[UK-CONTEST] Contest end time - a consensus please.

[Chris S]

>
> "My contest buddy and I have become regular entrants of the RSGB 6M, 2M and
> 70cms Tuesday evening activity contests. For logging a 'retired' laptop is
> used with Minos logger. This evening, while trying to complete the last
> contact of the evening, deliberate interference was received from a G4
> station, whose view was that the contest had ended, however, according to
> the laptop, when the contact was initiated, the contest still had a minute
> to run. In the end, I felt justified in persevering for a further 30
> seconds
> to complete the contact, partly because I'd started the contact before the
> end of the contest and, partly, because of the deliberate interference.
>
> The view I take regarding contest timing is that I start and finish
> according to the time shown by the equipment I have. I accept that it's
> possible that the equipment is out by a minute or two - this is a
> limitation
> of the equipment. I operate for the duration of operation allowed by the
> contest rules and what I gain or lose at the start of the contest, I loose
> or gain at the end.
>
>
>
> In the end, this is just a hobby! What's the consensus is my view of the
> world reasonable?
>
>
>
> Roger
>
> G0BSU"
>

Roger,

Sorry you felt this was deliberate QRM.

I was going to contact you directly after the contest, but could not find
your email on QRZ, as I do not want any hard feelings (we are bound to here
each other again on Tuesday nights and all contestants need to enjoy the
hobby and get on.)

No need to name and shame me - I feel I need to be open about this very
touchy subject. I knew this might raise its head after I reluctantly tried
to contact you at just after 22.32 - giving you a chance to check your
clock.  This is why I made a record of this on my PC should it arise. I gave
my callsign and after you asked me politely to abstain from raising the
point I made a note and left frequency at 22.33 and 10 seconds whilst you
were still trying to exchange details. I just felt I needed to make the
point and am sorry you felt that this was deliberate QRM. But I guess it was
down to your Laptop clock being out that made you feel this way. Personally
I set the time on my laptop clock and digital watch before I go out
portable. The times I refer to were taken from 2 x clocks connected to the
Rugby MSF station. 1 x Portable Oregon scientific and 1 x weather station
clock with radio time. I want to take this chance to apologise for any hard
feelings. Maybe next time just set a digital watch if the laptop isn't
reliable. As I also felt bad about doing this on reflection, thinking to
myself that maybe I took things too seriously. But then if it wasn't me this
time, I'm sure with your clock so far out, then someone else in the future
may do just the same as I did.

Anyway before I saw this email in the group I also checked the UKAC 144Mhz
rules, as I felt a little bad about our exchange, and could not myself find
any clear rules on this matter. So rather the us fall out over this I would
say it is best to take the opportunity on both sides to learn from the said
experience and hopefully we can get some clarification of the rules. i.e. If
a QSO began at 22.29 and 59 seconds do you conclude the QSO until the
exchange is complete and if so how long for? Or do we all just stop any
competition related transmittions dead on 22.30.

Let's hope we can get some clarity regarding the rules for future reference
and both learn from this.

All the best, and hope I don't appear too anal on this one Roger.

73

Chris
G8HCB