ARRL Ratchets Up Efforts to Stamp Out Unethical Contest Behavior in ARRL DX

By Jamie Dupree NS3T  radio-sport.net 
Posted February 25, 2008

With the recent announcement that three high profile operators were disqualified from the 2007 IARU Contest, the ARRL is making it clear in the ARRL DX contests that certain operating techniques will not be tolerated.

"Yes, we are trying to improve operating practices and contest ethics overall," says Dave Patton NN1N, who heads the ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Department.

"We didn’t really warn people about things, rather we pointed out:

"I noticed that you, or someone using your call spotted xxxxx on 80. This is against the spirit of the competition. Please do not abuse the cheerleading this weekend," said Patton.

One warning about an early contest spot on 160 meters of Multi-Multi NQ4I drew the attention of Patton, which left Team leader Rich Daughtery NQ4I aggravated.

"A single spot from a local, not what anybody could call cheer leading," said Daugherty. "He did not say go SECC or Go NQ4I...just a simple spot."

The spot was from Fred Dennin WW4LL, who has been an operator in past NQ4I multi efforts:

WW4LL 1828.0 NQ4I 0144 16 Feb 2008

"What happened would not even show up on the radar at K1TTT's packet cluster analysis," Daugherty told radio-sport.net

Patton defended the in-contest notice to WW4LL.

"That message simply said that the operator lists of multi-op stations would be checked this year. There have been cases in the past where well-intentioned ops sitting at the multi-multi were self-spotting and the station owner didn't know it was happening.

The ARRL DX warnings came just days after the ARRL disqualified three top operators from the 2007 IARU contest.

"We are receiving more and more comments about cheating," said Patton.

"We are increasing the scrutiny given to operating and contest entries using whatever tools and technology is available."

Just before the 2007 IARU contest, the ARRL made clear it was moving in the direction of stricter contest rules enforcement.

"Leading competitors should expect their entries to be carefully scrutinized. If exceptional results are claimed, entrants must be prepared to explain how they were achieved," was the pre-IARU statement.

In results issued this month by the ARRL, 9A9A, UT5UGR and HA1DAC were disqualified from the 2007 IARU. Sources said the issue was the use of extra operators for a single op entry. All three will be ineligible for the 2008 IARU.

More comprehensive log reviews are also a priority for the CQWW DX Contests, as they recently tested a new software tool designed to ferret out single ops using extra operators or the packet cluster.

In 2006, the CQWW committee disqualified Jack Danielyan RW3QC, the operator of C4M on Cyprus in the CW test.

"Log results deemed incompatible with category of entry," was the terse explanation in CQ Magazine.

The ARRL's Patton says more clearly needs to be done by major contest sponsors to make sure cheaters aren't taking over.

"The game is very popular now—maybe more than ever, and in order to keep the interest and promote the game to those who want to give it a shot, we need to do more to increase the enjoyment and satisfaction that comes from fair competition."

It didn't wash with NQ4I.

"I can demonstrate that there were hundreds of spots from all over the US for some of the M-M's....did they get the e-mail too??? I don't think so, or we would be hearing from them too!"