[ARDF] GPS on course?

[Kenneth E. Harker]

     The rules for the 2005 IARU R2 meet included a rule: "The use of GPS 
receivers for navigation is not allowed. It is considered receiving 
assistance."

     Should the rule go a little further and ban the presence of GPS units 
(or cell phones, etc.) on course altogether?  The question is, is there
any sort of legitimate use of a GPS on course during the meet?  One that would 
outweigh the burden placed upon juries to decide whether or not a GPS unit 
was "used for navigation" after discovering that someone brought a GPS with 
them on course?  Is it a good idea to create a situation where the jury has 
to decide whether or not to trust that someone didn't cheat?  

     There has to be a certain amount of trust when competitors go out on 
course because you can't watch them the whole time, of course...  but if
something like carrying a GPS on course could introduce the appearance or 
potential of improriety and it has no compelling legitimate use in the 
competition, shouldn't it be banned altogether?


    The IARU Region I rules do not mention GPS or similar satellite navigation
aids explicitly, and probably rely upon the prohibition against receiving 
assistance on course to cover this issue.  If someone showed up at the 
World Championships start line carrying a Garmin Geko, and told everyone - 
oh, of course I'm not going to use this for _navigation_..., what would 
happen?

-- 
Kenneth E. Harker WM5R
kenharker at kenharker.com
http://www.kenharker.com/