I was out of town when Randy sent his email below and haven't had a chance
to respond until now. While I appreciate Randy's point of view I must
disagree with his statement that, "The game is perverted when you use
prefill databases to help with the exchange information." I don't see how
this perverts the game anymore than does using a DX Cluster to populate the
logger band map with spots.
Especially since the advent of CW and RTTY "skimmers" and the Reverse Beacon
Network, any contester using "assistance" can populate the call field just
by clicking on a call in the band map. Sometimes these calls are inaccurate
because the skimmer missed copied one or more letters, or the call spotted
wasn't actually the CQing station, but a S&P station instead. It is
expected the operator will verify the accuracy of the call in the band map
before trying to work that station. Of course we all know that doesn't
happen, but who gets dinged in the end? The guy who didn't verify the call
and logged it incorrectly.
The use of band maps and prefill files are but two features built into many
contest loggers. Are we supposed to ignore these capabilities and not use
them because it somehow distorts the intent of the contest? Who gets to
decide what is kosher and what is not? Ultimately this is up to the contest
organizers and the rules they create to specify what the intent of their
contest is. The usual intent of the contest is to make as many QSOs and
score as many points within the parameters of the contest rules as possible.
The "purity" of how the contact and the exchange was made is an intangible
element that is impossible to quantify.
However, I think there is an even bigger issue in the use of prefill files.
There are many new or potentially new contesters out there who are hesitant
to jump in because they might mess things up and be embarrassed. I think
this is particularly true in the case of CW. Not everyone working a CW
contest can suddenly copy at 30+ wpm. For some even 20 wpm is a challenge.
Are they to be excluded from contesting until such time as they get their
speed up? I don't see how this helps them or others in the contest looking
for their exchange. If a prefill file helps some overcome their trepidation
at trying a CW contest and encourages them to jump into the fray I think
that is a positive, both for them and everyone else in the contest.
Speaking from my own personal experience, several years ago I was extremely
hesitant about entering CW contests with my marginal code copying abilities.
Gradually, by using the decoding feature of the Rttyrite window, in
conjunction with prefill files, I was able to gain confidence in my
abilities and become more comfortable not only in how to handle CW QSOs by
S&P, but eventually to run a frequency in that mode. Today I can usually
manually decode and type a call into the logger faster than WL can decode it
for me. I also use prefill files, not because I can't decipher the
exchange, but to minimize the chance of me making a typing error on the
keyboard which must then be corrected and results in slowing down the rate.
I won't open another can of worms here by discussing how SO2R and SO1R ops
are lumped together in the same "single op" category. Or how about "remote"
operations conducted over the internet? Talk about a "perverted game"!
73,
Gary AL9A
-----Original Message-----
From: Randy Thompson K5ZD
Sent: January 03, 2015 6:09 AM
To: 'Don Hill AA5AU' ; 'WriteLog Reflector'
Subject: Re: [WriteLog] P49X Prefill file & Message Info for ARRL
RTTYRoundup today
I am sorry, but I have to say this.
The nature of a contest is to improve our skills and have fun by working
other stations and exchanging information. The purpose of the exchange is to
add some skill building and confirmation to the QSO process.
The game is perverted when you use prefill databases to help with the
exchange information.
The jury is still out on whether prefill databases help or hurt your
accuracy over the course of the contest. All so you can save a few key
strokes when logging?
Build your skill and pride of accomplishment by not using a database. Part
of the fun is that nervous anticipation of whether the QRM will happen
before or during the time the guy is sending his exchange!
There, I feel better now.
Randy, K5ZD
-----Original Message-----
From: WriteLog [mailto:writelog-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Don
Hill AA5AU
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2015 3:00 PM
To: 'WriteLog Reflector'
Subject: [WriteLog] P49X Prefill file & Message Info for ARRL RTTY
Roundup today
First off, thanks to Ed, W0YK/P49X, for allowing us to use his prefill
file. It can be downloaded here:
http://www.rttycontesting.com/files/p49x-prefill-thru-2014.zip
1. Download the file to a location on your hard drive and unzip it
(remember where you unzip it to).
2. Open WriteLog and set up for the ARRL RTTY Roundup.
3. Go to the Tools menu and select Preset Exchange from ADI file...
4. Navigate to the location of the file you unzipped (it should be called
p49x-prefill-thru-2014.ADI)
5. A small window will open that shows QTH, Country and C. Click OK and
the file will load. After loading, a window will pop up saying 5223 calls
loaded. Click OK. Now when you populate the entry window with the
callsign of a station in the USA or Canada that is in the file, the QTH
field will populate.
Warning, do not depend on what is populated to be 100%. You must copy the
report and verify it's correct. There will be some errors so watch for
them.
If you are new to RTTY and will be operating the contest today, I have
started writing a page on RTTY Contest Messages. It's not complete, but
you can find it here:
http://www.rttycontesting.com/lagniappe/rtty-messages/
Also, if you need help creating your RTTY messages for the contest, you
can find some examples at the link below but this is an old page and
these messages do not adhere to the rules set forth in the above link,
but they will work.
http://old.rttycontesting.com/messages/buffers_arrlru.htm
I'll be available to answer questions up until about 1600Z, then I will
probably be shutting email down and concentrating on final contest
preparations.
73 & GL!
Don AA5AU
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