[SFDXA] Fw: On the Bus with WRTC - #2 - 11 July 2002

[Bill Marx]

> On the Bus with WRTC - #2 - 11 July 2002
> 
> Yesterday was a fun day - introductions, bus rides, cold beer (there's a
> heat wave in Finland this week), and great food. Now we are seeing the
> serious side of the competition.
> 
> Starting after dinner on Wednesday, both the competitors and referees
> had the first of a series of meetings to review the rules of the game.
> All of the competitors want to make the most of every technique
> available to them, but none want to be disqualified or appear
> dishonest.  Similarly, the referees want to know exactly how to
> interpret the rules and what to do in case of a perceived infraction.
> 
> There are a LOT of detailed, knowledgeable questions from both. For
> example, the question arose, "In the 10-minute QRT period before the
> contest, can the competitors be listening to the bands?" (The rules are
> posted on the WRTC Web site, www.wrtc2002.org.)  This might seem a small
> thing, but it would allow the team to prepare a "band map" of
> multipliers (ITU zones or HQ stations).  They could then start the
> contest with enough knowledge to put several multipliers in the log that
> may not be available later.  All teams should be allowed to listen
> during the QRT period or all should be equally forbidden to do so.  It
> was decided that listening was forbidden until the starting bell rings
> at 1200Z.
> 
> The participants are seasoned contesters - both those operating the
> stations and those charged with monitoring rule enforcement.  These
> people are clever and motivated to do their best.  It is in the interest
> of the sport to have clear rules and fair enforcement, so a lot of time
> is spent in the days before the contest judging these unobvious cases.
> In a "spinoff" effect, the questions being raised and answered at WRTC
> can also be applied in many cases to regular contesting.  By having the
> top competitors meet at one place, as with WRTC, the exchange of views
> and decisions can happen in minutes, instead of across contest seasons.
> 
> A new feature of WRTC that has raised some interesting issues this year
> is the Real-Time Scoreboard. (check the WRTC2002 Web site for details)
> For the first time, the competitor's claimed scores will be available to
> the general public (and contest participants) world-wide DURING THE
> CONTEST via a Web page.  The referees are charged with using the Finnish
> GSM mobile phone system to send a short text message once an hour with
> the team score.  The SMS (Short Messaging Service) is used to transmit
> the information, which is delivered automatically to a computer.  The
> score is then retrieved from the message and added to the on-line data
> base, where it is posted as a large bar chart for viewing.  It will be
> updated on the Web every 30 seconds, with most score changes occurring
> within a few minutes of the top of the hour.
> 
> This is truly groundbreaking!  The first tiny steps toward real-time
> visibility of a contest are taking place.  This will expose many more
> amateurs to the dynamics of contesting, as well as members of the
> general public that may take an interest in this strange Radiosport
> business.
> 
> Real-time score availability does have the ability to affect the way the
> contest happens, of course.  Radiosport is unique in that members of the
> amateur radio public are expected, indeed required, to participate in
> order for the contest to be a success.  It's as if a golf tournament
> gallery were required to catch the ball and throw it back onto the
> fairway a few feet.
> 
> While improved visibility is definitely a good thing, there are also
> potential negative consequences.  For example, if one team is lagging
> and their countrymen are able to identify them by their voices or other
> nuances of their operation, they might be motivated to "help out" by
> encouraging other local hams to get on and contact that team.  There are
> other similar concerns.  The organizing committee evaluated these
> concerns and decided that the potential for negative effects was greatly
> outweighed by the positive benefits visibility would bring.  In
> addition, it was felt that there were factors that would affect the
> competition much more strongly--weather, propagation, and general
> operator skill.  Therefore, the real-time scoreboard remains.  Be sure
> to check it out!
> 
> Did I mention weather in that last sentence?  Finns are feeling
> uncomfortable this week because daily high temperatures are hitting
> nearly 30 degrees, even up-country in the lake district of Himos and
> Jamsa where we are before heading to our host's stations.  This is
> uncommonly hot for Finland, also known as Suomi.  While it makes for
> some sweaty brows on people from cool climates, I don't think it is
> bothering the Texans, Italians, South Africans, or Argentines.  Yet, we
> have some thunderstorms moving through the area tonight and tomorrow and
> then for the contest weekend, things should be a bit cooler and clearer.
> 
> The Opening Ceremony was quite the show, under a very large Big Tent
> over more than 50 meters in diameter.  All of the competitors filed
> inside as for the Olympics, grouped by countries and wearing their WRTC
> shirts.  The teams completely encircled the audience, serenaded by a
> fine jazz group.  "The Saints Come Marching In" started off the parade,
> believe it or not, earning a laugh from the crowd that rapidly turned to
> applause as their favorites appeared.
> 
> Tonight we have the more formal WRTC Opening Dinner with a speech from
> the Contest Club of Finland's (CCF) president and other dignitaries and
> members of the previous WRTC committees.  The brainchild of Danny
> Eskenazi K7SS has certainly grown up to stand on its own two feet at the
> ripe old age of 12.
> 
> I expect the late night schmoozing and conversations to QRT a little
> early tonight (although the sky might still be bright) for all of the
> operators and those who will supervise them to get caught up on sleep
> and dispell the final smidgens of jet lag.  Tomorrow brings one final
> set of meetings and then on to the host stations!  The WRTC2002 has done
> a marvelous job in setting up 54 nearly identical stations, all checked
> out and ready for operation. But who could rest easy, having come all
> this way, with so much on the line?
> 
> The clock is ticking in Finland...Kiipis! (Cheers!)
> 
> 73, Ward N0AX/OH
> 
> PS - Don't forget to send in a log within 6 hours of the contest to
> participate in the WRTC-sponsored raffle.  There are also special prizes
> for working as many of the OJ competitor callsigns as possible.  Check
> www.wrtc2002.org for details.
> 
> --
> Bernie McClenny, W3UR
> 
> Editor of - The Daily DX <-- two free weeks
> http://www.dailydx.com/order.htm
>           - The Weekly DX <-- free sample
> http://www.dailydx.com/weekly2.html
>           - How's DX
> http://www.dailydx.com
> 
>