[CQ-Contest] Re: Packet Cheerleaders

[John Cashen <vk4uc@bigpond.com>]

As a DX station I am now convinced that the frequency of which I am spotted 
has a profound influence on my run rates, total qso's and score. In 
contrast, the past use of the Cluster for mult-chasing yielded only a 
modest benefit to my score . The present "rules" on the "use" of the 
Cluster are focused on S&P are ambiguous at best with respect to the issues 
of spotting DX.

---: "Kenneth E. Harker" <kenharker@kenharker.com> wrote:
>  "Most packet spots are generated by the
> disinterested and favor no particular station in their selection -
> but cheerleaders spot one particular station over and over again with
> the objective of improving that station's score and place in the
> results."    ..................................

> "Imagine the following scenario.  Two hams travel to a contest
> station.  Ham A operates the radio for 48 hours as a single-op unassisted
> contest entry.  Ham B's main purpose in life for those same 48 hours is
> to watch A's radio dials and logging software, and every time A changes
> his run frequency, or his rate drops below a certain level, B spots A
> on the cluster network, using B's callsign (which might be in a different
> country from the contest operation.)  Since B never actually touches
> the radios, he's not an operator, and A claims "unassisted" status.
> Since the spots are only ever sent by B, and B is not an operator, it
> doesn't count as self-spotting, right?"

That's an interesting question!  Is self- spotting by a second party (the 
case above) and the aforementioned cheerleading questionable because it is 
perceived to be solicited?   What if it was truly unsolicited?

This opens the question of the sportsmanship of a DX station who openly 
solicits (over the air) to be spotted by stations he has just worked.  What 
about the station who emails other stations in advance of the contest 
announcing operating times and frequencies with a request to be worked?

Some would say that if a practice is not explicitly stated in the rules 
then it is legal and to be exploited. Others will say it is an 
unsportsmanlike action and to be avoided. It is hard to imagine how those 
opposing views will ever be resolved by debate.

There could be another way to deal with these issues and those that will 
follow. It has probably been suggested before, but I'll raise it again. We 
could create a "International Contest Operator Code of Practice". Contests 
could opt to ask their entrants to abide by it by modifying the statement:

This is to certify that in this contest I have operated my transmitter 
within the limitations of my license, the Code of Practice, and have 
observed fully the rules and regulations of the contest.

Which we  now all agree to.

Just a thought,

John      VK4UC/ (W6KNC)


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