ARRL approves limited use of CW Skimmer

A big change in the world of contesting.

Following months of review, the ARRL has decided to allow the use of the controversial CW Skimmer program, but only for multi-ops and single operators using assistance in ARRL contests.

The rules change on multi-channel decoders like CW Skimmer was approved by the ARRL Program and Services Committee, which met just before the mid-January 2009 meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors.

In an interview with Radio-Sport.net, ARRL Contest Advisory Committee Chairman Dick Green, WC1M, said that this emerging technology will be permitted in ARRL contests, but not in the Single Operator category.

This decision mirrors a similar one made last year by the CQ WW DX Contest. The ARRL decision means that all major contests have now dealt with the CW Skimmer issue.

Source: ARNewsline, W0WI