Topband: Timor Leste post cqww report

[Steve Harrison]

Dietmar, my interpretation is that yes: BOTH sides of the QSO must be 
initiated, or begun, by a human or the QSO does not count. In other 
words, even though your computer can do all of the data translation into 
human-readable text, a QSO that takes place AUTOMATICALLY by the 
computer does NOT count. The operators may be either local or remote, 
that doesn't matter. So, for example, George, at KH8/AA7JV, may make 
digital mode QSOs while relaxing on his boat and his RIB is on the 
shore, and he's controlling the RIB remotely... AS LONG as it's George 
(or another operator) who is actually initiating, or beginning, the QSO. 
NOTE: the ARRL made a big point of saying "initiate" QSOs; initiate, in 
the English language, means to begin something. Nothing is implied about 
ENDING anything, however... so the QSO can be automagically ENDED by the 
computer, and it will count.

By saying "contemporaneous", the ARRL is making the point that the QSO 
must be initiated (begun) at the proper time, instead of some time in 
the future or past. In other words, you can't program your computer to 
call and work the DXpedition in 25 minutes while you are off having 
supper: you must be there at the computer and actually triggr the 
conputer to initiate, or begin, the QSO.

So yes, if you set up your computer to make automagic QSOs while you run 
off to sleep or to eat or drink or whatever, THAT does NOT count.

If any DXpeditions are doing that (setting up then letting the computer 
run all by itself with no human initiating (beginning) the QSO, then 
their QSOs, even if the far-off operator is sitting right at the 
computer, do NOT count.

The next question is: can the DXpedition set up their computer to 
monitor the band, then respond to and call DXers AUTOMATICALLY, with NO 
human interaction, BETWEEN QSOs??

The ARRL's message says "contemporaneous direct initiation" of both 
sides of the contact; so NO, letting your computer AUTOMATICALLY find 
and call a DXer is NOT allowed: YOU, the DXpeditioner, must initiate the 
QSO yourself, however your station does that (tuning around to find new 
stations then calling them).

And by the way... with that one message, I can think of at least one 
Southern California radio club member who should forfeit most of his DX 
QSOs from the past 4 or 5 years, because he had his computer set up to 
AUTOMATICALLY tune for, call, and work DX. He was not there during most 
of his "QSOs"; he simply set up the computer and radio then came back 
hours later to see what it had worked.

That's my own interpretation of what you related from the ARRL's message.

73,

Steve K0XP


On 11/28/2023 5:05 AM, Dietmar Kasper wrote:
> After CQWW we dismantle the station but we are still QRV on topband maybe also on other bands
> We still have a close thunderstorm so RX is again very bad, cant copy signals weaker as S5 strength
>
> Got message about ARRL rules for DXCC and other awards. I myself do not operate FT modes
> so maybe one who uses it can tell me how to handle it.
>   
>> ARRL does not count fully automated robot QSOs for DXCC credit.
>> https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-contest-and-dxcc-rules-now-prohibit-automated-contacts
>   
> Please clarification, what does it mean ?
>   
> ARRL writes:
> A resolution at the July ARRL Board of Directors meeting pointed to “growing concern over fully automated contacts being made and claimed” for contest and DXCC credit. The rules now require that each claimed contact include contemporaneous direct initiation by the operator on both sides of the contact. Initiation of a contact may be either local or remote.
>   
> both sides of the contact ?
> I understand that the applicant must be present at the radio to initiate and log the contact. What about the other side (DXpedition ?)
> Does initiating a contact means "I switch on radio and computer, start MSHV software and let it running automatically logging contacts hour after hour attended by human watching the traffic or even unattended if operator observes several bands in parallel or go to dinner, have a beer or even go sleep ?
> DXpedition is not requesting a DXCC so is that operation OK ?
>   
> If both sides must initiate and log the contact manually then my conclusion is that most of the big DXpeditions using MSHV would do wrong ? I wonder that nobody asked this question before.
>   
> still confused ...
> 73 Dietmar
>   
>
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