[Moon-net] "assisted" operating

[Edward R. Cole]

At 01:37 AM 10/16/2006 -0700, Eric B. Norris wrote:
>
>Dear Moonbouncers:
>
>I must confess to some horror when I read the moon-net digest today after
>making (for me) an all-out effort in the contest this weekend.
>Self-spotting is not permitted on the logger?  Then what does "assisted"
>category mean?  There are stations announcing their frequencies and time of
>operation in emails to this list, but they are operating unassisted?  This
>makes no sense!  A large station will have the signal to keep others off
>their frequency.  A pipsqueak like me will just get run over.  
>
>I used to operate the contest years ago on CW, before the days of Ping
>Jockey, etc.  I would carefully scan the band for CW signals, and a great
>contest for me was more than 4 stations worked in hours and hours and hours
>of operating.  It got to be too frustrating.  This weekend I worked 20
>stations on JT65, and had a great time doing it.  But it's still hard enough
>for me, even using the logger.  I am engulfed in noise.  My antenna is blind
>for 1/3 of the moon pass.  I say leave those of us who want to have some fun
>but make enough contacts to do that to the logger to use it as we please, if
>you don't want to more power to you, but spreading the same info via email
>doesn't really seem unassisted to me.
>
>One point--I was trying hard to decode a station calling me this weekend.  I
>didn't know who it was.  Then someone else on the logger copied his
>reception of the call to the logger--this would have blown the contact for
>me except that I decoded the call a few moments before it was posted.
>PLEASE, don't do this!    
>
>This year I'll be submitting my logs for the contest for the first time
>because I'm proud of my effort so far.  If I'm violating the rules for the
>contest openly, then it's because I think they need to be changed and
>adapted to the unique world of EME, especially for smaller stations.  I'm
>sure my results will not be a threat to anyone.
>
>Thanks, and I hope to c u on the second weekend.
>
>73,
>
>Eric, WD6DBM
>2x17el, 500w  

Eric is one of the stations the "Old" Assisted mode would help.  The
current interpretation by ARRL is virtually useless and stations are may as
well operate un-assisted (ergo random).  The primary assitance that the old
interpretation afforded was real-time skeds.

It is not hard to find QRO stations in random on JT65.  THey show up FB on
the spectrum display, so "spotting" is not needed for them.  Its the trully
QRP (stations with 1x or 2x yagis and 600w-1Kw or 4x yagis and under 400w
that cannot operate in the contest effectively...No one sees their signals.
 Calling CQ is a waste of electricity.  This is where the assisted mode
made a difference.  

Under the current rules and their interpretation QRP stations may as well
not participate.  Is this what the eme community wants?  Essentially if you
are not QRO you are not wanted.

I had the same experience on CW before digital was available...1, 2 maybe 4
contacts for two whole weekends effort.  Yes, I did that because I was
starting out and those few were great to get.  But how many times does one
need W5UN or KB8RQ (or other big-guns) in their log?  Of course we want
them in the contest for points but I think one gets my point.  I petition
for the restoration of real-time sked assisted mode...or just eliminate it,
as is.

----------------other news-------------
I am not yet QRV but making progress having gotten the tower back up and
guyed.  We re-installed the Hazer cage, azimuth rotor and mast yesterday
(plus a lot of cleanup after the concrete work of the previous weekend).
Still hoping to be back by the second weekend with 4x and 170w (105w at
antennas).  No time to work on finishing the 8877...be lucky to get all
antenna work and cabling done now that temps are freezing or below...snow
soon! 

I have learned that KL6M and I are the only AK stations QRV on 2m-eme.
KL7X has "apparently" retired from eme.
73's,
Ed - KL7UW  
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http://www.qsl.net/al7eb - BP40iq 
144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801/1402, 4xM2-xpol-20, 170w
432-EME: FT-847, mgf-1402, 1x21-ele (18.6 dBi), 60w
USA Rep. for Dubus Magazine: dubususa at hotmail.com
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