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Contesting Online Speak Out


Speak Out: When is the contest over?

Contests have definite time periods...when the bell tolls, what further steps do you take to "improve" your log? How far is too far when it comes to post-contest log massaging?

34 opinions on this subject. Enter your opinion at the bottom of this page.
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Opinions...

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N5NJ on 2003-05-08
I don't have any problem with someone reviewing their log and correcting typo errors. I do not think that recording the contest, and making sure you copied it right by listening to it again should be permitted. I also think that you should not consult with anyone else about something in your log.

We've all heard things on the club repeater like: "Dave, what was the callsign of that 5Z4 we all worked just before the end of the contest? I couldn't copy it and need to correct my log". This sbould not be allowed.

If you can correct something that is wrong, by yourself, with no outside assistance from others, or from a recording, then I see nothing wrong with that.

G1GYC on 2003-05-04
I see nothing wrong with correcting some thing in your logging that you put down wrong so long as it is still within
the sprit of the contest.
I would say that even to the extent of confirming the contact with the other operator it is acceptable to ensure that
you do not submit a log with errors (that will cost you points and give the adudicator hassel to sort out)
Of course how far do you go ?
What ever manipulation of the log is done post contest it must be with in the rules and with in the sprit of the contest,
YOU ONLY CHEAT YOUR SELF by cheating and telling lies !!

73 Martin

N4ZR on 2003-04-27
I make notes in my log as I catch things during the contest (obvious busted calls, etc.), and have no hesitancy about correcting those afterward. During a recent contest, the way I had TR set up resulted in a certain number of my sent 599s being logged as the other guy's section instead. I caught a bunch of these, but the robot still caught a few that I missed, and rejected my log until I fixed them. Should I have deleted those QSOs altogether (and passed out NILs)? I don't think so. But I absolutely draw the line at any sort of "look-ups" after the contest.

Anonymous on 2003-04-17
Well, I had a computer clock accidently get reset to an incorrect time and ended up with about 100+ qso's with the wrong time-stamp. As soon as I discovered the error, I reset the clock and after the contest, I corrected the bad time-stamps. I personnally see nothing wrong to fix or correct logs after the contest. I have yet to read any of the various rules that say "Changing anything in a log after a contest is a NO-NO". They say, contest starts, contest ends, submit by .....
Go for it!!! It's your contest given right and don't let anyone try to make you think or feel differently.

AA4LR on 2003-04-11
In traditional contests, there was always a time period in which to proof, edit, dup and score a hand-written log.

Today, just because computer programs allow us to dup and score a log instantly doesn't mean that we should sacrifice this proofing time.

But traditional sense also applies to editing. Changing the times of hand-written logs to squeeze in a few more QSOs in the allowed contest period was cheating then, and it is cheating now. Edits to logs in the post-contest period ought to be made with great restraint.

Given the way modern logs are checked, there's no need to sanitize logs as before -- duplicates can be left in without penalty, for example, whereas some contests historically had penalties for "excessive duplicate contacts."

Even so, there's benefit to be had in proofing a log and correcting obvious errors. Such corrections might help the score of others as well (a corrected callsign might prevent someone else from receiving a "not-in-log")

The line starts to get fuzzy when collecting data outside of the contest itself. While traditional contestors might have done some serious outside research in order to score their logs (eg "What country is C7EGA?"), sending an accurate claimed score is no longer required.

The rule of thumb would appear to be simple: if you can proof your log by mere inspection, those edits would tend to be valid. If you are consulting corroborating sources outside the contests, the edits are suspect, if not outright cheating.

Anonymous on 2003-04-10
I think that either someone is goofing on KQ2M or he has his tongue stuck so far in his cheek his face is about to explode...

I have enough trouble finding time for the real contest, never mind another 48 hours worth of cheating.

73, kelly
ve4xt

Anonymous on 2003-04-09
I also record the whole contest but it seems that I'm just too lazy to listen it all over again to correct the log. What I have done is I have put remark on those qsos which are not 100% ok and check them. AND sometimes (I recommend this) it is just pure fun to listen your contest afterwards and notice that "Heck, I shodda got that station on 1st call! My opinion is that if you are willing to spent 48 hours again listening your constest to fix typos or busted calls, go ahead and just do it! Does not bother me at all. 73

Anonymous on 2003-04-07
I record the entire contest, and then I go through the entire recording and compare it against what my log to see how accurate it is, and make all the necessary changes to so I get as little of my score reduced as possible. Usually works out great, especially for those times when I'm neck and neck with someone. Didn't help for CQWW CW or ARRL DX CW... I got my ass handed to me both times!

73 KQ2M

VE4XT on 2003-04-05
If the whole idea of a log is to accurately reflect what happened on the radio, and you accurately copied KR2Q but typed KTR2Q, why is it wrong to make the log reflect that you got it right? That's what logging is about: a true and honest reflection of your on-air skill, not of your ability to type. Heck, if it wasn't wrong to clarify the squiggle between V and 4XT to an E in the pen-writing days, why should the computer equivalent be wrong?

Be that as it may, if you copied KF2G but worked KR2Q, it would be wrong to make your log look like you actually didn't bust the call. Similarly, if you missed W6EEN's section, you would be cheating if you tried to divine it later on ham-call.

But, if you want to make this harder on yourself than it needs to be, such is your right.

k6iii on 2003-04-04
That's too easy....
Its simple.... when the clock strikes the end of the contest; your done. NO CORRECTIONS OR REVIEWS. Just send it in as is.

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