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Just like the recent CQ WPX CW Contest, the 2008 IARU HF Championships will be run under guidelines that permit single operators to use the controversial CW Skimmer software, as contest administrators wait to rule on its future use.
"The 2008 rules are as published," was the succinct reply from ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner K1ZZ.
Those rules were posted on the ARRL web site in early February, well before the tempest arose in contest circles over the software developed by VE3NEA.
The ARRL decision means that single operators will be able to use a locally based Skimmer, while packet cluster operation would still be against the rules in the various IARU single operator categories.
The ARRL decision also means that the next three qualifying events for the World Radiosport Team Championships will be run with a possible role for the CW Skimmer, as the WAE DX tests in August and September have no restrictions at all on single operators and packet cluster use.
"I plan a decent test in the IARU," said CW Skimmer user Pete Smith N4ZR, who was unable to give it a full run in WPX CW.
So it means if you didn't have the chance to set up a Skimmer for WPX CW, then you have five weeks to get your equipment in order for an IARU test drive.
Smith though says contesters need to realize that it's certainly not as simple as just plugging in a few cables.
"There are a lot of choices to be made, and some specific implementation issues to be addressed, including some that at present lack satisfactory solutions," Smith told radio-sport.net.
Another ham who evaluated the Skimmer during WPX CW was Chris Schneider DL8MBS, who was struck by how much the program hears.
"I´m amazed about the surveillance power of Skimmers still in their early stages," Schneider said, "in WPX a 40 meter Skimmer (150km away) noticed me nine times on a really crowded 40m-band."
"I used only 5 watts into a doublet at 9 meters," added Schneider.
As for those who hotly oppose the Skimmer, that campaign has not slowed any after the WPX CW debut of the code reading software.
"I can't remember the last time I felt so badly about Amateur Radio," said Scott Robbins W4PA, who boycotted WPX CW because Skimmer was allowed this year in the Single Op Unassisted category.
"CW contesting was something I really, really loved, and it's going down the drain right before my eyes. I can't believe it," Robbins wrote on his blog.
Robbins has said he plans to operate the IARU and WAE CW tests this summer, but it's not clear if the lack of a Skimmer ban in those competitions will cause him to boycott another major contest.
"The majority of those who have expressed any public opinion on the use of Skimmer have said it should not be allowed in any category," argues Stan Stockton K5GO, who has led an internet petition drive against the software.
"Hopefully Skimmer will be handled in a way such that it will not be detrimental to CW Contesting in five years," K5GO added.
"My opinion on the use of Skimmer for contesting is that it should be allowed in the Assisted category for single operators and, of course, all categories of multi-ops," said Paul Kent K0PK in an email to radio-sport.net.
A number of sources have indicated to radio-sport.net that the ARRL and CQ contests are likely to approve the Skimmer only for those type of operations, in the Assisted and Multi-Op categories.
So far though, no contest committee members have been willing to confirm that on the record.
While contesters of all stripes wait for those rules decisions, many are keeping an open mind about the Skimmer, like Multi-Multi station leader Tim Duffy K3LR.
"I will add it to the K3LR multi multi operation if it is:
"Allowed by the contest rules for Multi Multi; After testing appears to enhance the fun and operations at K3LR; The K3LR team agrees that it is important and useful to have," said Duffy.
You can read previous stories about the CW Skimmer:
Contesters Await Rules Decisions On Use of CW Skimmer Software - April 21, 2008
Uproar In Contest Ranks Swells On CW Skimmer; Contest Rulemaking Efforts Not Resolved - April 28, 2008
Log Check Experts Confident CW Skimmer Use Can Be Detected - May 5, 2008
Skimmer Controversy Dominates As Contesters Assemble at 2008 Dayton Hamvention - May 12, 2008
Skimmer Put On Skimmer in Dayton; Human Ear Wins Pileup Contest - May 19, 2008
With No Prohibition, Skimmer Gets CQ WPX CW Test Drive - May 26, 2008
Tell us what you think about the CW Skimmer! Should contest rules be changed? Should this be allowed for unassisted ops? Email us at radio-sport.net
When tied into a radio properly, the program can basically offer you a bandmap full of stations, without being connected to any packet cluster site, as it automatically decodes and identifies CW signals (see photo below.)
The CW Skimmer program and more can be found at VE3NEA's DX Atlas web site.
This is a screen shot of the wideband DX Skimmer mode. (Photo courtesy dxatlas.com)
Pete Smith N4ZR has spearheaded a "reverse beacon" network, with multiple listening locations using the Skimmer around the world.
To see the stations it picks up, go to dxwatch.com and click on the calls of the stations with Skimmers that are online.
"Ultimately, I hope to see a DX-Atlas style propagation map overlaid with actualy reported paths," Smith said. "I think that would be a great teacher about propagation.
"Watching a given band open at various locations up and down the East Coast has been a valuable learning tool for me already," he added.
This reporter went on 40 meters earlier in April and made a simple "CQ DE NS3T" call. Sure enough, "NS3T" quickly popped up on the screen via a Skimmer in W9.
