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SO Class Merging in CQWW
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I use posts for casual DXing, but not for contests; while I
certainly don't denigrate those who operate Assisted, the
Assisted class encompasses a style of contesting as
different from Non Assisted as Single Band is from All
Band or High Power is from Low Power. If we merge
assisted and non-assisted, then one might ask why not
just do away with all the categories and merge everything
into one giant free-for-all? Sound crazy? Well, just as
crazy as maintaining that one person with one set of ears
and hands is the same as someone being helped by a
worldwide net of hundreds or thousands of operators
cooperating to determine where all the DX is, and aided
by a system that can even perform instant QSYing for him.
Operating, and especially contesting, is more than
reading a screen to see what's on, where it is and pushing
buttons. It's human skill and endurance (and luck), which
is the essence of sports. The packet cluster is a great
advantage and doesn't just "assist," but transforms the
single operator into a new and different entity. In fact,
merging these two very different categories would do
more than merely "allow" one to use packet spots; it would
absolutely require it! The nature of the competitive drive
would then demand more and more external assistance,
and with the concept of the unassisted operator as
obsolete as cat's whisker tuning, would naturally
accelerate further development of and reliance upon
digital automata, packet cluster spotting, and even robots
(as is suggested by the advent of inventions such as
"Skimmer"). If we take this to its logical conclusion, then as
more and more sophisticated interactive devices,
protocols and systems are developed to do more and
more of our operating for us, human skill in contesting
will become wholly subjugated to technology, instead of
technology being subjugated to human skill, which is what
contesting and sports is all about in the first place. While
I'm definitely not a Luddite, in such a scenario, the
ultimate future of contesting may very well turn out to be
computers competing against other computers while we
either watch or sleep, and all we will do is turn them on
and off and pray for propagation. (And yes, Skynet will
supply the posts!) With human ability eliminated, all that
remains will be luck.
Is that what contesting is about?
Sounds a bit boring to me.
Posted by
KU2M
on June 21, 2008
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CQWW
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With the Skimmer being added to Assisted categories in some contests, it is even more important to keep the Assisted category separate.
Tim K6GEP
Posted by
k6gep
on June 20, 2008
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Looks like another 2-1 opposing vote so far.
Stan, K5GO
Posted by
nn5j
on June 20, 2008
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Assisted?
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The answer depends on what we mean under the term 'assisted'. If it should be 'cluster/no_cluster' criteria, I would vote 'yes' - it should be merged. Second OP or more than one signal on the air is different matter - it is a cheat, it is not SO category at all, also nothing to do with any 'assistance'. If the 'assistance' is the YL making coffee or my dog lying on my legs, then I'm 'assisted' any time. Otherwise the 'assisted' category is meaningless...
Posted by
ok1rr
on June 19, 2008
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CQWW
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Personally, I don't have any desire to become, or compete against, assisted stations, so I think I'll stick with the contests that offer an unassisted category for single ops.
Andrew
Posted by
zs6aaa
on June 15, 2008
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CQWW
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CQWW is the "Gold Standard" of DX contests. With the CQWW in mind, ops around the world invest more time and money to build competitive stations, and activate more places, than for any other event. How the WAE and RDXC set up their events need not have any influence on what the CQWW does or doesn't do.
Posted by
K9NW
on June 14, 2008
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Cheating is not a valid reason to merge the categories. Using that logic, there should only be one category, and there's no way to prevent a SO from having a second op and/or more than one signal on the air at the same time.
Posted by
w2up
on June 13, 2008
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