> There are no technology differences
> between the single op unassisted and
> single
> op assisted categories with one
> exception: the delivery of callsigns
> and
> frequencies from an outside source as
> used in the assisted category.
> Whether
^^^^^^^^^^^
Hold on there, it is relevant...a local
skimmer isn't an outside source.
Tor
N4OGW
Tor:
The difference is only relevant if you
judge it based on something someone
wrote in an e-mail instead of what the
rules actually say. CQ Rules say:
"The use of DX alerting assistance of
any kind places the station in the
Single Operator Assisted category."
Does it say...Inside source or outside
source or OF ANY KIND? Does it say that
assistance has to be human? If we say
that their must be a human assistant in
order for it to count as assistance, I
don't think we are evaluating the rule
based on its intent.
The ARRL rules which are less clear say:
Multioperator and Single Operator
Assisted stations may use spotting nets.
I don't see anything that says what a
single operator can or cannot do. It is
generally accepted that a single
operator cannot do what a multi-operator
or Single Operator Assisted CAN do but
it is not clear.
In my opinion, the rules were intended
to differentiate between an operator who
would tune his radio, find stations to
work and work them versus those who
would have someone else or something
else do the work of finding the
stations, and provide both callsigns and
frequencies. It won't go to the Supreme
Court like a constitutional issue, but
if it did I would put a lot of money on
the outcome.
Some argue that Skimmer is not perfected
and is in its primitive stage.
Arguments that it is not really not that
great because it frequently shows bogus
callsigns, etc. are no justification for
allowing it in the Single Operator
(unassisted) category. A time will come
when it will bump callsigns against a
master database and provide a list of
callsigns that are close to 100%
accurate and good.
Stan, K5GO
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