[UK-CONTEST] Cheating in contests

[Clive Whelan]

Recent correspondence makes it clear that this is now quite
a serious problem.

The current focus seems to be on undeclared use of DX
clusters in the unassisted category, and for the cheat this
is an "attractive" option, because no third party is
involved and the mechanism is unseen. However, we now know
that technology means that, in the words of a once popular
song, there is "nowhere to run to, nowhere to hide".


It seems that there are three broad strategies that sponsors
might adopt to address this issue:

1. Make the use of clusters legal in all categories. Both
DARC and the Russian organisation have already followed this
option.


2. Institute a stringent cross checking regime, correlating
QSO times with the appearance of spots on the cluster. This
clearly works, as we have been told by e.g. G3SXW, but may
require resources available only to a commercial
organisation such as CQ magazine. Additionally, I suspect
the burden of proof required, is so onerous, that only the
mega cheats are caught.


3. Do nothing: the de facto approach currently for the
majority of contest sponsors. Sadly the cheats will not go
away anytime soon, and they will probably migrate to
contests which adopt this approach. This is a sad but
inescapable truth.

Naturally you cannot cheat me, because rather like my
counterparts in Rugby, you cannot beat me, you can only
score more points than me ;-0. Of course, whether I come
23rd or 24th is a matter of little consequence, but I can
understand why others might be disaffected. One day I might
become god enough to be in a position to care, who knows?

My best guess is that the only way to tackle the problem is
via peer pressure. Sadly, but happily, no readers of this
list will be in a position to assist in this regard.


73


Clive
GW3NJW