[UK-CONTEST] Cluster, Skimmer, RBN etc. in NFD

[John Warburton G4IRN]

It's not often I post on here but thought it worthwhile to voice the 
opinions of our NFD contest team, the radio Ga Ga CG.

Having consulted with my colleagues in the team, David/G4ERW and 
Tony/G0OPB, our opinion is that Internet, cluster, RBN etc. should not 
be allowed in NFD, certainly not in the Restricted section as it stands. 
They call for little judgement and simply de-skill the operator role.  A 
_local_ skimmer connection is perhaps a different matter and is akin to 
another radio/operator, so there is possibly scope for allowing this in 
the open section or a new 'Assisted Restricted' category, not dissimilar 
to what the Germans do for their FD.


On the whole I think we would rather stick to the traditions of the 
operator doing all the work. There's plenty of other contests where 
cluster, RBN, skimmer etc can be used but with relatively so few 
participants, NFD should stick to basics.

John G4IRN.