[UK-CONTEST] NFD

[Robert Chipperfield]

<Retry sending, this time to the list rather than just Bob!>

> I find myself in wholehearted agreement with you.  Did someone lose the ball
> or is it just me having a bit of a turn?
>
> 73 Bob, 5B4AGN

Blimey, now I'm really impressed! ;-)

Given Quin's request for comments for future FD events, here's my thoughts:

I see the FD series as a great opportunity for a slightly different 
style of contest to normal: the temporary stations, the lack of reliance 
on mains power, and so on. It's not CQWW, and that difference makes it 
fun in its own right.

I'd also agree with Paul that given we prohibit mains power (itself a 
great idea, in my opinion - adds to the challenge!), prohibiting 
reliance on other external utilities also seems very sensible. If we're 
trying to demonstrate our ability to work in the absence of 
infrastructure, that should extend beyond just 230V. So I'd be happy to 
see a ban on the cluster and RBN (in this contest - I'm not arguing that 
the cluster is generally a bad thing by any means!)

As to Skimmer (and more generally CW decoders): it seems to me that if 
everything happens on site, with no external data input, this doesn't go 
against the idea of field day. Sure, it's more technically advanced than 
a simple receiver, but we don't ban computer logging, or rigs that have 
better receivers than direct conversion with no filtering of any 
description, and so on, so it seems somewhat artificial to draw the line 
here. If everything enters and leaves the site on RF, on the contest 
bands, then it seems fair game.

That's my thoughts - as I say, all to be taken very much in the context 
of field day contests, and not whether the cluster / RBN / skimmer are 
good in general or not.

73,
Rob, M0VFC

On 02/06/2011 12:03, Bob Henderson wrote:
> Paul
>
> I find myself in wholehearted agreement with you.  Did someone lose the ball
> or is it just me having a bit of a turn?
>
> 73 Bob, 5B4AGN
>
> On 2 June 2011 10:39, Paul O'Kane<pokane at ei5di.com>  wrote:
>
>> On 02/06/2011 10:44, Andy Cowley wrote:
>>
>>> This is _NOT_ a change in the rules. It is a clarification of the
>> existing rules.
>>> Packet radio communications are specifically allowed, so external
>> spotting aids
>>> are allowed. Self spotting is banned. So Skimmer and RBN and DX cluster
>> are allowed.
>>
>> I have had the impression, however naive it may be,
>> that the main objective of NFD was to demonstrate
>> the absolute independence of amateur radio as a
>> communications medium.
>>
>>   From the 2011 RSGB Yearbook - "Field days were
>> originally intended to test the ability of amateur
>> radio groups to operate under emergency conditions,
>> using temporary stations and portable power sources,
>> as might be necessary after a natural disaster."
>>
>> Has anything changed?  If so, what are the present
>> objectives of NFD?
>>
>> If the use of power utilities is prohibited, it
>> seems incongruous, if not plain daft, that the use
>> of communications utilities is permitted.
>>
>> That covers "packet radio" and the RBN which require
>> the internet, a communications utility.  But what
>> about Skimmer?  Again, it seems incongruous to
>> permit multi-channel CW decoders, or any decoder,
>> in a supposedly CW contest.
>>
>> The fact that others are using Skimmer and the
>> internet is no excuse - lemmings and sheep come
>> to mind.
>>
>> 73,
>> Paul EI5DI
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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