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"Although the nature of contesting has been one of technological advances over the years that have increased scoring opportunities, it's evident from the postings on this list that the contesting community is not ready to adopt CW Skimmer-like technologies in the single-op category at this time," wrote Bruce Horn WA7BNM.
"For this reason and the fact that the CW NAQP contest will be used as part of the team selection criteria for WRTC 2014 starting in 2011, we've returned the single-op criteria to the pre-2009 definition that prohibits the use of automated tools," Horn added.
The little-noticed change in the Single Op rules for NAQP drew a highly negative reaction from NAQP participants, forcing organizers to backtrack.
"I believe that this is a very unfortunate rule change," wrote Kirk Pickering K4RO.
"Single operators now have to compete against those using wide-band decoders? That just does not seem right," K4RO added.
The original rule - and the rule that will be used for NAQP in 2011 - reads this way on assistance:
"Access to spotting information obtained directly or indirectly from any source other than the station operator, such as from other stations or automated tools, is prohibited."
What organizers tried to do was add on the exemption for CW Skimmer, code readers and more, if - and only if - all of that was done locally, within the station.
"Access to spotting information obtained directly or indirectly from any source other than the station operator, such as from other stations or automated tools, is prohibited, except as follows: Technological methods of copying information in the contest exchange (e.g. CW Skimmer, code readers, etc.) are permitted as long as all components are entirely contained within the station."
"So we have not CHANGED the rule - we have only CLARIFIED it," said Al K0AD on CQ-Contest, arguing the intent of the rule clarification is "that multi-channel band decoders , such as CW Skimmer, are allowed as long as they do NOT connect to any external source. For example, you are not allowed to connect to a TELNET address the publishes spots from Remote Skimmers."
But that argument did not ease the mind of contesters like Dave Hachadorian K6LL.
"If that is the intent, the contest is ruined," K6LL argued.
The CW Skimmer and similar decoding technology has bedeviled organizers of a host of contests, as they struggle to find ways to keep the Single Operator category from becoming one that more resembles Single Op Assisted or Unlimited as it's called in ARRL tests now.
In late November, it was the CQ WW CW Contest which was the subject of a late rules clarification, which also was criticized by contesters.
It forced CQ WW organizers to issue a clarification to their clarification, again demonstrating the difficulty in pinning down an exact rule to regulate the use of wide-band decoding technology, like that offered by the CW Skimmer, developed by VE3NEA.
You can see the CQ WW language on the right sidebar of this story, as well as a graphic showing what the CW Skimmer wide-band decoding technology looks like for those using it.
"The issue is not how the rules are written; it is having a common understanding of what an unassisted single operator is," wrote Bob Nauman W5OV.
While that may make sense to many, it's still proving elusive in some cases.
The recent dustup over Skimmer-like technology in CQ WW resulted in these clarifications from CQ WW organizers:
A.Skimmer and skimmer-like technology is permitted for all Multi-Operator classes as well as for all the Single Operator-Assisted categories. The use of a personal skimmer located within the distance rule limitations of your QTH (500m rule) is OK.
B. The use of a remote, personal skimmer is NOT allowed. This is the same as a using a remote receiver, which is not allowed for any category. Remote receivers (including Internet-based SDRs,) which are **outside the 500m station circle, are not permitted (strictly forbidden) for any category.
C. Remote skimmers (beyond the 500m station circle) are not permitted for any category, except for the *Reverse Beacon Network (RBN). Utilization of the RBN is permitted for all Multi-Operator classes as well as for the Single Operator-Assisted categories ONLY. If you are a single op entry and access the Reverse Beacon Network, you MUST submit your log as ASSISTED.
