For all who stuck it out to the bitter end in SS, it is clear that it is time
for a rules update for ARRL contests, specifically doing away with general
rules 3.3 and 3.5:
3.3.An operator may not use more than one call sign from any given location
during the contest period.
3.5.A transmitter used to contact one or more stations may not be subsequently
used under any other call during the contest period, except for family stations
where more than one call has been issued, and then only if the second call sign
is used by a different operator. (The intent of this rule is to accommodate
family members who must share a rig and to prohibit manufactured or artificial
contacts.)
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As many of you are aware, for many years I’ve been doing “Single Operator Multi
Station” efforts in SS, typically operating from four different stations in an
effort to turn SS into a 24 hour ratefest. Now that I’m a Florida snowbird,
that has been reduced to two efforts, this year a QRP effort as K8MR with the
KX3 from a waterfront parking area, and a LP effort with the K3 from the condo
as W3USA.
It was a lot more fun to be working people in the second effort from W3USA who
I had previously worked from K8MR. I’m sure nobody was bothered that I gave
them an extra QSO by using two stations.
My take is that these rules were put in many years ago to prevent
“manufactured” contacts by friends, fellow club members or whoever. In the days
of paper logs that may have made sense. But with today’s log checking it is a
lot easier to find suspicious manufactured contacts. Even though a person “
manufacturing” a few QSOs is not likely to send in a log of those QSOs.
Some reasonable limits might be in order, such as a minimum off time from a
previous call before it could be used again, or even not allowing any return to
using a previous call. But if a few hundred people were to decide on Sunday
afternoon (or whenever) to fire up their stations with a new call, and have fun
running some good rates while giving the full time folks new people somebody to
work, would anybody really mind?
73 - Jim K8MR
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