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The CQ WW Contest Committee will change how it pays for its new contest observer program in the wake of a public falling out with the ham radio contester who paid almost $4,000 US to fund three observer trips during the 2009 CQ WW CW contest.
"The observer program will move forward with internal funding," said Eugene Zimmerman W3ZZ, who is the new spokesman for the CQ WW CC, and was also one of the three observers last November.
The announcement came after Al Teimurazov 4L5A publicly revealed that he had paid for the trips of three observers, as 4L5A ridiculed the work of both Zimmerman and especially Roger Western G3SXW.
"CQ WW CC: Mission Failed" screamed one of the headlines on 4L5A's personal contest blog, on which he also detailed the amount each observer spent for their food, trips and lodging, as well as the actual receipts from Western.
"4L5A was generous to the CQWWCC by allowing the observer program to begin. We thank Al for his support," said Zimmerman, who declined any official comment on 4L5A's website.
"At the end of the day, we believe 4L5A has the best interests of contesting in mind," Zimmerman said.
"Like any initial experiment, we learned a great deal and will apply that experience to the contest's future station observing activities," he added.
Most of the focus for Teimurazov and some of his allies inside the CQ WW CC was on G3SXW, accusing him of acting like he was a holiday maker more than attending to his job of watching RD3AF.
In reality, that focus on RD3AF is the main issue here for critics of the observer program like 4L5A, as they believe a good opportunity was wasted by the many hours that Western was not at the EF8M QTH.
"Some papers clearly show that observers were absent at the stations for a long time (more than 10 hours) and some signs say the observers were not too hard on their duties," said 4L5A.
"4L5A made those receipts public so that people can count the total time away," said one CQ WW CC member who is convinced that RD3AF routinely has outside help in contests, clearly frustrated that an observer had not prevented Komarov from turning in the top Single Operator claimed score.
It led some hams to demand of Western an hour-by-hour accounting of Western's observer time, something G3SXW rejected by email, basically telling them that it was none of their business.
"None of the observers were required to be present for 48 hours," said Zimmerman W3ZZ, defending Western's work at EF8M.
"All of the observers spent a very significant amount of time at each station."
In January, Zimmerman told radio-sport.net that the observer program had worked and that none of the stations involved were reported to have violated any rules, or engaged in anything that would have merited a warning from the CQ WW Contest Committee.
As for what is next, Zimmerman made clear that replying to criticism was not at the top of the agenda for the CQ WW Contest Committee.
"Right now we are concerned with producing the 2009 CQ WW results for publication.
"In the late spring, the CQWWCC will turn its attention to assessing the observer program, look at ways to make it better, and decide its application for the fall 2010 contests," he added.
In the meantime, the information on the EF8M log is now public, as on the right, you can review some sections from the EF8M log, along with links to the log itself and audio posted on the RD3AF web site.
This time, Komarov has made it easier for anyone to check, as you can review the EF8M audio on the RD3AF web site and download the EF8M log.
There is really not much for log chckers to review, as for most of the contest, Komarov simply CQ'd.
Of over 7,000 contacts, radio-sport.net found only 110 that were either S&P or SO2R type QSO's.
Komarov did not go into Search & Pounce mode until just over 18 hours into the contest, and made few sweeps of the bands in the 2009 CW test.
Last year, RD3AF was DQ'd in part for a "pattern of extensive use of packet", meaning log sections like these presented below will get a close review.
Here is one example on day two. EF8M stops CQ'ing on 3513, goes to 160 for a double mult with PJ2T, then to 40, CQ's four QSO's on 40, nabs one double multiplier on 20 meters and then starts S&P'ing on 160. After G5O, starts CQ'ing on 160.
3513 CW 0122 EF8M 599 33 S54X 599 15
1817 CW 0124 EF8M 599 33 K5GO 599 04
1817 CW 0126 EF8M 599 33 PJ2T 599 09
7009 CW 0129 EF8M 599 33 DL8SCG 599 14
7011 CW 0132 EF8M 599 33 OK1FDR 599 15
7011 CW 0132 EF8M 599 33 LZ3FN 599 20
7011 CW 0133 EF8M 599 33 UA1TGQ 599 16
7011 CW 0133 EF8M 599 33 K7LV 599 03
14032 CW 0135 EF8M 599 33 HC8GR 599 10
1813 CW 0138 EF8M 599 33 HA8BE 599 15
1814 CW 0139 EF8M 599 33 4O3A 599 15
Here, EF8M stops CQ'ing on 3500 and jumps to 20 meters for a double mult with OA4SS. Goes to 40 meters and works five stations before settling down at 7005 and CQ'ing.
3500 CW 0542 EF8M 599 33 G3NCN 599 14
14039 CW 0546 EF8M 599 33 OA4SS 599 10
7001 CW 0549 EF8M 599 33 EE2W 599 14
7001 CW 0549 EF8M 599 33 NR4M 599 05
7002 CW 0550 EF8M 599 33 OH4A 599 15
7002 CW 0550 EF8M 599 33 OL4A 599 15
7003 CW 0551 EF8M 599 33 DF0HQ 599 14
7005 CW 0552 EF8M 599 33 F5MWW 599 14
Late on the second day, EF8M has several moves to other bands for just one or two stations. During a run on 21004, goes to 10 meters for a double mult with C4I.
21004 CW 1223 EF8M 599 33 LZ3SM 599 20
28025 CW 1223 EF8M 599 33 C4I 599 20
21004 CW 1225 EF8M 599 33 OM3IAG 599 15
Running on 21029, grabs two double mults on 10 meters.
21029 CW 1245 EF8M 599 33 PA7UL 599 14
28013 CW 1248 EF8M 599 33 LU1HF 599 13
28020 CW 1251 EF8M 599 33 K1TTT 599 05
21029 CW 1254 EF8M 599 33 DL1ARJ 599 14
Another foray to 10 meters for a double mult with 9J3A, then back to 15.
21029 CW 1340 EF8M 599 33 K3GW 599 05
28014 CW 1342 EF8M 599 33 9J3A 599 36
21028 CW 1344 EF8M 599 33 K1NA 599 05
From 15 to 10 for a Zone 11 double mult and back to different frequency on 15 meters.
21028 CW 1450 EF8M 599 33 IK0BOU 599 15
28032 CW 1451 EF8M 599 33 PV8AA 599 11
21023 CW 1455 EF8M 599 33 IZ5FSA 599 15
This next example has already been noted by some on the CQ WW CC, as EF8M is running on 14030, breaks off to 15 meters to grab A25NW, then goes to 40 meters and CQ's high in the band for five contacts, QSY'ing back to 15 for a double mult with 3G3V.
14030 CW 1844 EF8M 599 33 W8AV 599 04
21052 CW 1845 EF8M 599 33 A25NW 599 38
7084 CW 1848 EF8M 599 33 EW3LN 599 16
7084 CW 1849 EF8M 599 33 ER1RR 599 16
7084 CW 1849 EF8M 599 33 OE6MDF 599 15
7084 CW 1849 EF8M 599 33 YT0A 599 15
7084 CW 1850 EF8M 599 33 OR6C 599 14
21022 CW 1851 EF8M 599 33 3G3V 599 12
14029 CW 1852 EF8M 599 33 K9VIS 599 04
All of these sections are certain to be checked for packet "hits" - as in whether the stations worked on other bands had been spotted.
