CQ WW Contest Committee Sends Out Requests For In Contest Cheating Checks For 2009 CQ WW

By Jamie Dupree NS3T  radio-sport.net 
Posted October 20, 2009

Following through on a major rules change for the 2009 CQ WW DX Contests, the head of the CQ WW Contest Committee is now sending out emails to contesters requesting the right to have an official observer visit their stations during the 48 hour contest period of this year's CQ WW CW test.

The email from CQ WW CC Chief Bob Cox K3EST, lays out official observer visits possibly to four top stations, all operating in far-flung locations around the world.

"I did get the email," said Tom Georgens W2SC, who plans to operate from Barbados in CQ WW CW.

"Observers are welcome at any time," Georgens told radio-sport.net.

"The CQ WW Contest Committee would like to ask you to participate in our observer program during the CQ WW CW 2009 contest," read one of the emails that went to Jose Nunes CT1BOH, who is also a member of the CQ WW Contest Committee.

"Our observer will need full access to your operation," wrote K3EST.

"He will be instructed to not interfere with your effort, and by arriving a day or so before the contest, he can assist you in your set-up, if needed," Cox writes.

As for who is getting these emails, while there was no official announcement from the CQ WW CC, Cox did reveal four top single operators who are evidently getting notices for the CW test.

"We will be sending observers to the locations operated by CT1BOH, RD3AF, W2SC and YT1AD, and potentially other locations. All have recently been competitors for a top position.

That could well mean visits in four distant locations, as CT1BOH plans to operate from the Madeira Islands, RD3AF has operated from the Canary Islands, YT1AD from Tunisia and W2SC from Barbados.

Nunes CT1BOH hailed the effort by the CQ WW CC, saying it "puts the cheater into a big dilemma," forcing top operators to either "operate the contest according to the rules and have a score not matching the scores of past years, when there were no observers" or "not operate the contest, present an excuse and let the cast of cheater's doubt deepen."

Cox has tried to make clear in recent weeks that those who receive an inspection notice are not necessarily guilty of anything.

"We are no way in implying there has been illicit behavior by that entrant," Cox told a special webinar last week on CQ WW 2009, "rather we are suggesting he is a world class contender and want to lay aside any questions which might arise from other contenders."

The CQ WW SSB Contest runs 48 hours from 0000z October 24 to 2400z October 25.