[RTTY] BARTG HF Contest 2015 Preliminary Results

Sun Apr 5 14:19:37 EDT 2015

Phil is generating a nice conversation that encompasses several key aspects
of contesting in general, not just RTTY.

He raised the following points:-

1. You can't participate in a contest unless you own a computer.

As a general rule this is quite correct. Regardless of mode the speed of
operation makes this a valuable tool especially for cross checking when S&P.
It isn't essential however but it makes the experience of contesting a much
higher stress environment for the entrant.

2. (a)You can't participate in a contest unless you own logging software
(b)You can't participate in a contest unless you send a formatted log.

I don't accept this is the case (a), and if you do own a computer or even
borrow one you can use a free spreadsheet programme to type in your log and
format it correctly.

3. You can't participate in a contest unless you submit your log to a web
site.

In general this is true. This is to encourage submissions through a filter
process that highlights potential areas of concern with submitted logs and
give the entrant the chance to resolve these issues. After all a log
submitted without one of the exchange fields present is one that will score
zero, and causes me the adjudicator more work than if it were simply not
there.

4. You can't participate in a contest unless others send logs with your call
in it.

This is not true for any RSGB or BARTG contest. The adjudication software
fabricates the missing logs.

5. You can't participate in a contest unless your log is computer scanned.

The sheer volume of participants in the various contests precludes manual
adjudication methods of last century. Adjudicators simply do not have the
time to perform the necessary work.

6. You can't participate in a contest unless your log is computer accepted.

Not true in my case, as I will accept logs not submitted via our "filter",
but the reasons for asking me to do this better be good.

Whilst the shift from the old days methods seem to be a retrograde step, on
the other hand the ability to provide the entrant with feedback (UBNs) to a
level never before possible is very impressive indeed. Have a quick look at
the preliminary results and you will see a QSO analysis for the test showing
you which bands were carrying QSOs and when, basic propogation data if you
will. This will help you plan your campaign for the next test.

A final thought.

The first president of the USA said "You can please some of the people all
of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you
can't please all of the people all of the time" How right he was.

73 de Simone. M0BOX
BARTG Contest Manageress

-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Muns [mailto:ed at w0yk.com] 
Sent: 05 April 2015 17:44
To: 'Phil Sussman'; 'Simone Wilson'
Cc: rtty at contesting.com
Subject: RE: [RTTY] BARTG HF Contest 2015 Preliminary Results

Interesting perspective.  Mine is different.

Contests provide high activity for anyone to enjoy.  In fact, the majority
of unique calls worked in a contest are stations who are self-professed
"non-contesters".  They are simply taking advantage of the contest period to
operate their station for whatever their personal reason(s) may be.  Most of
these non-contesters do not submit a log to the contest organizer.  They
need not be concerned with log checking or contest results.  They can
certainly participate without even keeping a log.  They can enjoy the
contest period on their own terms, without a computer, logging software,
formatted log, web site submission, etc.

The minority of contest participants are the so-called contesters who range
from casual to serious interest in the competition itself.  They all benefit
from QSOs with the non-contesters.  It's a win-win for everyone.

The contest rules are designed to help us measure our operating skill.  We
score our operating session by multiplying the number of QSOs by the number
of different QTHs (or other things like call prefixes) contacted.  We can
keep our results private by submitting a Checklog or not submitting at all.

Log checking is entirely voluntary.  Our log is only checked if we choose to
submit it to the organizer.  The benefit of submitting our log is learning
what our errors were and thinking about how to improve our operating skills
to simultaneously increase our score while decreasing the errors in the
information exchanged.

RTTY operators with very diverse interests can all enjoy the benefits of
contests on their own (different) terms.

Ed W0YK

_________________________________________________________________

Phil N8PS wrote:

I read this post with a degree of nostalgia and note the migration of RTTY
contests into the realm absolute auditing.

In RTTY today:

You can't participate in a contest unless you own a computer.
You can"t participate in a contest unless you own logging software You can't
participate in a contest unless you send a formatted log.
You can't participate in a contest unless you submit your log to a web site.
You can't participate in a contest unless others send logs with your call in
it.
You can't participate in a contest unless your log is computer scanned.
You can't participate in a contest unless your log is computer accepted.

So, what does this mean? Is each and every contact subject to verification.
What if someone (even rare) works in a contest, but does not send a log.
And don't think of submitting a paper log, even if you don't own a computer.

The hew and cry is accuracy and the avoidance of fraud. Yet, certainly today
it is possible to 'beat' this system. All you need is three or four
different log submissions that track each other. You don't even need several
people, just a big computer with the capacity to flood the system with false
calls, false logs and full of false contacts, even with other active
participants.
That would undercut even valid log entries.

Contesting used to be fun and based upon trust. That trust no longer exists
in favor of a robot that processes your original log into a consistent form
right for adjudication. Are robots trustworthy? After all, garbage in =
garbage out.

I still run RTTY, but don't count on me for contest points. You'll only be
disappointed.

73 de Phil - N8PS

Quoting Simone Wilson <m0box at btinternet.com>:

> CQ Contest,
>
>
>
> Preliminary Contest Log analysis of the 2015 BARTG HF Contest has been 
> completed. Adjudication has now entered the enquiry phase and to aid I
have
> published preliminary results. You will find them at this address
>
>
>
> http://tinyurl.com/opezrbn
>
>
>
> The results shown here are DRAFT. They are the result of the initial 
> automatic adjudication process. They are NOT the final results. 
> Positions can and will change once proper analysis of the issues is made.
>
>
>
> These are posted for your information and so you may download your 
> individual UBN. If you see any problem that you wish me to investigate
then
> please email me.
>
>
>
> You will have received an email from the robot when you submitted your 
> log highlighting the errors it found in the log you submitted. I have 
> had to delete several logs that do not conform to the required 
> exchange data (usually missing fields) which renders them useless for 
> cross checking purposes.
>
>
>
> If you need to modify and resubmit your log in light of the UBN data,
please
> email me to advise you need to modify your log and I will then 
> respond. I will send your log back to you that is the one the robot has
given to me.
> The robot processes your original log into a consistent form right for 
> adjudication.
>
>
>
> To request a copy of your log for modification or for any matters 
> arising from the UBM data for your entry, please email me at 
> logs at bartg.org.uk <mailto:logs at bartg.org.uk>  only. Emails to this 
> email address will NOT be answered.
>
>
>
> No new log submissions will be accepted.
>
>
>
> Concerning the BARRTG 2014 HF Contest Results, adjudication is now
complete
> and awaits only the allocation of award certificates prior to 
> publication, these being downloadable fron the results page itself. I 
> expect to make an announcement in the next two weeks.
>
>
>
>
>
> 73 de Simone. M0BOX
>
> BARTG Contest Manager
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> RTTY mailing list
> RTTY at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rtty
>

_______________________________________________
RTTY mailing list
RTTY at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rtty