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Re: [CQ-Contest] What's your Opinion on 2BSIQ ?

To: "'Jeff Clarke'" <ku8e@ku8e.com>, <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] What's your Opinion on 2BSIQ ?
From: "Ivo Jereb" <ivo.jereb@siol.net>
Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2020 08:31:11 +0200
List-post: <mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
Boys, we are in the 21st century.
Tell me in which sport are the World competitions or Olympics with
categories from 20 years ago. Probably someone would like to play tennis
with a wooden racket because they like it, but that's why there won't be a
new category.

Let's slowly stop this and move on with time!

73, Ivo s57AL



-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest
[mailto:cq-contest-bounces+ivo.jereb=siol.net@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
Jeff Clarke
Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2020 7:45 PM
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] What's your Opinion on 2BSIQ ?

Dick,

I don't think they ought to ban 2BSIQ or SO2R. Just make it a separate 
class like SOA. All the guys that are the elite operators do 2BSIQ 
anyway so they will be still competing against each other. There will 
still be a lot of very good operators that would compete in a 
single-operator category who just don't want to mess with a SO2R setup. 
Remember the days when you had to decide what band to be on to maximize 
your score? That's all gone out the window with SO2R. It would be nice 
to introduce some operating strategy back into contesting.

I wish CQ would expand on the Classic category and take away the time 
limitation but keep it one radio. It would also be nice if ARRL would 
add this category to their contests as well.

Jeff

On 6/4/2020 01:13 PM, wc1m73@gmail.com wrote:
> I agree with Kevin. I say this even though 2BSIQ has put a dent in my
prospects for winning SOAB HP USA in CQ WPX CW. I've managed to stay close
to the top with my middling station and skills since 2002, but in the last
three years 2BSIQ has pushed the score gap into the multimillions. Yeah,
super stations, some operated remotely, have played a part in that, but I've
always been up against better hardware and like the challenge of pitting my
skills against it. In addition to making it harder for me to win, 2BSIQ also
has the potential to significantly increase the scores of good ops with
lesser stations, which will increase the number of competitors with a chance
to land in the top 5 or 10, leaving ops who don't learn 2BSIQ out in the
cold. As Kevin says, 2BSIQ is a skill, and that's the arena in which I want
to compete. So it's on me to learn it or get left behind.
>
> IMHO, any op who puts in the time and effort to get good at 2BSIQ deserves
to reap the rewards. If we try to limit use of innovations like 2BSIQ, or
push them into separate categories, we're hurting ourselves. Contesting
stagnates, pandering to those who are only comfortable with the way it's
always been. We have way too much of that attitude in ham radio as it is.
Ops should be rewarded for finding new ways to win, for developing new
techniques and for improving their skills.
>
> I expect the next controversy will come when someone develops AI code to
make 2BSIQ easier -- i.e., the computer figures out what's going on (fill
requests, slow CW, etc.) and helps optimize switching and responses. The
argument against this is similar to using a local CW Skimmer -- no help from
other ops, but you don't have to tune and listen. Most of us felt that was a
big enough difference to push local Skimmers into the Assisted category, but
I'm not sure that opinion will persist. As AI and personal assistants
proliferate in every part of our lives, I suspect the next generation of
contesters will be much more open to using computer assistance. That won't
kill contesting. In fact, it might save contesting.
>
> 73, Dick WC1M
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kevin Stockton <aluminumtubing@gmail.com>
> Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2020 9:12 AM
> To: cq-contest@contesting.com; ku8e@ku8e.com
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] What's your Opinion on 2BSIQ ?
>
> Hi Jeff,
>
> 2BSIQ may currently be the only fair aspect of contesting.  The
development of that skill can occur anywhere so long as the individual has a
computer, headphones, and the necessary desire to push hard towards
achievement of a goal.  It's not talent.  It's only a skill.  It's just
> practice.    It's time consuming. It's hard.  It's only a skill.
>
> Success with the development of 2BSIQ isn't determined by proximity to
Europe, massive stacks, or operating from a 3 point location.  For those
that sufficiently develop the skill, it opens up a world of possibilities to
access stations from around the world.  It's the budding contesters golden
ticket to some truly amazing experiences.
>
> However, you are completely right with your premise.  Operators using
2BSIQ and SO2R have a massive advantage over one radio operators.  The
advent of 2BSIQ has shown the potential for amassing staggering scores.
Using those operating strategies fit into the current single operator
definition but like other rules in contesting they are archaic and do not
address the current realities.
>
> There are other just as glaring rule problems with our sport that must be
addressed.  Perhaps at some point, the handful of people that control
contesting will acknowledge our current state and make a genuine effort to
address this and other problems.
>
> 73,
> Kevin, N5DX
>
>
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