[UK-CONTEST] Contest logger comparisons

[Steve Knowles]

If it results in an error in the sending log, which is in contravention of 
contest rules world-wide and which could result in unjust loss of points for 
an innocent receiver, it is either a bug (which needs to be fixed) or a very 
irresponsible piece of coding (which still needs to be fixed) ... view it 
how you will!

The RSGBCC has long been aware of the problem and of its likely link to 
certain logging software, rather than to allegations that the German Robot 
was altering entrants' logs in NFD and some of the other far-fetched 
suggestions which have been put forward from time to time.  But a suitably 
qualified statement of responsibility has been lacking .. until now!

RSGBCC policy is that, rather than make any automatic assumption of fault, 
adjudicators examine EVERY failed match in entrants' logs to ensure that 
fault is correctly ascribed.  For example, (and particluarly so on CW) it 
has been held for a long time that an error of one across a decade boundary 
(eg, 009 for 010) is unlikely to be due to the recipient ... the same across 
a century boundary (eg 099 for 100) is extremely unlikely indeed to be a 
receive error, so the adjudicator may consider that the sending station is 
in error in such cases.  Now, adjudication software provides an instant 
analysis of ALL the mismatches involved with a particular station's log, 
enabling the adjudicator to make an informed judgement as to the quality of 
the sending operator at any time, spot any patterns of serial number or 
callsign error and identify sending errors over a wider number range.

If the adjudicator is satisfied that an error was made either by the 
transmitter or the receiver, then the side responsible for the error will 
lose the points.  If the adjudicator can not be sure who was responsible, 
then neither party loses any points.  Suggestions made by some competitors 
that they have lost large numbers of points unjustly are not valid, simply 
because each loss is individually considered.  That's why it takes so long 
to adjudicate the affected events!

Obviously, the recent information regarding the programs concerned with the 
logging errors may influence individual adjudicators' opinions but the basic 
principles have not changed, nor is there any reason why they should.

73

Steve
G3UFY
Secretary RSGBCC



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Oliver Bock" <dj9ao at gmx.net>
To: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2011 3:06 PM
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Contest logger comparisons


> Hi Alan,
>
> i believe this refers to certain scenarios in a M/S environment. Wintest, 
> as N4ZR also notes,
> does not "reserve" a serial number for any of the stations running in such 
> an environment.
> Due to that, I think, it may be that e.g. the running Operator sends a 
> particular number and
> before he enters the QSO a multiplier station on another band enters a QSO 
> with exactly that
> number.
> The Win-Test developers have repeatedly explained that this is not a bug, 
> but a result of the
> particular way Win-Test handles M/S in its network.
>
> 73
> Oliver  DJ9AO/M0TAO
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