Topband: Brave New World

[Charlie]

Technological advances have consequences.  With remote operation, most of the consequences are positive.  These positive consequences have been well stated.  There are also some negative consequences.  On balance, the good outweighs the bad, but the downside should be recognized.  
 
Generally what someone else does with radio does not impact me or my enjoyment, unless they get their kicks by throwing 40 over carriers on the DX.  I don't care if folks use code readers, chat rooms, cluster spots to find DX or whatever.  In fact, I use all the modern tools myself (except code readers- thankfully I can still hear).  To focus this on Topband, consider the following scenario: 
 
A theoretical station in Maine, WX1XXX, has invested in a full size 160M four square and has multiple rx antennas, including 8 circles and beverages.  The odds of propagation favoring WX1XXX for a particular expedition, because of the NE coastal location, are far higher than for anyone even 200 miles inland, except under unpredictable spotlight condx.  If you consider how well equipped the station of WX1XXX is, coupled with the prop advantage, he is typically going to work the dxpedition first in good condx, and may be one of the handful who can work the DX at all in marginal condx.  
 
WX1XXX working the DX first is all part of the game.  He is a good op who has expended resources and worked to build a station, in a geographic location, that results in world class performance on Topband.   No participant in the game begrudges WX1XXX his QSO.  In fact, we all admire WX1XXX and his station building/operating ability.  
 
Now say WX1XXX decides to remote his station, so that he can operate from work or while traveling.  No problem, more power to him.   This is a positive consequence of the technology. 
 
WX1XXX has a crew who helps with antenna construction and station maintenance.   Some of these folks don't have well equipped home stations.  WX1XXX decides to open up his remote station to his helper friends, so they can experience working DX with a big station.   This is no different than WX1XXX inviting a friend to his station  for working EP6T.  Such invitations have been extended  forever.  The remote capability removes the inconvenience and cost of the friend having to travel to the WX1XXX shack.   
 
So far, what WX1XXX has done with the remote has not significantly impacted the other serious players in the game. 
Now WX1XXX decides to sell access to his remote station.   Instead of only WX1XXX or a few close friends chasing EP6T from this world class station, there may be 10 to 30 people who feel their best shot at success will come by paying $$$ to use the WX1XXX station.  Some of these will be on the west coast, maybe some in the mid west and  even some on the east coast.  Likely, a majority of these stations lining up for a shot at an EP6T QSO from the WX1XXX superstation have reasonably well equipped stations at home.  They might have a shot for an EP6T QSO from home but it is a much longer shot than it will be from WX1XXX. 
 
Human nature being what it is, there will be folks who would pay $$$ to use WX1XXX for a nearly guaranteed QSO rather than chancing not making one from their less well equipped or less geographically advantaged location.   The Q is the most important thing to them, not how the Q is made.  In this paid remote case, no one is violating the official DXCC rules or the FCC rules but I think this aspect is what most folks find distasteful.   I could care less what someone does to make a Q, if it does not impact me personally.  There have always been folks who have their friends work the DX for them.  There are folks who run 20 KW.  The paid remote business at least can be said to be legal or within the rules, not so some of the other practices.   Still, it can have some negative consequences for the other game players, under some scenarios. 
 
Say there are 30 folks lined up on a chat board waiting their turn to call EP6T from WX1XXX when the band opens.   The order of calling has been predecided, perhaps in sequence of log in.   Everything is locked and loaded.   Some of these openings only last minutes, centered around the DX sunrise.   Some days the band does not open at all.   At N8RR, I only had one EP6T sunrise opening and they were workable for perhaps 5 to 8 minutes, max.  I think EP6T only had 30 some odd QSO's during that opening to NA.  I tried, but was not one of the 30 who made it.   Now, I am not saying a remote station was a factor in me not making a QSO during this short opening.  I was far from being the only one who did not get a Q with EP6T.   However, if I  take the theoretical scenario  of WX1XXX having a 30 user list waiting to call EP6T during a five minute opening, I can reasonably conclude that my chances of a Q are diminished here in WV using my inverted L and Hi Z triangle rx antenna.   
 
The WX1XXX users don't even need to worry about positioning their TX freq in the pileup to enhance chances.   They are already positioned on the last QSO TX freq.  Some of these DX ops don't move their RX freq and some do.  In the case of EP6T, where they couldn't hear very well, I would guess a loud caller on the freq of the last station worked would have an excellent chance of being the next QSO logged.  
 
The serious DX chasers, especially Topband, are faced with a dilemma now.   Anyone  who wants to pay the $$ can be at the head of the line for a rare one by remoting to a world class station, rather than using his own equipment.  Many will elect to do that.  I will not be one of them.   
 
We should note that paid remotes are not the only potential case where a single superstation could absorb much of a prime time DX opening.  A remote station owner, with a wide circle of friends, could invite a large group to work the DX over his remote station for free.  Likely this already occurs.   If the opening is only minutes log, this can negatively impact the other game players.  Solutions:  Move to the coast and build a superstation.   Build a superstation where you are and take your prop chances.   Know and befriend someone who has a superstation in a geographically favorable area.   Pay your $$$ for access to a superstation.  
 
It is the $$$ aspect that has the potential for tilting the field in a significant way.  The genie is out of the bottle.  As with everything else, we will adjust.  
 
73 Charlie N8RR   

 
> Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 09:50:36 -0700
> From: w0mu at w0mu.com
> To: topband at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: Topband: Brave New World
> 
> On 2/26/2015 9:37 AM, mstangelo at comcast.net wrote:
> > Let's put this into context. This is not the end of the world.
> >
> It is the creation of a whole new world.  One that has opened many doors 
> for people to operate and enjoy ham radio and even extend their ability 
> to radio in their older years.  Where exactly is the problem?
> 
> How has remote radio impacted YOU in a negative way.  Please site 
> examples with details and data..............
> 
> 
> _________________
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