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"After SDR-recordings check we have to say that number of MS and M2 stations broke contest rules having 2 signals on the same time on the same band for many hours," read the notice on the Russian DX web site, which included actual recordings of the stations involved.
Disqualified in the 2011 Russian DX Contest were:
"A very unfortunate thing is that these contest operators didn't even try do make a single attempt to stop these 2 signals on the band and go by the rules," said the Russian DX announcement.
Organizers then went one step further, saying that in the 2012 Russian DX test, "complete stereo recordings of every QSO in the contest" will be required.
You can listen to some of the audio evidence as presented by the Russian DX committee at rdxc.org.
The disqualifications in the 2011 Russian DX Contest came after organizers started using Software Defined Radio (SDR) recordings of the contest weekend, in an effort to further root out contest cheating.
It was part of a multi-pronged effort by the RDXC, which also included new rules that required exact frequencies for every QSO made in order to receive a top three finish, and specific listing of station resources for those operating in the low power and QRP categories.
No stations from the low power or QRP categories were disqualified after the implementation of those new rules.
"It is encouraging to see the sponsors of the RDXC taking measures to discover, and discourage, the cheats," wrote Brian Coyne G4ODV on the UK Contest reflector.
The CQ WW Contest Committee also weighed in with a reminder about a new rule for 2011 which requires some sort of device to prevent two signals on the same band at the same time.
"Many stations utilize either a software or hardware lockout device to prevent two simultaneous signals," wrote CQ WW Contest Committee Chair Bob Cox K3EST.
"However, many do not."
Cox added on the CQ-Contest reflector that it "is almost a certainty that unless you have a lockout device, you will violate Rule III.10."
You can read part of Cox's explanation on the right sidebar.
To address that, CQ WW will use a new rule that requires a "lockout" device to ensure that multiple transmitters on each band cannot be transmitting at the same time.
Here is the text of the new rule, and an explanation from CQ WW CC Chair Bob Cox K3EST, who posted this on the CQ-Contest reflector:
"Starting with the 2011 contests we are requiring a station with two transmitters on the same band to utilize a lockout device.* New Rule III.12 addresses this issue, “When two or more transmitters are present on a band, *either a software or hardware device MUST be used to prevent more than one signal at any one time; *interlocking two or more transmitters on a band with alternating CQs (soliciting contacts) is not allowed.”
The second part of rule III.12 concerns dueling CQs. This new rule simply expands the already existing ban on dueling CQ’s in the multi-multi category to any station with two or more transmitters on the same band. The main purpose of this rule is to prevent, for example, 50 stations from taking up 100 different frequencies on already crowded contest bands.
You can find the full rules for the CQ WW at cqww.com under RULES or in the September issue of CQ magazine."