[RTTY] CQ-Contest SO2R

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> SO2R provides an advantage because it allows you more 
> receiving time than the SO1R operator. This time is used to 
> search and find new multipliers and stations to work. When 
> you are transmitting SO1R, you do not have the luxury of 
> tuning for other stations to work. THAT's the critical advantage.

Time is time ... how the operator chooses to use it is a matter of 
skill and strategy.  The keyer, computer logging, higher antennas, 
bigger power all provide more time in one way or another.  Put 
another way, they all allow an operator to be more efficient - 
whether it is listening for a multiplier on another receiver 
while the keyer is calling CQ (or automatically sending the 
SS exchange) or allowing the operator to bust the pile up for a 
rare double multiplier in the case of bigger antennas or higher 
power.  

That a good operator can use multiple receivers at a time - on 
different bands - and instantaneously switch bands to work a  
multiplier is nothing new.  I've seen pictures of stations from 
the 70's with multiple C-lines or S-lines each one on a monoband 
amplifier and separate antennas for instantaneous band switching. 
Like progress from the model 15 to the computer, technology has 
simply made the technique accessible to more operators.  

In the 70s, only a select few had access to antenna ranges or 
the mainframe computers to do antenna modeling.  Those like 
W2PV had an immense advantage over others by being able to build 
much more efficient antenna systems.  Now anyone can download a 
free antenna modeling package or buy the ARRL Antenna Book to 
get HFTA and create the most effective antenna farm possible 
within budget and space constraints.  Should computer designed 
antenna farms be a separate category simply because not everyone 
has the skill, knowledge, or (heaven forbid) the resources to 
build an optimized antenna system?  

This jihad against SO2R is nothing more than I don't like it 
so I don't want it in MY neighborhood.     

> Geez, maybe the NFL should allow one of the two teams to run 
> a few plays while the other team is in the shower during 
> half-time. That's equal? I don't think so.

Not the same.  The coach (or quarterback) who does a better job 
of clock management is the Super Bowl champ ... the one who can't 
do it may well be looking for a job at the end of the season.  
They both play the same 60 minutes - just like both the SO1R 
and SO2R operators use exactly one transmitter at a time - but 
one gets more plays into that 60 minutes than the other. 

By the way, in SO1R and SO2R the "R" stands for radio not receiver 
and the category is "single operator" not "single transmitter." 
   



> -----Original Message-----
> From: rtty-bounces at contesting.com 
> [mailto:rtty-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Robert Chudek
> Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 7:31 PM
> To: rtty at contesting.com
> Subject: [RTTY] CQ-Contest SO2R
> 
> 
> In part, Joe Subich W4TV wrote:
> 
> "Not again ... "
> 
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
> 
> Yup, put your waders on, here we go again... :-)
> 
> Rant and rave all you want about SO2R being no different than 
> all the other technologies an operator can use in his/her 
> station, but you continue to sweep the critical difference 
> under the rug and ignore it completely.
> 
> SO2R provides an advantage because it allows you more 
> receiving time than the SO1R operator. This time is used to 
> search and find new multipliers and stations to work. When 
> you are transmitting SO1R, you do not have the luxury of 
> tuning for other stations to work. THAT's the critical advantage. 
> 
> A CW keyer, a better logger, a higher antenna, more towers, 
> and a big amplifier don't buy you any extra receiver time. In 
> contesting "time is of the essence". An SO2R operator gets a 
> couple extra hours of receiver time compared to the SO1R 
> operator. Is skill involved? Certainly, absolutely! But no 
> one can manufacture 'extra' time.
> 
> Geez, maybe the NFL should allow one of the two teams to run 
> a few plays while the other team is in the shower during 
> half-time. That's equal? I don't think so.
> 
> 73 de Bob - KØRC in MN
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