Mike, I take exception that "it is virtually identical to what RBN does
on CW and RTTY". Perhaps "virtually" is your caveat that they are in
fact not the same? With RBN, or packet, etc. the CQing operator does
not take a direct and overt action to elicit the spot for assistance.
His action may, or may not, result in a spot. From the outset, it was
not his immediate intent. All he did was to ID or CQ.
With "self-spotting", the operator clearly takes an action to "spot"
oneself. At a minimum, he is using a means other than a radio signal,
e.g., computer and the internet, to solicit a QSO. How is that not
"assisted"? That so-called genie is now out of the bottle, and with
deference to your "happier smaller stations", perhaps that will be the
wave of the future? Why are these smaller stations happier? All they
have to do is tune and listen. And learn how to copy a call sign. Ah,
those crude, pathetic, good old days......
Those DX stations on the end of packet spots have already witnessed
the diminution of operator skills with endless packet and RBN spots: 1)
the packeteer busts your call and suddenly you are a "new" multiplier to
many because you're really ZD8Z but now you've been spotted as ZD7Z. I
learned years ago that one's only self defense is to QSY to a new
frequency, and start over with your real ZD8Z call; and 2) RBN pileups
have the disastrous effect of putting everyone (sometimes many dozens)
zero beat with one another, and the poor DX operator cannot begin to
decipher any calls; at least not at any rate, and everyone suffers. And
all of these zero beaters don't realize that they're all maybe 559.
What a mess. The DX operator then yearns for the sharp ops on the other
end who've figured this out and QSY off a few HZ, and bingo: his 559
signal prevails. Over many years, I've learned that the JA's are very
gifted at listening and QSYing. If one does not believe this story,
do yourself a favor and go somewhere rare (a double mult can be
educational) this November and show us all how to do it. A place with
good propagation to Europe, and Japan, can be most enlightening.
Back to self-spotting: I believe, that a minimum, those who "need" to
self spot should be classified as Assisted, or Unlimited, whatever it
is. Perhaps that will discourage some, who should know better, that
they don't have to stoop to that level. There's always hope.
Very 73,
Jim Neiger N6TJ ZD8Z etc
On 3/12/2024 8:14 AM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:
Henry or anyone confused about what self spotting does or is:
Assisted (or Unlimited) has ALWAYS meant "QSO finding assistance"
ie: some person or technology that tells you Romeo, P5RS7 is on 14.020
listening up 5
is Assistance.
Having a person (including yourself) or a technology TELLING OTHERS that
you, yourself, K4TMC is on 14.222.2 is not assistance.
It is virtually identical to what the RBN does on CW and RTTY.
It actually levels the playing field (isn't that the goal?) so everyone who
chooses to use it (when allowed under contest rules)
has the same opportunity to have others find THEM exactly like what take
place on CW now
whether you all realize it takes place or not. If you call CQ on CW, the
RBN will find you. How can any of you be opposed
to the same thing happening on SSB?
Like W0MU I am having a hard time trying to understand why people think this
is "assistance" or
having any opposition to the "self spot" (unless you really just like CQing
endlessly on SSB until someone takes pity on you and spots you?)
-Mike/VE9AA
p.s.- only ARRL and some QSO parties permit self-spotting. The sky didn't
fall and smaller stations are much happier and the playing field is slowly
but surely getting a little more level.
Mike,
Re "I still have not figured out who was damaged by this rule change."
As someone who operates "unassisted" and claims to be "unassisted" in my
submitted logs, I feel disadvantaged against those "unassisted" who self
spot. As someone else posed a short while back, self spotting is like
having a second radio calling CQ for you while operating radio one, thus a
variation on SO2R. It would be nice to know in the published results which
"unassisted" stations posted a single or more self spot. But then there are
those who would use a different call when spotting themselves...Oh my,
Pandora's box has been opened...the key tossed in the ocean...and the lock
mechanism damaged beyond repair...
I know I have been spotted in the past, but I don't know by whom, and I
surely have not asked anyone to spot me.
73,
Henry - K4TMC
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