[UK-CONTEST] SSB Field Day results

[Paul O'Kane]

On 02/11/2010 21:11, Justin Snow wrote:

> All this makes it rather harder for the RSGB Contest Committee
> to make a balanced and fair decision.

There is a basic issue here, and it is one that everyone
conveniently turns a blind eye to - presumably because
the consequences of acknowledging the issue are too
terrible to contemplate.

We (radio amateurs) have an independent means of
communications, and that's why we are known as radio
amateurs.  When we use the internet while contesting,
we lose that independence.

I have argued previously that self-spotting is merely the
equivalent of calling CQ on the internet (because that's
undeniably what it is).  However, it is deemed to be a
crime.  I suggest that the real crime is permitting any
use of the internet while contesting.

The Reverse Beacon Network will soon do away with the
"need" for self-spotting, simply bacuse it automatically
spots all stations calling CQ.  Once it is integrated
with contest loggers, in the same way that "cluster" or
"packet" (or whatever you want to call it) is already,
self-spotting and calling CQ will be indistinguishable.

Is this what we, as contesters, want?  I know lots of
contesters will say "yes".  That would be a pity.  Not
only will it make a mockery of contesting in general,
but it will be even worse for events such as Field Day,
which were intended to demonstrate independence from all
utilities.  Does anyone deny that the internet is a now
a utility?

Whatever about "balanced" and "fair", it seems to me the
RSGB Contests Committee has to take some tough decisions.

73,
Paul EI5DI