N4ZR proposed (for reasons mentioned in his original email):
> For these reasons, I agree with Rick that the time has come for a definition
> based on the station's boundary. However, I think the general rule should be
> "No information from beyond the station boundary, regardless ofmode of
> reception." Specific exceptions could be added, such as one for "generalized
> propagation information, such as WWV solar indices".
While I agree with the general idea that assistance comes from outside the
station, I think you still need the second dimension that, for non-digital
contests at least, assistance also includes someone other than the de facto
operator decoding the callsign and exchange information.
I think it is perfectly reasonable to say that being able to learn, based on
equipment within the station, that there are signals at 21000.05, 21000.12,
21000.23, etc. perhaps might not constitute "assistance" if you're taking a
liberal definition. That intelligence could come from your ears, from a
panadapter, from an in-station SDR, or even from a skimmer display with decodes
turned off.
However, once you cross the line into letting technology tell you that K3LR is
at 21000.05, HK1NA is at 21000.12, D4C is at 21000.23...or that R3LA is sending
you serial number 456, then I think you've probably deviated from the classic
object of a contest: to see how many stations can you copy callsign and
information from within the parameters of the test?
Mind you, I don't have a problem with assistance (aside from the obvious
exceptions of contests where the object/gimmick is "boy and his radio"). I
love operating assisted. But it is definitely a different style of operating
than unassisted.
Perhaps in addition to a shift to defining assistance by station boundary and
decoding, there needs to be a shift in terminology: "classic"/"unlimited"
rather than "unassisted"/"assisted"?
--
Michael Adams N1EN
Poquonock, Connecticut | mda@n1en.org
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