[Moon] Will things ever change?

[jimmyv at hol.gr]

Hello All

I came across a very interesting decision of RSGB for its Contest  
rules on 6m-4m-2m-70cm Contests.
This clearly shows that in the internet / chatrooms days we are living  
(totally true for the absolute majority of JT65 EME assisted QSOs on  
an everyday basis for the last 6-7 yrs), they are still Radio Amateur  
Unions and Contest Organizers (e.g. RSGB, DUBUS, REF etc.)  acting  
responsibly,  putting Radio as their first priority.
And prohibit Assisted Class and chatroom QSOs in a Contest.

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Here is the info:
http://www.vhfcc.org/rules/08rules/General.htm

Section i:
i. The active use (posting messages, arranging skeds, self spotting  
etc) of the DX Cluster and other spotting networks (including internet  
facilities for example ON4KST) to assist an entry to a contest on 6m,  
4m, 2m and 70cm is banned in all RSGB contests with the exception of  
three IARU Region 1 co-ordinated contests (50MHz Trophy in June,  
144MHz Trophy in September and 432MHz to 248GHz IARU in October) and  
the 144MHz Marconi contest in November where permitted by the IARU  
rules for these contests. You may spot a DX station as long as your  
operating frequency is not given. A list of do's and don'ts can be  
found here http://www.vhfcc.org/rules/08rules/dods.html
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The list of do's and don'ts for RSGB related Contests could still be  
useful to all modes, in the context of new ARRL EME Contest rules,  
with NO Assisted class.

Pardon me but I am really troubled with questions i want to share with  
you: I REALLY WONDER WILL ARRL EVER  DO THE SAME FOR THE EME  
COMPETITION? Take out Assisted class? Bring back the focus to Radio,  
the challenge to the operator, the thrill of Random EME operation?

Because even though Assisted is intended for new to EME and/or QRP  
stations (by the way such class never existed in the cw days !!! for a  
far more difficult mode of operation on moonbounce), in ARRL EME  
Competition it is fully used by experienced, average, qro, etc.  
stations in digital mode.

I do understand the reasoning and arguments of QRP and new to  
moonbounce stations. I really do. But pls allow me to say that they  
claim they need help only because they ''were brought up'' by the  
majority of their fellow logger ops this way. It is the Teachers'  
fault - influence who put them in this norm from day 1.

However, in the past software random digital tool development has been  
released for those working digital, start working on random. This has  
been MAP65. A paper on Random QSO practises had been published. Both,  
by Joe K1JT. In the latter, examples on how random digital QSOs can be  
made and examples of frequency segments for CQ callers and listeners,  
were given. Jeremy W7EME had suggested the same, several times, in the  
past. Will these suggestions ever be implemented? Some stations went  
on further working digital Unassisted (minority) in recent yrs  
Contests, developing various ways to be more effective, as they saw  
fit. Congrats to all for taking the lead trying to improve their  
station and help others!
But why ARRL has introduced Assisted class since it is used for other  
purposes? Why should it remain?

Could you tell me why in the cw only days, such class never existed?  
For any operator, qrp/qro, new/old, whoever. Why cw Contest QSOs 99%  
take place on random? Why can't we have a Radio - not an Internet -  
ARRL Contest without exceptions?

Those who claim fun as their first priority regardless of anything  
else, or those who, for their own reasons, can only operate Assisted  
6m-2m-70cm-23cm, they could ask ARRL to organize a separate rallye  
type of EME event where everything is allowed to maximize their  
beloved QSO numbers. Why not?

Final note:I totally understand the need of Specific forms of  
assistance required for 13cm (current frequencies allocation, doppler  
shift, multiple feeds etc.) and above bands for all modes of  
operation. Therefore, this is not a topic of this discussion.

73
Jimmy SV1BTR