Anything you do BEFORE the contest starts is CLEARLY DIFFERENT than what you
do during the contest, according to the rules. According to the rules,
BEFORE the contest you can use the phone or internet to set up skeds, if you
are so inclined. Once the contest starts you cannot use a means other than
amateur radio to make skeds.
Whether or not populating a band map BEFORE the contest should be treated no
differently than listening during off-time is an issue that can be raised
with CAC if you believe it is improper or unethical. Currently, it is
perfectly within the rules and within contesting ethics, as would be using
the phone or internet prior to the contest to make skeds.
As a practical matter, Steve (and this is not intended as a personal slam,)
is your intent that you can't transmit prior to the start of the contest?
Warming up a frequency before the contest is really no different than tuning
the bands before a contest. If ops weren't tuning the bands before the
contest, no one would call you when you are warming up a frequency. Warming
up a frequency is in effect announcing where you will be operating when the
contest starts.
Let's focus on the rules. The rules rule.
73, Ken, K6LA / VY2TT
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