But Field Day is not a contest. I know some people treat it as a contest,
but it isn't. Even the rules specify that you only need to send in "An
attached list of stations worked by band/mode during the Field Day
period (*dupe
sheet* or an alpha/numeric list sorted by band and mode)." Our local club
used to consider it more of a social gathering. People would get together
to do a little operating, have fun, have a cookout on Saturday evening. Get
to chat with people we only saw once a year. We weren't interested in
scores. There were often rivalries between stations, e.g. can the 40 phone
guys make more QSO's than the 20 phone guys?
One year our local club cancelled Field Day operations because our chosen
site had turned into a swamp when it rained heavily the day before. So I
took my rig and a 6 meter Moxon to a nearby hill and made about 50 QSO's
with battery power. I had fun.
73, Zack W9SZ
On Thu, Oct 12, 2023 at 4:18 PM Dave G. ve3kg@myrac.ca <
goodwindave.73@gmail.com> wrote:
> Art K3KU asked an interesting question.
>
> A person acting as a "logger" is an impediment. Anyone who has ever
> witnessed a Field Day effort by hapless, well-meaning non-contesters will
> know that the correction cycle between the operator and the logger is a
> guaranteed method to slow down the rate. Add that to the list of reasons
> why I hate Field Day.
>
> So, why is a "logger" now banned for Single-Ops? Why and when was it ever
> allowed? Was it because some single-ops had "staff?"
>
> The CQ WW Rules Archive may provide a clue:
>
> - The 1976 rules defined a "Single Operator" as "Single Operator." That's
> it. Nothing more.
>
> - The 1977 rules defined a "Single Operator" as "Single Operator stations
> are those at which one person performs all the operating, logging, and
> spotting functions. The use of DX spotting nets or any other form of DX
> alerting assistance places the station in the Multi-Operator category."
>
> So, something happened which caused a more elaborate definition of "Single
> Operator" for the CQ WW contests starting in 1977. With that more
> elaborate definition, "loggers" were swept away.
>
> The rules changes redefining "Single Operator" were announced in the
> results of the 1976 CQ WW SSB contest. The focus of the announcement was
> on the use of "spotting nets," which pre-dated DXCluster networks. The
> 1976 CQ WW CW results had more detail about the rules changes, but only
> about two aspects: a new requirement for "dupe sheets" (remember them?) and
> the revised penalties for unmarked dupes (remember them?). Bob Cox K3EST
> and Larry Brockman N6AR were the managers of the WWs at the time. They may
> be able to explain the reasons for clarifying the "single operator"
> category in this way.
>
> The CQ WPX contest rules made an identical change in 1992, fifteen years
> after the CQ WW rules changed. The CQ WPX site does not contain the
> results articles before 1999, so I could not see whether the change was
> explained in the 1991 results. Steve Bolia N8BJQ was the manager of the
> WPXes at the time, and may be able to explain the change.
>
> At least some of the people who made the decisions are still around and
> engaged in contesting. Some may even be subscribers to this reflector.
>
> I'll stand by my suggestion that a "logger" is an impediment, a millstone
> around the neck of an operator. I would encourage my competition to use a
> "logger." It can only hurt their score.
>
> 73,
>
> Dave VE3KG
> a ham and a contester since 1975.
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>
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