Dave,
Your point about SCP is well-taken, and many share your perspective that SCP
constitutes "assistance" and should be disallowed.
How do I justify the use of SCP, and make a distinction that allows it?
First, the *static* SCP data does not automatically populate your logging
program without you (the operator) typing the callsigns - you have to
initially type in the partial callsign and you then make the decision of
which possible callsign is the one you're actually working.
The SCP data is static and not real-time; in other words, the SCP data is
not based on what callsigns are active in the current contest. If SCP were
dynamic, real-time data, I would be opposed to its use.
While the SCP database can suggest possibilities based on your keystrokes,
it does not guarantee that the callsign it suggests is correct nor does it
confirm that what you're typing is correct.
You, as the operator, have to decide if the station calling you matches the
suggestion or not - you have to take the risk of it being wrong and you have
to make the decision to log that callsign. If you're wrong, you'll be
penalized and lose points.
When SCP first came out, I considered it the "great equalizer". I know that
some operators spend a great deal of non-contest time on the air and "know"
what callsigns are active and likely to be on the air. I see this as a great
advantage over those of us who have a life outside of contesting and ham
radio.
Mainly, because of the mandatory decision process involved in the use of SCP
for a single operator, I do not have any problem with SCP nor do I equate it
with "assistance".
73,
Bob W5OV
P.S. This is my personal opinion and does not necessarily represent any
contest committee that I am a member of.
-----Original Message-----
From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of David Gilbert
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 5:34 PM
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Assisted or not assisted question (yet again)
When I operate unassisted I don't use the internet for anything during
the contest, period.
However, I find this and other similar responses to be very curious.
You in particular have previously tried to define assistance as
involving outside help with callsign and frequency information that
leads directly to a specific contact. I'm not sure how real time
propagation guidance fits that at all. I'm even less able to understand
how callsign fills generated via SCP during the contest for a station I
may have never previously worked doesn't count as much greater contact
assistance, especially given the interpretation of assistance ("not due
to your own efforts") you just gave below.
But aside from that, I'll bet that a ton of people use some sort of real
time propagation guidance during a contest anyway and are convinced they
are operating unassisted. It would be interesting to see how many hits
these web sites get during a contest, and who those hits are coming from:
http://www.spacew.com/www/realtime.php
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_1m.html
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/today.html
http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=5447
http://www.radiosport.ca/zoneprop/
That last one even seems to get publicized here on this same reflector
before many major contests as a good site to monitor during the contest.
I guess a lot of this discussion just sounds skewed and even
hypocritical to me ....
73,
Dave AB7E
p.s. Before anyone accuses me again of trying to stretch the rules as
has happened here in prior similar threads, please reread my first
sentence above.
On 5/30/2012 10:14 AM, w5ov@w5ov.com wrote:
> Clearly, getting information like this from the internet is assistance.
> Regardless of how narrow you make it, getting this information is not due
> to your own efforts. This will tell you that the band you're on is open,
> etc.
>
> I say NO. This should not be permitted as single operator.
>
> Bob W5OV
>
> P.S. This is my personal opinion and not necessarily representative of any
> contest committee I am a member of.
>
>
>> With great number of skimmers used by RBN I have developed a habit of
>> checking propagation on different bands by calling CQ on a clear spot and
>> collecting skimmers data. VE7CC cluster software allows setting filters
>> so
>> that you only see spots for your own call sign.
>> Now I wonder would such a technique be a violation of not assisted
>> category. In essence I would not get no outside help in locating,
>> identifying and working stations in the contest. I just get accurate and
>> up
>> to date information about propagation which is basically more accurate
>> then
>> what I might have got with the help of propagation prediction software.
>> What is contesting public opinion?
>>
>> 73, Igor UA9CDC
>> _______________________________________________
>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>
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