[UK-CONTEST] An ideal opportunity to drop PSK ... for good!

[Christopher Plummer]

Simon,
 
You mention adding spice to data contesting, then blow your arguement by mentioning the Sprints...... just for information THERE ARE NO DATA SESSIONS IN THE SPRINTS.
 
Talking to many other amateurs and c;lubs that do take part in the 80m CC contests January - July, they do not like the Sprint format and avoid the August to Sepember sessions on CW and Phone.
 
If the 80m events are there to encourage new amateurs to come into contesting, why does the RSGBCC insist on making it too complicated.?  
 
As an avid Data user and contester, the only Data contests left this year are the BARTG 75 Baud event in September, and those run by overseas organisations.  CU all on 75 Baud and CQ WW RTTY.
 
Chris
 

> From: m0box at btinternet.com
> To: uk-contest at contesting.com
> Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:15:59 +0100
> Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] An ideal opportunity to drop PSK ... for good!
> 
> As adjudicator of the data series, this discussion is interesting to follow.
> Notwithstanding that statement, what follows is my personal views and in no
> way represents the thoughts or views of the RSGBCC upon which I serve.
> 
> Firstly let me say I like the mix of data modes in the same contest. Having
> operated in previous years prior to taking on the role of adjudication I do
> understand and tend to agree that 31.5 baud is somewhat pedestrian even more
> so in the limited time this test runs, however it adds spice just as the
> sprints that are to come.
> 
> A test is a challenge to the operator and dual modes adds to that challenge.
> Having carefully examined the rules I find no mention of what baud rate you
> may use, so why do you stick to 31.5 and not shift to 63? The same is true
> for RTTY 75 over 45.45. It is you the entrants who may use whatever speed
> you wish as it is not restricted by the rules. Modern software and waterfall
> displays make it easy to switch mode and speed.
> 
> With a few days left before the deadline for submission closes for this
> final test of the series, may I beseech you to check your logs carefully.
> Adjudication of this series is made harder (not moaning as I love the
> challenge) because of the dual mode, and it pains me to see the same
> mistakes being made over and over again. This whole series relies upon rapid
> adjudication and so requires the entrant to be responsible to check their
> logs carefully for mistakes such as mode mis-logging, capital O for the
> number 0(zero), qsos after time. One of the biggest aids I use in
> adjudication is the frequency of tx. I know it is not a requirement to log
> the frequency, just the band BUT and it is a big BUT, in a dual mode test
> where a contact is busted for both due to a PS vs RY conflict and there is
> no other obvious clue as to who was right and wrong then the logged
> frequency is a great help to me. Up to 3585 and the PS wins, above 3583 and
> RY wins. Now it too would help you to spot similar errors in your log prior
> to submission. The logged frequency really helps me find the qso in my
> recording to sort the conflict out. If your interested I use the WinRadio
> Excalibur for the task.
> 
> In case you wonder what software I used for this test last year, it was N1MM
> and the MMVARI component. This automatically logs the frequency when CAT is
> connected, and correctly logs mode too, so only left me the task of looking
> for silly typing errors as I mentioned earlier.
> 
> 73's
> 
> Simon Wilson M0BOX
> 
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