[RTTY] 10 Minute Rule

Barry w2up@mindspring.com
Mon, 6 May 2002 19:51:07 -0000


The annual SO2R argument just concluded on the cq-contest reflector 
last week. Before we go through it all over again here, may I suggest 
you'all (see, I'm talking like Don now) read the back and forth in the 
archives at www.contesting.com...
73,
Barry W2UP

On 6 May 2002 Don Hill AA5AU wrote:

> The 10 minute rule really has nothing to do with SO2R.  But
> it's always nice to have a good SO2R discussion before Dayton!
> 
> I believe Jay's point is moot here.  As I said "I got stuck"
> is true.  However, when I was "stuck" on 10, I was mapping a
> slew of stations on 15 to work, one right after another, without
> having to go hunt for them anew after my 10 minutes was up on 10M.
> Sure, I was impacted but so were single radio ops.
> 
> Thus, I still had that advantage over single radio operators.  So
> it did nothing but make me sit there and make no contacts for 9 minutes.
> It would not have mattered if I was two radio or not.  The guy with
> the single radio would have been "stuck" too. So when I went to 15M
> afterwards, I had stations lined up to work like ducks sitting in a pond.
> The only difference was that I didn't have to reload after 3 shots.  The
> single radio operator did not have that advantage.
> 
> Jay's other point about Multi-Single vs. Multi-Multi is also
> without reasoning.  Many Multi-Single stations incorporate a second
> radio to hunt multipliers or map a 2nd band just the same as SO2R
> stations.  Will we need to reclassify Multi-Single stations that
> use a 2nd radio?  I don't think so.
> 
> Associating a ten-minute rule with limiting SO2R operation and
> evening the playing field is absurd.  Again, there is no PLAUSIBLE
> reasoning behind a ten-minute rule for single ops.
> 
> On the subject of having a separate class for SO2R, well I am
> for it if everyone else is.  However, single radio ops are going to
> be pinned down with either a band limit or time limit rule that
> they are not going to be happy with.  It's happened in BARTG already.
> 
> I believe the best solution is to have an Unlimited Single Op
> class and allow SO2R ops to have as many transmit signals at
> the same time as they want.  Now that sounds like fun.  The more
> signals the better!
> 
> I think the bigger question is  "Are there any single operators
> out there that favor the 10-minute rule for single ops?".  If so, what
> is your reasoning?  The 10-minute rule has nothing to do with
> SO1R vs. SO2R.  It's just plain stupid.
> 
> Some may point to last year's WAE RTTY results and say that
> K4GMH beat me because of the 10 minute rule.  I believe Mike
> himself told me that.  However, I do not believe that for one
> minute.  Last year in WAE, there was an exception to the
> 10-minute rule that allowed for working new multipliers on another
> band.   I took advantage of that exception.
> 
> The reasons Mike beat me are that he is just as good or better of an operator
> than me and, more importantly, he had a geographical advantage.  By being
> on the east coast he was able to kill me on 40 & 80 meters.  He worked
> stuff I never heard and it resulted in an astounding 59 more multipliers for
> him on those bands.  I knew I had this disadvantage and tried to counter
> by making more QTC's than him (which I did by 200) but it was not enough
> to overcome his 40 & 80 meter advantage.
> 
> The 10-minute rule did not help him in WAE.  His location and operating
> skill was what gave him the win.  This year will be a good test.  With no
> 10-minute rule in WAE and no apparent restrictions on QTC traffic, it'll
> be interesting to see what happens.  I'm willing to bet, especially if condx
> are not good and we both give all-out efforts, that he will still beat me.
> 
> But things will be much different this year.  I'll have an amp on the 2nd radio
> and will be able to pass QTC's on either radio (last year the rules would
> not allow passing QTC traffic while making "multiplier exception" QSO's
> on another band within the 10-minute window).
> 
> Then again, Mike could run SO2R, and that point will be moot!
> 
> Look at these ARI Digital scores.  They are very low all the way around.
> It could be a very fun contest with all the Italian multipliers.  It amazes
> me that the EA and SP contests can pull in more participants.  I made 251
> Q's in 12 hours.  That's a little more than 20 Q's an hour.  That's pitiful participation.
> 
> Man, are we having fun yet?
> 
> Don, AA5AU
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jay Townsend, WS7I" <ws7i@arrl.net>
> To: <rtty@contesting.com>
> Sent: Monday, May 06, 2002 12:40 PM
> Subject: [RTTY] 10 Minute Rule
> 
> 
> > At 11:50 AM 5/6/02 -0500, Don Hill AA5AU wrote:
> > 
> > >There is no plausible reasoning behind a 10-minute rule for single ops.
> > >It does not even the playing field.  It does not hinder SO2R ops.
> > 
> > >But I would find a mult on 10 and work him, then get stuck for the rest
> > >of the 10 minutes CQ'ing >with no takers. 
> > 
> > I beg to differ. The 10 minute rule in the exact case you stated above does
> > impact the
> > SOMultiRadio operator.  As you state..."I got stuck". Of course you were
> > hindered.
> > 
> > Can't say that I am in favor of 10-minute rule either, but I am in favor of
> > seperate classes for differing number of transmitters. If Multi-single is
> > different from Multi-Multi then so to is SO1R different from S0MR.
> > 
> > As you most likely remember the original RTTY Journal WW/CQ allowed M/S
> > with no 10 minute rule, it was added to take away the octupus.  One wonders
> > why what is good for M/S isn't good for Single Operator stations ?
> > 
> > So to your idea of emailing sponser's about the 10 minute rule I would add,
> > its time to create a seperate class for SOMultiRadio.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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--
Barry Kutner, W2UP              Internet: w2up@mindspring.com
Newtown, PA                     Frankford Radio Club