[UK-CONTEST] UK-Contest Digest, Vol 102, Issue 16

[Bernie McIntosh (GM4WZG)]

When deciding what is appropriate I believe we should always try and stay
with the basics and keep in mind the purpose of a contest or a section
within it. The question is not whether skimmers constitute assistance - this
would be about definitions and sparring over words. The question is whether
they are appropriate in the restricted section. 

The answer is I guess down to a consensus about what constitutes a level of
technology that is, or is not a fit according to what the section is all
about. There are several precedents. Restricted section means a restriction
on your antennas. Why ? Aren't higher masts etc just "better" technology ?
Yes , and everyone can choose to have them - join the open section if that's
the case. Same for skimmers please !   Lets encourage the skill of tuning
and listening in at least one section of the contest. It is a skill pretty
fundamental to amateur radio (well at the moment anyway...)

73

Bernie




------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2011 22:19:37 +0100
From: "Roger Western" <g3sxw at btinternet.com>
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Was NFD originally an emergency capability
	test?
To: "Contest Reflector UK" <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Message-ID: <9FCB540622D44E49805A04D92B260AC7 at RogerDell>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

There is one important clarification needed here: Skimmer itself does NOT
use outside assistance. It is only when Skimmer data is propagated over the
internet (like DX Cluster) and we connect to that data that it becomes
Assisted. 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!
73 de Roger/G3SXW.