[UK-CONTEST] Paper Logs/Time to Stop!

[Chris Tran GM3WOJ]

Hello all

Well you've certainly brought this reflector to life, Nigel !
(also Ian G3SEK - check that RX cos it was a good aurora - my feeble
station which I've now dismantled worked 90 stns all around Eu)

Logging - I'm struggling to understand the arguments against computer
logging - Peter G4MJS wrote :-
"<snip> they're just not interested in learning PC skills just to
enter a contest. Contesting is about doing stuff on the radio, not about
learning IT skills <snip>"  Sorry to disagree Peter, but I think the reality
is that to do well in a contest in 2002 you HAVE to be using a PC - for dupe
checking, mult checking, rate checking  etc.  Yes in a minor contest you
might be able to do these on a sheet of A3 with the alphabet boxes, but what
a pain that was.   I know that even now some of the entrants in CQ WW CW,
for example, still log on paper, then transfer their own logs into computer
form, but what a waste of time.

Hardware - I think the argument that 'I can't afford a PC' really no longer
applies - you can purchase a 486 or similar for 30 pounds, which will run
CT or NA perfectly well.    I'm about to throw in the bin 3 486 PCs that
have been used at GM7V for 5 years, and no-one wants them locally.
Let's put it like this - the cost of the computing hardware is now minimal
compared to the cost of a transceiver etc., if we assume a basic computer
system suitable for contest logging.

Software - there would seem to be problems here - as far as I am aware,
the 'Cabrillo' standard is not really a rigorous standard, but has
variations.  However, I don't think it would need much ingenuity to
standardise
the logging format for each contest, and publish this well in advance.

On balance, I agree with Nigel - after all, we want to encourage not only
participation in contests, but techniques which will enhance the
participant's score, which computer-logging definitely will. One thing I
have not seen
mentioned are all the associated advantages of using a PC - e-mailing of
entries, easy editing of logs, easy printing of dupe sheets, summary sheets
and
QSL labels, much reduced fatigue sending CW, uploading logs to LOTW, etc
etc.

Computer logging will be the norm in a few years time - why doesn't the RSGB
take the lead in this, instead of waiting to follow the ARRL or DARC ?

73
Chris     GM3WOJ
www.gm7v.com