[CQ-Contest] Self spot in ARRL DX

[Stan Stockton]

I will attempt to explain the rationale. In CW contests everyone gets
spotted automatically.  All you have to do is call CQ and if you have a
signal that can be heard you will be spotted on the RBN. In effect you are
doing something to cause yourself to be spotted just by calling CQ.  There
is little argument that on CW it is perfectly fair since the existence of
the RBN.

However, on phone, there is no skimmer and those people who have more
friends, belong to bigger clubs, etc are spotted more often than the other
people.  If everyone has the ability to self spot it doesn't put them in
the assisted category any more than being automatically spotted on the RBN
puts those operators in the assisted category.  However, it makes it so
those who are using assistance have equal access to everyone who is calling
CQ.

Stan, K5GO

On Fri, Feb 2, 2024 at 9:28 AM Henry Pollock - K4TMC <kilo4tmc at gmail.com>
wrote:

> So...there is really no "unassisted" category anymore, right?
>
> Wait a minute...I just looked at the latest ARRL International DX Contest
> Rules, Categories for ARRL International DX Contest, Version 2.0 - 04 Jan
> 2024, Entry Categories For ARRL DX (page 4 of 11), which shows No Spotting
> Assistance for SO and SOSB (reference HCAT.1.1 and HCAT.3.2.1).
>
> The term "self-spotting" is not addressed.  However, on page 11, there is
> a whole paragraph on the definition (Version 1.05, 10 Feb 2022) of
> "Spotting/QSO Finding Assistance" that ends with this sentence: "Generating
> spotting information for use by other stations is not considered to be
> spotting assistance". So, does this include self-spotting?
>
> 73,
> Henry - K4TMC
> (always unassisted and no spotting)
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 1, 2024 at 9:23 PM Stan Stockton <wa5rtg at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Yes, it is allowed for all participants in all categories.
>>
>> Stan, K5GO/ZF9CW
>>
>> > On Feb 1, 2024, at 9:14 PM, cqtestk4xs--- via CQ-Contest <
>> cq-contest at contesting.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > I know self spotting is now allowed in ARRL DX if you are assisted. Is
>> it also allowed for UNASSISTED?
>> > Bill V31XX/K4XS
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>>
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