Welcome to "chatgate".
During the course of the discussion surrounding the events that occurred
on the ON4AST chat page during the CQ 160 - I have had time to better
reflect on my own actions. I have come to the conclusion that while what
I did might not rise to same level as some of the other abuse - some of my
actions could be perceived as crossing over a line that I would rather not
be seen doing.
To be specific - I asked JH4IFF to give me a signal report on my CQ frequency:
2008-01-27 09:52:36Z N6TR Tree Is my signal making it to Japan? 1812.6 /
K7RAT
I suspected that my signal was very weak since I wasn't working hardly anyone
at that time - and I knew Mitsu has a pretty small signal on 160 and he
wasn't likely to be appearing in my log. However, looking back, I now wish
I had not done this.
Here is my log segment around that time:
160CW 27-Jan-08 09:50 1045 YV1DIG 599 599 YV YV 10
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:03 1046 WA4BUE 599 599 Va 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:05 1047 K6JEY 599 599 Ca 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:18 1048 K9WJU 599 599 In 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:22 1049 W1DEO 599 599 Me 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:27 1050 W7WA 599 599 Wa 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:30 1051 JA9CSE 599 599 JA 10
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:35 1052 W7SX 599 599 Or 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:39 1053 WB3HLH 599 599 Md 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:43 1054 WA4GLH 599 599 Tn 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:44 1055 W2HTI 599 599 Nc 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:44 1056 K4AMC 599 599 Tn 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:45 1057 K1BG 599 599 Ma 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:46 1058 WA3AFS 599 599 Ny 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:49 1059 W8GP 599 599 Mi 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:58 1060 N3RN 599 599 Pa 2
160CW 27-Jan-08 10:58 1061 N3GJ 599 599 Pa 2
As can be seen - there was no resulting packet rush.
However, as was pointed out to me - this could be perceived as a self spot
and therefore, I have decided to reclassify the K7RAT multi-single log as a
check log. I do not believe self spotting is an appropriate thing for
competitors to be engaged in during a contest - regardless of what the
specific rules for that contest say - or what category I might be in.
Another interesting point. The YV1DIG QSO was made after YV1DIG announced
his frequency on the chat room. I used that information to leave my CQ
frequency long enough to work him. I did not notify him that I would be
calling. However, this raises an interesting point that I hadn't considered
before... is it wrong to take advantage of a self spot? Obviously, you
can't always know it is a self spot is someone is hidding their true identity.
With all of this attention currently focused on this situation, I hope
everyone will take this opportunity to think about how they feel about
the situation and how they want to operate contests in the furture. For
me, I will refrain from doing anything that could appear to be self spotting
regardless of my intent in the future.
73 Tree N6TR
tree@kkn.net
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