I think an argument needs to be considered that while technologically within
reach and feasible, some technological items are best left out of the rules.
For SO unassisted, I tend to think that Skimmer falls into the "lets not go
there" department. Yes its there; yes its a tool; yes your band scope show
whats happening on the band. But neither your band scope nor your memory
keyer nor your SO2R box will tell you that Zone 29 has just fired up 10 KHz
away. Skimmer will, and it is not your skills and ability ability that is
doing it. It's a computer that is doing it. Frankly, I think the
introduction of Skimmer essentially turns CW contesting into slow-speed RTTY
testing. You just spin the knob, hit a button, and let the computer do the
rest. No CW copying needed.
Is that the way you really want CW contesting to go?
Take another example. Many teams in the NFL use radio communications to
facilitate play calls between the head coach, the coaches upstairs, and the
quarterback out on the field. It is a very simple matter for an opposing
team or for a fan to radiolocate the communications channel and gain access
to every play call being undertaken by their opposing team. But does that
mean it should be allowed? The NFL doesn't think so. The technology is
there to do it, but allowing to would so fundamentally changes the nature
of the contest that the League has opted not to provide for it.
So too with Skimmer.
73 Rich NN3W
----- Original Message -----
From: <rt_clay@bellsouth.net>
To: <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 4:29 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Rule Change Debate on Skimmer
>
> The difference is only relevant if you
> judge it based on something someone
> wrote in an e-mail instead of what the
> rules actually say. CQ Rules say:
>
> "The use of DX alerting assistance of
> any kind places the station in the
> Single Operator Assisted category."
>
>
Well, yes, that rule is vague. That's part of the whole debate! And
yours is not the only interpretation.
You can equally well argue that an extra bandscope parked on an empty band
is "DX alerting assistance". It tells you at a glance when another band is
open
and if a big pileup happens. Would you ban anyone using a bandscope radio?
Yes, you can get the same information by tuning your 3-kHz rig there, but
you can get the same information as skimmer by tuning your 3 kHz rig :)
>
> The ARRL rules which are less clear say:
>
> Multioperator and Single Operator
> Assisted stations may use spotting nets.
>
>
>
"nets" is short for "network". A network implies several amateurs connected
together via packet, internet, telephone, etc., exchanging information. It
doesn't
say anything about how you process the radio waves you receive locally.
Tor
N4OGW
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