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

[Jon Suehiro]

Like me a city small station with dipole and vertical, spot from big guns in
both coast does not help at all.  So I have been staying in Low Power - non
assisted.  CQ-ing is not effective, so my contesting is by almost all S&P, I
cannot work them unless I hear.  Now I have to jump into the filed competing
with big stations ?  Jon NN5T

-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest <cq-contest-bounces+nn5t=attglobal.net at contesting.com> On
Behalf Of Randy Thompson
Sent: February 16, 2022 12:23
To: cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] ARRL to allow self-spotting in contests

>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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