
>
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