There is one question that has not been answered... Define: 'Using
Skimmer'. Skimmer is a computerized method of copying cw. Writelog has a
built in cw copy capability. There are other free cw copy programs out
there. I have my own program that decodes multiple cw streams, its not as
good as the ve3nea program, but its free and has been available with source
so others can continue development on the web for a couple years
(http://www.k1ttt.net/software/Cw_ms_source.zip). So, what does 'using
skimmer' really mean? Any kind of computerized cw decoding? Cw decoding of
multiple stations at once?? 2 copies of writelog, or an so2r station with
one decoder on each radio would fall in that category. Do you define it by
bandwidth? If I can copy several stations in my 3khz filters by ear, and so
can my 'skimmer' does that make me X class? If I put a 3khz 'skimmer' on my
2nd radio audio and tune it through another band, or leave it monitor for an
opening is that 'using' a skimmer?? I could do that by ear if I were good
enough, many do, but not me. If I set up 2 'skimmers', one on each vfo of
an mp and tune 2 parts of the same band, is that 'using' a skimmer??
If I do register as an X entry and I spend more time playing with neat
technology and having fun than making contacts, is that going to prove
anything? How will you judge the effectiveness of using a skimmer with what
will likely be a very small sample of unknown quality stations in this new X
class?? It would be like trying to figure out the effectiveness of using
packet in the first trials of a packet network in the early 1980's... there
just won't be enough users, using it seriously enough, with any kind of
strategy to know how to best use it, to make any kind of a serious decision.
At this point I would personally put anyone in the X class in k1dg's
infamous 'single op distracted' class and give them bonus points for their
efforts in improving the technology.
David Robbins K1TTT
e-mail: mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net
web: http://www.k1ttt.net
AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tod -ID [mailto:tod@k0to.us]
> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 01:53
> To: cq-contest@contesting.com
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer -- a proposed solution
>
> Having read with much interest the thoughts that have been written down
> and
> sent to the reflector, I am wondering if there is a way to have an interim
> solution on the way to the FINAL solution [no offense intended].
>
> We are all speculating on just how much of an impact the Skimmer will have
> on the score of a competent operator with a good station. There is a long
> tradition in amateur radio for 'experimental' licenses that are issued to
> allow 'new' technology to be investigated.
>
> I suggest that this contest season, 2008-09, we establish an
> 'experimental'
> category for contest operation that includes using 'locally positioned'
> [not
> connected to the internet] Skimmers. Stations who wish to operate with
> Skimmers may do so but they will need to notify the contest sponsor ---
> preferably in advance, but certainly when submitting their log. Those
> 'experimental Contest' ops would be included in whatever category they
> would
> be in if they had not used the Skimmer. However, their scores on 3830 and
> in
> the contest results listings would have an 'X' indicator so everyone would
> know that they had used the Skimmer as a part of their.
>
> If you are going to 'cheat' and use the Skimmer but not tell anyone you do
> not need to register for the X-class in advance. But then you were going
> to
> cheat anyway so nothing has changed.
>
>
> The collection of such actual contest data might go a long way toward
> understanding the exact implications of the effect of the Skimmer on
> station
> operation. In addition, after the contest[s] we could look forward to NCJ
> articles or CQ-Contest emails or web site presentations by the 'X-Class'
> ops
> sharing their thoughts about the effect of the Skimmer on their contest
> operation. Maybe this issue will be clarified once we have some actual
> experience.
>
> This will not deal with the philosophy part of the discussion -- but that
> is
> why it is philosophical.
>
>
>
> I do not have any idea about the 'AWARDS' that are handed out by the
> Contest
> Sponsors. It is no big deal to hand out duplicate certificates for X-rated
> scores and regular scores but the big, expensive plaques from ARRL may be
> something else.
>
> However, doing this will allow us to have a plan for seeing just what the
> technology really does. The guys who choose to register as experimental
> contest ops [X-Class] {think solar flare} will have their scores flagged
> but
> included in the category that they would have been in had they not used
> the
> Skimmer. The guys who are in the 'assisted' or 'unlimited' categories will
> have an idea of whether or not they want to add this technology to their
> station. For many of us who may be struggling with SO2R or similar station
> improvements it will be something to consider for the future.
>
> For us all, adopting this idea will allow us to change the topic and
> debate
> something else.
>
> Tod, K0TO
>
>
>
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