I find this issue about the same as the power vs. QRP or assisted vs.
unassisted in contesting. What I mean by that is there is no
clear "right" or "wrong" here. It, in my thinking, comes back to personal
operation style. As long as you are playing by the
published rules of the road, then all options are free choices for each of us
to make.
I don't see anything wrong with self spotting if it's not specifically
precluded by the event guidelines (as is frequently the case
in contests). I don't recall a rule, for example, in the DXCC rules
prohibiting it. Just as I don't see anything against a guy
running QRP or HP, unassisted or assisted, SO2R or SO1R, or using email to
arrange skeds.
All of these are just choices that individuals may make - as part of the
freedom of choice in a wide ranging hobby like this.
I do think is important is that a guy be honest about what he's doing.
Especially in contests. If you are running HP, claim a HP
category. If you are assisted, then enter as assisted.
But please don't try to push your traditional views onto others who are playing
by the rules of the game. Which means, if the idea
of others self-spotting is troublesome, then the best solution is to turn off
that cluster feed. That solves your problem 100.0%!
The world needs less top down regulation and more personal responsibility.
Fortunately, in radio, we have the chance to do just
that.
73, Jeff ACØC
www.ac0c.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Haines
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 4:20 PM
To: rtty@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [RTTY] Self spotting outside of a contest?
> From: "Bill, W6WRT"<dezrat1242@yahoo.com>
> Subject: [RTTY] Self spotting outside of a contest?
> To: rtty@contesting.com
> Message-ID:<qaer17pr5td45idm4m3qatk78r6civvked@4ax.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Self-spotting (or correcting an erroneous spot) during a contest seems to be
> widely disapproved, but how about self-spotting outside of a contest?
>
> I like to operate 160 meter RTTY and without self-spotting, that can be a
> loonely business, so sometimes I spot myself. When I do, I often get calls
> right
> away. When I don't, I can go a long time with no activity. People just don't
> normally listen much for 160 meter RTTY.
>
> Is that a proper use of self-spotting? I have been criticized for it by a few
> ops, but to me that is a valid use of telnet. I never self-spot on the other
> bands, only 160. I might do it on six meter RTTY if I ever get around to that
> band, and for the same reasons.
>
> Comments welcome.
>
> 73, Bill W6WRT
>
>
I would also like to know what others think of this. For the last few
months I have been spotting myself when I run RTTY. I limit the spots to
one per band when I get on to call CQ, and I stay on the band at least
15 minutes if no calls, and for as long as I can copy if there are callers.
My reasoning is that ZP is kind of rare on RTTY and my signal is really
puny . . . 90 watts to a fishing rod vertical. I assume my signal is so
weak as to be invisible or not easily noticed if I don't call attention
to it. On the other hand if I self-spot, some guys will hunt me in the
noise because they need ZP.
So far I haven't been dumped on for doing this (at least, I don't THINK
so), and I have checked the cluster for criticism. What do the list
members think of this? If the consensus is that it is bad form, I'll
quit doing it :-)
Steve ZP9EH
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