[Fourlanders] FW: [VHFcontesting] June 06 VHF QSO Party LCRsnow available

[Sherman Banks]

Dupes are not bad thing with computer based logging.  The Log Checking 
Software will score the log right by automatically removing duplicate 
contacts.

Let's say W4NH makes a contact with W4ATL.  W4NH accidentally logs 
W4AQL. W4NH will later try to work me since I am not in the W4NH log. 
If I refuse the QSO and argue about whether W4NH is a dupe a lot of time 
is wasted.  Plus, I don't know if I made the mistake or if W4NH made the 
mistake.  For all I know, W4NH could have thought my previous contact 
was not good and as a result did not log the first contact.  The safest 
thing for me to do is to work the station again.  In my case, the second 
contact is a dupe and is not counted.  For W4NH, the second contact 
counted because the first one was entered wrong.

Here is the result of a dupe from my Log Checking Report (LCR) from a SS
contest I did and the result from the dupe to my score
________________________________________________________________
AB5GG is a dupe or invalid - QSO # 1458.

There were 15 dupes found.  You might have marked these dupes.  For
electronic logs, all dupes (marked or unmarked) are treated the same
with no penalties.
_________________________________________________________________

So I did not receive any penalties for working duplicate stations.  Log 
the dupes.

Here is a report on busted call signs that I had:

_________________________________________________________________
You had 22 calls in your log which were not found in the database of
good callsigns.  12 of them have been judged to be incorrect.  These
will be removed from your score - along with an additional penalty of
one QSO per per busted callsign.
_________________________________________________________________

Some people only make a few contacts, so they are not in any other logs
turned in to the ARRL.  These are said to be "uniques".  If the number
of uniques is unusually high, then all uniques may be removed from your
log.  That is why it is important to turn your score in, even if you
made only a few contacts.

The big penalty is when I entered the call sign wrong.  I got an extra
QSO penalty for each call sign deemed to be incorrect.  This
determination is very accurate.  The LCR software will guess at what the
correct call sign might be and looks in that log for my call sign.  If
all the other information is correct (time, band, grid), then it 
determines that I screwed up the call sign and penalizes me accordingly.

CQWW contest rules are really harsh. You get a 3 QSO penalty for
incorrect calls or information entered.

In a VHF contest, where the rates are lower than on HF, you may have
time to discuss whether or not you have worked a station before and
correct the information in the log from the previous contact. That way,
you will not be penalized.  But if the band is open on 6 and you are 
working stations as fast as you can, just work the station again and 
move on.  Wasting time about dupes will ultimately hurt your score since 
you could be working new stations.  The band may close in the middle of 
your dupe discussion!

The big challenge is to get the grid right. That should be pretty easy
if you work the same station on multiple bands.  Any errors can be
corrected when the station is worked on the higher bands.

Now, here is the kicker.  Let's say you don't particularly like someone.
You could work them, then remove them from your log after the contest.
The other station would get 2 QSOs removed from their log because the
contact is not in your log.  I didn't say that the system was perfect.

Out of 719+ QSOs I think you had 34 QSOs with incorrect information. 
That is a 4.7% error rate.  This could be improved.  Big gun stations 
typically have less than a 2% error rate.

I noticed that my errors mostly come from typing in the wrong 
information.  I hear it right, but it does not get into the computer 
right.  So one thing that I did was to learn how to touch type. That 
way, I can look at the screen while I am typing to make sure what I hear 
is actually getting into the computer without the constant looking up 
and down from the monitor to the keyboard.  Plus, you may notice a lot 
of information on the screen while you are typing that will help you get 
the call sign right.  This is a skill I am still working to improve.

The rules are in place to encourage accuracy.  Contesting is not only 
working the most stations, but exchanging accurate information with the 
most stations.  This method of scoring is something all stations live by 
and provides the fairest method yet to determine a winner.

Jim Worsham wrote:
> I stand corrected.  That was in the general rules which I have not looked at
> as closely as I have the 50 MHz and up rules.  As Brian said, we are just
> going to have to start being a bit more careful with the logging.  One othet
> thing, you are DQed if your dupes exceed 2%.  That isn't that many dupes.
> In our case we had .5% (4) dupes.  If we had 16 we would be Dqed.
> 
> 73
> Jim, W4KXY
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Brian McCarthy
> Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 6:09 PM
> To: fourlanders at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [Fourlanders] FW: [VHFcontesting] June 06 VHF QSO Party LCRsnow
> available
> 
> Seeing my callsign instead of W4NH does seem really odd. I will look at the
> submitted file to see if it gives me any clue as to why this might have
> happened. I will let everyone know what I find.
> 
> I am also relieved to see that there are no deductions from 222 MHz.
> As I expected, most of our deductions are from 50 MHz where conditions and
> congestion conspire against us much of the time. Since I also answer the QSL
> cards, I also see that virtually all of the cards that we get that are not
> in our log are from 50 MHz. What it really means is that the scoring of
> contests is no longer on the honor system. We will be cross checked. As long
> as the same rules are applied to everyone, I see no problem with it.
> 
> What this really means is that we will need to be extra vigilant and careful
> about accuracy. Some of those marginal situations where we think we worked
> someone may no longer be appropriate to leave in the log. When in doubt,
> flag the contact for extra attention in the log.
> Don't just press enter and call CQ.
> 
> Some people have expressed concern or consternation at the ARRL for
> assessing penalities. They have had the right to do so for quite some time
> as it has been in the published rules. See:
> http://www.arrl.org/contests/ and follow the link "Disqualifications and
> penalties" (http://www.arrl.org/contests/dq.html). In the text you will
> find, "Score reduction may be made for taking credit for unconfirmed QSOs or
> multipliers, duplicate contacts or other scoring discrepancies."
> 
> I had always wondered when the ARRL was going to exercise the scoring
> methods as used in the HF contests on the VHF contests. Now we know. I just
> hope they will not wait the same amount of time to implement VUCC support on
> LOTW (>5 years) after the initiation of DXCC (primarily for
> HF) support.
> 
> Later,
> Brian
> NX9O
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