Jeff,
You have it backwards- with 2BSIQ there is much more strategy involved. You
have to decide on TWO bands to run! And you also have to decide beween CQ/S&P
SO2R and 2BSIQ.
I did some 2BSIQ in the WPX CW (I was KD5DD). While it did get me a lot of
1-point qsos (#1 in qsos USA LP), it could not magically allow me to run Europe
on the low bands.
There were times during WPX when it was more effective for me to S&P on a
SINGLE radio rather than 2BSIQ or even regular SO2R. Two examples were working
the few EU stations who could hear me on 80m, and working Asian stations on 40m
(Asia too weak to run at 100W here on 40m).
Overall I think 2BSIQ amplifies the score difference between good and poor
locations. It can increase the scores of favored locations quite a bit, but it
can't be used effectively much of the time if you are not in a favored
location. It's the same in domestic contests- if you are in the center of the
country and can only run effectively on one band due to the skip zone, 2BSIQ
isn't going to help much.
Tor N4OGW
On Thursday, June 4, 2020, 2:16:00 PM CDT, Jeff Clarke <ku8e@ku8e.com> wrote:
Dick,
I don't think they ought to ban 2BSIQ or SO2R. Just make it a separate
class like SOA. All the guys that are the elite operators do 2BSIQ
anyway so they will be still competing against each other. There will
still be a lot of very good operators that would compete in a
single-operator category who just don't want to mess with a SO2R setup.
Remember the days when you had to decide what band to be on to maximize
your score? That's all gone out the window with SO2R. It would be nice
to introduce some operating strategy back into contesting.
I wish CQ would expand on the Classic category and take away the time
limitation but keep it one radio. It would also be nice if ARRL would
add this category to their contests as well.
Jeff
On 6/4/2020 01:13 PM, wc1m73@gmail.com wrote:
> I agree with Kevin. I say this even though 2BSIQ has put a dent in my
> prospects for winning SOAB HP USA in CQ WPX CW. I've managed to stay close to
> the top with my middling station and skills since 2002, but in the last three
> years 2BSIQ has pushed the score gap into the multimillions. Yeah, super
> stations, some operated remotely, have played a part in that, but I've always
> been up against better hardware and like the challenge of pitting my skills
> against it. In addition to making it harder for me to win, 2BSIQ also has the
> potential to significantly increase the scores of good ops with lesser
> stations, which will increase the number of competitors with a chance to land
> in the top 5 or 10, leaving ops who don't learn 2BSIQ out in the cold. As
> Kevin says, 2BSIQ is a skill, and that's the arena in which I want to
> compete. So it's on me to learn it or get left behind.
>
> IMHO, any op who puts in the time and effort to get good at 2BSIQ deserves to
> reap the rewards. If we try to limit use of innovations like 2BSIQ, or push
> them into separate categories, we're hurting ourselves. Contesting stagnates,
> pandering to those who are only comfortable with the way it's always been. We
> have way too much of that attitude in ham radio as it is. Ops should be
> rewarded for finding new ways to win, for developing new techniques and for
> improving their skills.
>
> I expect the next controversy will come when someone develops AI code to make
> 2BSIQ easier -- i.e., the computer figures out what's going on (fill
> requests, slow CW, etc.) and helps optimize switching and responses. The
> argument against this is similar to using a local CW Skimmer -- no help from
> other ops, but you don't have to tune and listen. Most of us felt that was a
> big enough difference to push local Skimmers into the Assisted category, but
> I'm not sure that opinion will persist. As AI and personal assistants
> proliferate in every part of our lives, I suspect the next generation of
> contesters will be much more open to using computer assistance. That won't
> kill contesting. In fact, it might save contesting.
>
> 73, Dick WC1M
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kevin Stockton <aluminumtubing@gmail.com>
> Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2020 9:12 AM
> To: cq-contest@contesting.com; ku8e@ku8e.com
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] What's your Opinion on 2BSIQ ?
>
> Hi Jeff,
>
> 2BSIQ may currently be the only fair aspect of contesting. The development
> of that skill can occur anywhere so long as the individual has a computer,
> headphones, and the necessary desire to push hard towards achievement of a
> goal. It's not talent. It's only a skill. It's just
> practice. It's time consuming. It's hard. It's only a skill.
>
> Success with the development of 2BSIQ isn't determined by proximity to
> Europe, massive stacks, or operating from a 3 point location. For those that
> sufficiently develop the skill, it opens up a world of possibilities to
> access stations from around the world. It's the budding contesters golden
> ticket to some truly amazing experiences.
>
> However, you are completely right with your premise. Operators using 2BSIQ
> and SO2R have a massive advantage over one radio operators. The advent of
> 2BSIQ has shown the potential for amassing staggering scores. Using those
> operating strategies fit into the current single operator definition but like
> other rules in contesting they are archaic and do not address the current
> realities.
>
> There are other just as glaring rule problems with our sport that must be
> addressed. Perhaps at some point, the handful of people that control
> contesting will acknowledge our current state and make a genuine effort to
> address this and other problems.
>
> 73,
> Kevin, N5DX
>
>
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