Topband: Remotes

[kq2m at kq2m.com]

While the idea of using a remote to work challenging DX on 160 or other 
bands had never occurred to me prior to reading about it on these 
reflectors a few years ago, there is of course the simplest solution of 
all and GUARANTEED TO WORK!  Just DON'T DO IT!

I realize that not everyone feels that way, but thankfully, it solves 
(for me at least)
the problem of remote users although, as others have pointed out, it 
often makes it more challenging to work some DX stations over a 
difficult path at the possible times to work them, because now other 
stations will be calling that normally would not be in that pileup.

Certainly other people feel differently and will, IMO, de facto cheat to 
accomplish whatever it is they had wanted to accomplish.  And it does 
mean that my and others overall accomplishment has been diminished in 
the eyes of some people because of the "taint" that might be involved by 
stealth remoters that cause people to wonder - did he really work and 
confirm all of those stations from his own station without remote?  But 
I can't control what others they think or don't think - that's on them.

I know that that I worked and confirmed all 340 current countries only 
from my own station without the help of anyone else or any other 
stations, whether other ops know that or not, or even care.
It took me 50 years to do it and I will always have the personal 
satisfaction that comes with it, well earned.

I would NOT feel that way if I ever used a remote station to do it while 
others might feel just as proud.  That's for them to decide.  Certainly 
I do not look upon their "accomplishment" gotten by  using remote the 
same way that I view my or others accomplishment WITHOUT using remote.  
I suspect that deep down, they really don't either.

I still believe that anyone operating remote should be in a separate 
category be it awards chasing or in contests. Using remote to make your 
qso is NOT radio based it is by definition Internet based.  Doubt that?  
Simply unplug off your modem, router and/or switch.  Can you still make 
the same contact without changing your connections?  No?  Then your 
contact was NOT made via amateur radio alone.  I think the technology 
used to make it possible to operate that way is very cool and I have 
used it myself.  I would encourage others to use it as well to solve a 
host of problems that people might have in making contacts otherwise. 
But let's not pretend that making qso's via remote is the same as making 
them without remote.  It's NOT and never will be.  It should be in it's 
own SEPARATE category. PERIOD.

I know that some people like to say that "That ship has sailed", "The 
horse is out of the barn", etc. etc.  The truth is that that is PURE 
BUNK!  If contest sponsors/adjudicating committees/awards committees 
wanted to put remote in a separate category they could and would do so 
NOW - the fact is, they DON'T want to, even though some committees see 
fit to make radical changes to many rules and  categories and 
creating/merging/deleting them on an ongoing basis.

73

Bob, KQ2M


On 2024-02-05 12:11, David Raymond wrote:
> We've seen the same thing the past few days with people using RHR to 
> work the current 7O2WX operation.  Of course, I'm sure they will be 
> claiming it for their DXCC, which at one time was the world's most 
> prestigious and sought after amateur radio award. Between remote 
> operation and digital contacts not having their own category, the once 
> coveted DXCC award has become essentially irrelevant and meaningless.  
> Although solutions are comparatively simple, unfortunately, no one at 
> HQ seems interested in fixing it.
> 
> 73. . . Dave, W0FLS
> 
> On 2/5/2024 11:38 AM, Mark, PA5MW via Topband wrote:
> 
>> Agree with you here Steve.
>> 
>> Cannot understand why people would be enjoying, let alone peer 
>> bragging, about something which is NOT resembling their personal 
>> effort.
>> 
>> It sure has its roots in decent parenthood, education etc.
>> 
>> Do not (only) blame remote and current media encouraging this 
>> behavior.
>> In the end it is a choice.
>> 
>> Do blame organisations for not educating people, not maintaining 
>> control to some extend and worse: endorse  bad incentives by mixing 
>> fake hamradio “ efforts”  in oldskool categories.
>> 
>> 
>> 73
>> Mark PA5MW
>> 
>> Sent from Mail for Windows
>> 
>> From: Steve Harrison
>> Sent: Monday, 5 February 2024 17:58
>> To:topband at contesting.com
>> Subject: Topband: Remotes
>> 
>> This growing practice of hiring a remote in another call area far from
>> your own QTH, then working wild and exotic DX wile preventing 
>> deserving
>> locals operating from their home stations from working same DX, is
>> abominable and just plain unethical. I lost what respect I had for a
>> couple people I heard work 9M2AX this morning when I heard them do 
>> that.
>> I heard another guy do that last week that I've only just barely heard
>> on 160 in the past across the country; he was at least two hours 
>> beyond
>> his own sunrise, so obviously hiring a remote, probably that big one 
>> up
>> near Carson City, Nevada, same station these two guys this morning 
>> were
>> probably using. The week before last, there was another east coaster, 
>> at
>> least 2-1/2 hours past his sunrise, who did the same thing at, most
>> likely, the same station. I bet the owner of the station is 
>> advertising
>> it as "WORK 9M2AX on 160 from here!!! Only $XXX for a half hour!!".
>> 
>> I hope these guys are putting an asterisk on their 9M2 QSL cards to
>> indicate they didn't work Ross from home; but I won't hold my breath
>> that they do.
>> 
>> Steve, K0XP
>> 
>> 
>> 
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