[WWYC] Self-Spotting in WAE

[Fabian Kurz]

Hello YCers, Hello proud lids,

I found it most annoying to see spots like these

Sep 14 DX de 
AI1G-@:     3789.0  CQ0T         WAE                            0423Z
Sep 14 DX de 
K2EFV-@:   21271.0  CQ0T         WAE                            1555Z
Sep 13 DX de OZ1HPS-@:  21295.3  4L6AM        WAE 
TEST                       0937Z

in the WAE-Contest. Yes, it's both WWYCers spotted, I am a member of WWYC, 
too, so why should I dislike these spots? Well, as you can see from the 
"-@", these spots have been entered at the 
oh2aq.kolumbus.com-Internet-DX-cluster. Still nothing wrong with that, but 
looking at the originating IPs, these spots can easily be prooved to be 
self-spots:

The first spot, by "AI1L" was submitted by 193.126.128.219 which is from 
Portugal.

Whois-Lookup:
[...]
inetnum:      193.126.128.0 - 193.126.191.255
netname:      KQPT-IOL-DIALUP
descr:        KPNQwest Portugal / IOL ISP
country:      PT
[...]

Second, by "K2EFV" was submitted by 194.65.14.75:
[...]
inetnum:      194.65.0.0 - 194.65.255.255
netname:      PT-TELEPAC-960515
descr:        Provider Local Registry
descr:        Telepac - Comunicacoes Interactivas, SA
country:      PT
[...]

Both calls are not issued (qrz.com lookup).

Same with 4L6AM's spot by "OZ1HPS", originating from 62.168.189.31.
[...]
inetnum:      62.168.160.0 - 62.168.191.255
netname:      GE-CN-20030212
descr:        Caucasus Network Ltd.
descr:        PROVIDER LOCAL REGISTRY
country:      GE
[...]

One cannot prove that these spots were actually submitted by the operators 
of CQ0T and 4L6AM, but there's no reason not to belive so.

Self-Spotting is not explicitly forbidden in the contest-rules, but using 
fake-callsigns like this is clearly a case of unsportsmanship conduct, 
therefore a reason for disqualification.

I don't write this because I want CQ0T and 4L6AM to be disqualified! I want 
them to realise that this is very poor operating-technique, highly unfair, 
and that might lead to the WWYC to appear in bad light. Good operators 
don't need self-spotting! We don't need it!

Just learn a lesson from KE9R & co. (http://www.ke9r.com/lids_start_young/) 
- They (well, I shan't exclude myself) -- have just the right attitude:

Quote:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Did we win?
         -- NO WAY
Do we care?
         -- NO WAY
Did we rock things, have fun, and blow each other out of the chair?
         -- HELL YES
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Contesting ought to be fun in the first place! If you are determined to win 
a contest, go for it, but impress your opponents with good operating 
skills, not with advanced internet-cheating technology!

I think we have built up a lot in WWYC in the last years. Not only do we 
have surpassed the number 300 members now, we also gained a certain 
reputation in the HAM-, especially contesting-community. Let's not 
jeopardise it by the stupidity of cheating for the gain of just a fistfull 
additional QSOs (if at all). It's not worth it!

GO WWYC!

(Factual) Discussion encouraged!

73, Fabian DJ1YFK (maybe being a lid, but not cheating!)