[UK-CONTEST] Cluster

[Paul O'Kane]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "G3SXW" <g3sxw at btinternet.com>

> Thankyou, chaps, for injecting objectivity into "Ye Olde
> Cluster Debate".

I've always considered the term "SO Assisted" to be both a
contradiction and an oxymoron – as in:

  "Contradiction:  a statement or proposition that contradicts
   or denies another or itself and is logically incongruous".

  "oxymoron:  conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening
   silence')"

Consider these scenarios –

1. An operator performs all operating and logging functions?
Most people agree this is SO.

2. An operator gets spotting assistance from another person in
the shack.  Most people agree this is MO.

3. An operator gets spotting assistance, by telephone, from
another person.  Most people agree this is MO.

4. An operator gets spotting assistance, via a private comms
network, from  other people.  Most people agree this is MO.

5. An operator gets spotting assistance, via a public comms
network (cluster), from other people. How can this be anything
other than MO?

In effect, "SO Assisted" is simply a weasel term for MO.
Contesters who operate as "SO Assisted" should not try to
pretend they're anything other than MO.  Perhaps contest
organisers who facilitate this charade will think again?

> Surely the more choice the better: which contests to enter,
> bands, modes, operating-categories, power levels,
> single/multi operator.

There appears to be an assumption that "more" is always better,
that quantity may be preferable to quality.  If choice is good
in itself, would we all welcome contests on the WARC bands, or
separate modes like AM, DSB, Echolink, GSM and Sykpe?  How
about operating categories like AB6H, AB12H, SO3B (any 3 bands),
SONC (no computer), SO2R, SODO (dipoles only), MO1R, MO2R, MOUR
(unlimited radios), and perhaps a few extra power levels – 200w
to match some "top-end" rigs and 400w to match the UK power limit.

> Cluster is just another choice as is SCP, on-line propagation
> and  greyline data, Daily DX, the XYL bringing tea . . . .

For the purposes of contesting, cluster is far from just another
choice.  It is fundamentally different – consisting, as it does,
of real-time focussed assistance from other operators.  Further,
it relies on a commercial wired communications infrastructure and,
as such, is the antithesis of amateur radio.  It makes a mockery
of any attempt, in contest rules, to impose physical limits on
the boundaries of a station.

With regard to the morality of using cluster in any class of
contest entry, it seems to be argued by users that, as it is an
enabling technology developed by radio amateurs, its use must
therefore be legitimate.  In this context, I look forward to
the acceptance of Echolink as a valid medium for contesting.

73,
Paul EI5DI