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

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

What does "generating spotting information for use by other stations" 
mean?  To me that's massively obscure - does it mean it's OK for you to 
spot other stations?  I hope so, but it's not obvious.

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 11/19/2022 12:47 PM, Jack Brindle wrote:
> Every contester should read the contest rules _before_ entering the contest. From this year’s ARRL Sweepstakes rules:
> "Generating spotting information for use by other stations is not considered to be spotting assistance."
>
> Also, the old prohibition of self-spotting is no longer in the rules.
>
> You might want to check out the rules before 2100Z…
>
> 73,
> Jack, W6FB
>
>
>> On Nov 19, 2022, at 9:44 AM, Pete Smith N4ZR<pete.n4zr at gmail.com>  wrote:
>>
>> I've been appalled by how few stations spot in phone contests, even though N1MM+ (and perhaps other contest logging programs) offer the option of spotting all S&P QSOs, regardless of mode.
>>
>> It's been suggested to me that some non-assisted contest entrants may be deterred because of concern that they might risk disqualification if frequent spots attributed to them are seen on the cluster network.  If that's a significant deterrent, which seems somewhat credible, then perhaps the sponsors of the major contests should singly or collectively announce that the appearance of spots attributed to non-assisted competitors will not, by themselves, be considered  evidence of assisted status.
>>
>> Then how would illicit assisted operation be detected?  15 years ago, CT1BOH and VE5ZX authored a paper on how to identify undisclosed two-radio or assisted operation through log analysis.  With the capabilities now available to us, and the near-universal acceptance of open logs, it seems to me that the means exist for detecting undisclosed assistance without making assumptions based on spotting.
>>
>> So what say, contest organizers?
>>
>> -- 
>> 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.
>> _______________________________________________
>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest