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

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

Let me also be perfectly clear - I almost always use spotting, because I 
hate the cycle of tune-check-dupe-repeat that is the essence of S&P.  My 
concern is that if self-spotting is allowed, it will become just another 
area for an "arms race" among the most competitive.  I don't need 20 
stations across a band, all of whom I've already worked, spotting 
themselves every 15 seconds, while all the others go unspotted.

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 2:31 PM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote:
>
> 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.
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