[PVRCNC] Re: [PVRC] Petition Opposing Use of CW Skimmer by Contest Competitors

[Jim Jordan, K4QPL]

Thanks Frank. I totally agree and am copying this to the NC reflector. All 
other sports have rules to maintain the necessity for human skill--golf, 
baseball, sailing, etc. Being a technology oriented sport, I'm afraid there 
is a philosophy that if it represents a technology advance, it must be good 
and the human element is diminished thereby.

73,

Jim, K4QPL

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <donovanf at starpower.net>
To: <pvrc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 10:53 AM
Subject: [PVRC] Petition Opposing Use of CW Skimmer by Contest Competitors


> Today I signed an on-line petition opposing the use of CW Skimmer by 
> competitors in CW contests.  Well over 100 contesters have signed to 
> petition, including many callsigns you'll recognize.
>
> I added the following comments to my signature:
>
> Computer automation is a growing part of our contesting sport; however, 
> operator skill and performance continue as critical success factors in our 
> sport.  CW Skimmer is such disruptive technology that it will shift the 
> focus of CW contesting from human operating to an on-the-air computer 
> game.  I strongly support the request that CW Skimmer not be allowed for 
> anyone submitting an entry in a CW contest.
>
> If you also have concerns about the use of CW Skimmer by competitors in CW 
> contests, please sign the petition at:
>
> http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/skimmer
>
> After you click the box adding your name and callsign to the petition, you 
> will be prompted to make a donation. A donation is not required and you 
> can simply close the window after you add your name and callsign to the 
> petition.
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
> ---- Original message ----
>>Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 09:00:43 -0500
>>From: "Stan Stockton" <k5go at cox.net>
>>Subject: Skimmer Petition
>>To: <donovanf at erols.com>
>>
>>   Frank,
>>
>>   I have no idea what your thoughts are regarding Skimmer and
>>   the full station automation that will follow in the next few
>>   years.
>>
>>   Following is a link to an on line petition that I wrote a few
>>   nights ago.  I sent a link to N6TJ and went to bed at midnight
>>   and signed off asking him to read it and get the ball rolling
>>   if he liked what he saw.
>>
>>   I asked K1ZZ, knowing that he could not take a position on the
>>   subject, what he thought.  He said it reminded him of a
>>   story Mario, S56A likes to tell about building a fully
>>   automated CW contest station about 15 years ago. He watched it
>>   make a couple of hundred QSOs without any human intervention,
>>   decided it would destroy his favorite operating activity, and
>>   took it apart and never hooked it up again.
>>
>>   Please read what the petition says.
>>
>>   SOME of this is stock stuff that I have sent to a few people:
>>
>>   I am not against technology but think that RTTY would be a
>>   better place to create automated QSO machines, etc.
>>
>>   I understand and respect that some want Skimmer to be included
>>   in CW Contesting.  My opinion is that it will soon turn the
>>   "sport" into nothing more than a computer game with the future
>>   being computers working computers at 100 WPM or so.
>>
>>   If you also believe this is true and is detrimental to the CW
>>   Contesting Sport, pass this along to as many others who might
>>   also believe the same way.  If you belong to a club of
>>   contesters, that is a good way to reach the masses and if each
>>   person sends it to several others that have not received it,
>>   it will go worldwide quickly.
>>
>>   If you sign it, please use your name followed by your
>>   callsign.  When you sign it, you do not need to go to the next
>>   step where they try to get you to make a donation.
>>
>>   http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/skimmer
>>
>>   You can click on Signatures at the top of the page and see who
>>   has signed it in the last few days.
>>
>>   Thanks Frank & 73...Stan, K5GO
> _______________________________________________
> PVRC mailing list
> PVRC at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/pvrc