Times in Logging Programs..

[Wayne E. Wright]

My opinion is that logging to the nearest second won't prove that someone
is operating two radios illegally, nor will it stop someone who is. 

Its not easy, but its possible to log 2 QSOs seconds apart but not 
really have worked them that way--just forget to log one while you
work the next and then quickly log the first followed immediately by
the second.  And its also possible to complete two QSOs at the same
time on two separate radios perfectly legally. 

On the other side, if you really run two transmitters at the same
time illegally and you know that the log checkers consider
it a violation to log QSOs too close together, then just
post-process your log and stretch out the times.

If the log checkers think that folks have two simultaneous
signals on the air, then, in my opinion, catching them is going to
require something other than logging QSOs to the 
second.

Wayne


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From: 	Ron Stailey, K5DJ[SMTP:Ron-Stailey@easy.com]
Sent: 	Saturday, November 29, 1997 16:46
To: 	 Ray Ortgiesen WF1B
Cc: 	Jukka Kallio, OH2GI; Wayne Wright, W5XD
Subject: 	Times in Logging Programs..

Hi Ray, Jukka and Wayne, as all of you know I check logs for CQWW, NAQP
and WPX RTTY contests.  One problem keeps coming up with the way time is
logged in all of he three S/W.  The problem is, since many ops are now 
using two radio's in a S/Op category, it makes it almost impossible to 
see if there were two radio's on the air at the same time with times 
being logged as 1800, 2215, 0021 etc.  ((If all three of you would
add seconds to your logging time it would make things much more simple
to check.)) I have had logs with 4 and 5 QSO in the same minute. I 
personally don't think it's possible. Example: If by chance you were to 
make contact with a station at exactly 18:00:00 on radio-1 than make a 
QSO on Radio-2 at 18:00:27 I can see how you can make 2 QSO's pretty easy 
with one radio and with 2 radio's also. 

However, it takes about 27 seconds from the time you start the exchange 
to finish it, even if you using very SHORT exchanges. (In other words not
using the HI FILE etc) in RTTY mode.. I myself have made Three QSO's in
one minute. What I think happened in cases like this is, I started a QSO
in 18:00:00 minute logged it at 18:01:00 and made two more contacts with
in that minute starting at 18:01:028 & 18:01:55.  Naturally this is only 
a guess. I have checked my past logs many times, and have always found 
the minute before the one that has 3 QSO's in it, has only one QSO for 
that minute.  So, I think it is impossible to make as many as 4 and 5 
QSO's in one single minute in RTTY mode..  If we had seconds listed we 
would know for sure and we could have more correct logging.

When conditions get at peak it could become IMPOSSIBLE to check at all.
With hour, minutes and seconds being listed in the log of each QSO we 
could make corrections, deletions etc accordingly. Not only for log 
checkers but for ops before sending in there logs as well..

I think the above is a good idea..  However there is bad in everything.
The bad part is, in contests like BARTG where you send times both ways
may cause problems!! In sending a 4 digit number instead of a 6 digit
number. The BARTG rules says send time in UTC.  I'm not a programmer so 
I don't know if it's going to be a problem or not. Then again 98% if all
RTTY contesters use either WF1B, OH2GI or Rttyrite. I would think it wouldn't
make any difference in logging if the log times had 4 digits or 6 digits.
For those that don't use one of the above Three S/W's.. 

I'm not trying to cause you any programming problems.  This day and time 
there is a lot of serious operators trying to win each and every contest 
that comes along. Times being logged with seconds would help find the true
winners.. :-)    

 I would like to hear from you with your thoughts..

  73, de Ron K5DJ