[CQ-Contest] Operating IOTA Contest Remotely

[Paul O'Kane]

On 28/07/2023 21:45, Bill Mader K8TE wrote:
> In Paul's eye, advancing technology is bad for ham radio, at least more
> advanced that which he uses. That is his opinion, perhaps one not shared
> by many of the rest of us.

K8TE misrepresents my position on technology.  I'm happy with any
and all technology that does not replace ham-band RF between the
operators concerned.  If the operators cannot contact one another
without being on the internet then, however they choose to describe
it, their activity is something other than ham radio.

> I don't understand why, in 2023, how long the "cord" is between
> the mic/key/keyboard and the rig really matters

Bill's "cord" is the internet, a public communications utility. Ham-radio
ops on the internet are internet users, just like everyone else.
____________________________________________

On 29/07/2023 14:24, Stan Zawrotny K4SBZ wrote:
> Someone could place a solar powered radio on a rare mountain peak and
> others could sit in the comfort of their chairs and claim SOTA. Hmmmm.
>
> Maybe there is logic to all the OTAs requiring a transmitter and operator
> onsite.

The logic is unambiguous.  It's how we choose to contact one another that
defines us as ham-radio operators.  When you're doing it over the internet,
you're an internet user.

____________________________________________

On 29/07/2023 21:53, David Gilbert AB7E wrote:

> 3.  IOTA is different ... the program literally does not care if ten 
> thousand citizens live on a particular island and are active ham radio 
> operators.  It is fundamentally no different at all than WAS. The only 
> objective criteria is that the RF originate there and be received 
> there ... just like for WAS, DXCC, or whatever.
>
That reasoning assumes that ham-radio QSOs and internet-hosted
contacts are identical, or have equal worth in all respects.  It's a
false but convenient assumption (for some), one that had led to a
race to the bottom for DXCC.

____________________________________________

73,
Paul EI5DI
https://ei5di.com/vranyo.html