[WWYC] [k4zw at verizon.net: Webinar - Team W4AAW Totally Remote Multi-Multi Contesting]

[Philippe Schmitt]

Hi Paul et al,

Thanks for bringing to our attention this very interesting point of view - which I share to the extent that our "independence" from other networks is indeed what distinguishes our community and technology from other forms of communication.

I'd be most interested, however, in knowing how to reply to those who argue that our hobby, by essence, is an experimental one and that interfacing, exploring new techniques and pushing boundaries forward is our driver.

I believe that W4AAW will only "complete their work" when they're able to fully control their station using "our own" technology, i.e. VHF, etc. Nevertheless, in order to do so, I believe they would need either to overcome the legal obstacle that prevents us from encrypting our communications, or to find another way to ensure that no one takes control of their station.

I don't have a definitive opinion on the subject and therefore would be most interested in knowing what you - Paul - and our fellow contesters think about it. For instance, I'm tempted to say that W4AAW has accomplished something. As the Prince of Lampedusa would say "il faut que tout change pour que rien ne change".

Warm regards,
Phil - PT2FM

Envoyé de mon iPhone

> Le 5 nov. 2015 à 05:31, Paul O'Kane <pokane at ei5di.com> a écrit :
> 
>> On 05/11/2015 06:06, Fabian Kurz wrote:
>> 
>> FYI
>> 
>> ----- Forwarded message from Ken Claerbout <k4zw at verizon.net> -----
>> 
>> Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2015 19:27:15 -0600 (CST)
>> From: Ken Claerbout <k4zw at verizon.net>
>> To: k4zw at verizon.net
>> Subject: Webinar - Team W4AAW Totally Remote Multi-Multi Contesting
>> Reply-to: k4zw at verizon.net
>> 
>> The World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (www.wwrof.org) is pleased to sponsor the following Webinar - Team W4AAW Totally Remote Multi-Multi
>> Contesting by Rowland Archer, K4XD.
>> 
>> How in the world did a M/M contest station deliver a top ten finish
>> with no operators in the shack? Team W4AAW has taken remote operation
>> to the next level - fully automated M/M contesting. There's even a
>> zero-cost client option. We'll explain how we did this, give you a
>> taste of what it's like to operate a M/M station remotely, and tell
>> how you can join us in exploring this new frontier in amateur radio
>> contesting.
> 
> The fact that something can be done does not
> necessarily mean there is merit in doing it.
> And the fact that something is being done by
> radio amateurs does not necessarily mean it is
> amateur radio.
> 
> Team W4AAW, "operating" remotely, was no different
> from the millions of people networked on the
> internet, a commercial communications utility, and
> fully dependent on it all at times for each and
> every "QSO".
> 
> Each "operator" in Team W4NN was communicating with
> other people who are radio amateurs. In their case,
> however, the signal path was from the operator to
> the remote transmitter to the QTH of the stations
> "worked".
> 
> The portion of the signal path from each remote
> operator to the transmitter was internet-hosted,
> and the complete signal path (operator to operator)
> was a composite of internet and amateur-band RF.
> What has been lost, or abandoned, is the
> communications independence that used to set us
> apart from all others - we might as well use the
> phone.
> 
> Why does this matter?  Well, as radio amateurs we
> use amateur radio to communicate with one another.
> If HOW we communicate no longer matters, we have no
> right to describe ourselves as radio amateurs - we
> are no different from anyone else.
> 
> It seems to me that remote contesting, as promoted
> by K4ZW and the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation,
> serves only to make a mockery of amateur radio in
> general and amateur-radio contesting in particular.
> The WWROF might be better described as the WWIOF.
> 
> 73,
> Paul EI5DI
> 
> 
> 
> 
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