[UK-CONTEST] Was NFD originally an emergency capability test?

[Paul O'Kane]

On 07/06/2011 22:19, Roger Western wrote:

 > A private stand-alone Skimmer merely uses technology in the shack
> to de-code signals across a range of frequencies. If that is to be banned
> then all CW de-coders should also be banned!

A private stand-alone Skimmer consists of the equivalent
of multiple narrow-band receivers, each with a single-
channel CW decoder, to display the callsigns of stations
calling TEST or CQ within each of its many passbands. To
say it "merely uses technology" is something of an
understatement.

This phrase "merely uses technology" amazes me - with
its implication that technology is always good or
appropriate. To permit the use of any CW decoder in CW
contests is as sensible and as productive as permitting
dictionaries in spelling contests, or calculators in
mental arithmetic contests.

Of course all CW decoders should be banned in CW contests.


73,
Paul EI5DI