[UK-CONTEST] Death to the cluster!

[G3LZQ John]

I have so far stayed out of this one but for those who doubt
you wont be caught spotting..

http://www.k1ttt.net/logs/2009cqwwcw_spots.zip  a facinating
report on who spotted what during CQWWCW..


73

John G3LZQ
-----Original Message-----
From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Dave
Sergeant
Sent: 11 December 2009 16:40
To: uk-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Death to the cluster!


On 10 Dec 2009 at 21:19, David Cree wrote:

> One further point - it amazes me that most entrants still
claim to be
> "unassisted". Perhaps the Adjudicators should put out
false "spots" and
> note the call-signs of those stations that appear blindly
(or should
> that be deafly) calling on the frequency - they can't all
be
> multi-multis.

I cannot comment on the effect of the cluster on VHF
contests....

But as Dave says, looking at the claimed scores for CQWW CW
at
http://cqww.com/logs-received_cw.htm it does seem that the
vast
majority enter the 'non-assisted' category. It is maybe a
bit
surprising therefore that there are so many spots during
this contest
if most entrants are not using the cluster (or maybe I am
being cynical
- and I have no idea myself as I was not of course watching
it
myself...)

(and as a aside, I appeared to be well ahead in ALL QRP
NON-ASSISTED
until I saw G4EDG had put an entry in with a claimed score
three times
my own...).

My general comments on the cluster remain the same, as a QRP
operator
it is counterproductive in current conditions, in either
general
operating or contesting. As soon as somebody is spotted the
pileup is
astronomic and it is pointless me trying to break it. I rely
on
catching the dx when it first comes on the band before any
sign of a
spot appears - though I also have a sneaky habit of managing
to work
stations just before they go QRT, maybe a sign that he
decides the
cluster generated pileup has run its day. I never bother
connecting to
the cluster myself, although I used to be an enthusiast in
the old days
of 2m/4m clusters, remember GB7DXI? The internet based
system has a lot
to be sorry for.

73 Dave G3YMC

http://www.davesergeant.com

_______________________________________________
UK-Contest mailing list
UK-Contest at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest