Topband: spectrum scopes, swling and contests

[Bill Tippett]

On Thu, Dec 31, 2009 at 10:37 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV <lists at subich.com> wrote:
>
> Bill,
>
>>          Sam this is not intended to criticize anyone but simply to
>> make everyone aware of contest rules regarding the use of CW
>> decoders.  Using decoders like MRP40 or VE3NEA's CW Skimmer for most
>> contests (including the TBDC) puts you in the Multiop category (or
>> Assisted category for some contests).  See the TBDC rule 6 below:
>
> MRP is a single channel decoder.  In this case it is no different
> than using a panadapter (SDR without decoding) and single channel
> CW Decoder (e.g., WriteLog).  That is not (yet) prohibited for any
> single operator class in any contest as far as I can tell.

Joe is correct...I did not understand MRP40 was for one channel only,
so it's fine for Single Operator entries.  CW Skimmer is probably the
only multi-channel decoder available today.

>> I believe it's important that we maintain the distinction of human-
>> copied versus machine-copied CW, otherwise our contests will evolve
>> into who has the biggest computer rather than who has the best ears.

> That distinction was lost when the FCC with the support of ARRL
> effectively eliminated CW proficiency as a requirement for licensing.
> Whether we like it or not, the horse has already left the barn and
> computer decoded CW will become an increasingly large portion of all
> amateur CW activity - including contesting - and CW will eventually
> become just one more "digital" mode.

Maybe so in a few years, but so far the decoding is very poor.  If it
works at all for weak signals, it's extremely slow (think 30 seconds
for a single dit in QRSS, which I believe is the only CW mode to beat
the human ear).  I say this based on looking at the gibberish
weak-signal decoding from my K3 and/or Skimmer...and I'm not the only
one to think this:

http://dayton.contesting.com/pipermail/skimmertalk/2009-December/000464.html

CW is the original "digital mode" and the human brain is the original
processor.  So far, I believe the brain wins for most purposes.  I
doubt we'll see any contesters using CW decoders at WRTC 2010 next
year but maybe in 2020 or 2030.  By then, I doubt I'll care!  :-)

73,  Bill  W4ZV