[UK-CONTEST] [CDXC] Remote stuff

[Ian White GM3SEK]

Roger G3SXW wrote:
>Hello,
>I see no problem with the core concept: it matters not where the 
>operator is sitting, whether in the room, or upstairs on Wi-Fi, or 
>10,000 miles away. But surely for contest and award purposes all 
>transmitters, receivers & antennas must be in the same location. That 
>is 'The QTH' and must be appropriately licensed etc.
>
>The problem comes in with remote receiving locations: a W2 listening in 
>W7, a UA0 listening in UA2 or even a Cornwall station listening in 
>Shetlands . . . . can gain huge advantage.  For 'normal' operation in 
>CQWW contest rule 7 states: An entrant’s remote station is determined 
>by the physical location of the transmitters, receivers, and antennas. 
>A remote station must obey all station and category limitations of Rule III.
>
>Rule III includes this: 3. All transmitters and receivers used by the 
>entrant must be located within a single 500-meter diameter circle or 
>within the property limits of the station licensee’s address, 
>whichever is greater. 4. All antennas used by the entrant must be 
>physically connected by wires to the transmitters and receivers used by 
>entrant.
>
>So as to encourage technological developments CQWW has also introduced 
>the 'Xtreme' category for entrants who do not wish to be restricted by 
>these rules. See:
>http://www.cqww.com/CQ_WW_Xtreme_Rules.pdf
>

I'm quite comfortable with remote stations, provided that everything at 
that station is on the same site, and that the station location is 
truthfully declared (above all, by the callsign).

If that station happens to have a remote operator, it really doesn't 
trouble me. I am still making a complete two-way radio contact to that 
station, wherever it is.

The only problem I see is with the Xtreme category being *too* wide 
open. Networks of remote receivers that could be anywhere in the world 
are a deal-breaker for me, because they blow apart the whole concept of 
making contact with "a two-way radio contact with a radio station". If 
the transmitter and receiver are in two widely different places, we're 
actually only making two separate ONE-way contacts.

As Dave G3YMC points out, that robs us of the satisfaction of knowing 
our signals have reached all the way to the DX location... because they 
probably haven't, but have been picked up from somewhere much easier 
along the way.

I'm all for encouraging technological development and new ideas, but the 
contest and award organisers do have a responsibility to ring-fence the 
rules and say "We'll do anything for amateur radio (but we won't do 
THAT)".

The use of far-remote receivers is just such a case.




>(please forgive the cross-posting to CDXC and UK-Contest)
>73 de Roger/G3SXW.

No problem - underwear here in accurate alignment.


-- 

73 from Ian GM3SEK
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek