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[CQ-Contest] Chatgate

To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Chatgate
From: Tree <tree@kkn.net>
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 11:55:39 -0800
List-post: <mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
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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