New Categories - replt to Bill

[Hamk0luz at aol.com]

In a message dated 95-12-14 16:37:01 EST, you write:

>
>No, you missed my point.  Perhaps the wrong choice of words but what I was 
>saying is how can I test MYSELF if I contest against someone with 
>the same equipment that I have.  If we're both average op's we should be 
>fairly close in score.  I want to compare myself against those with bigger
>antennas and see how I do.
>
>

How difficult is it to look at the scores of the stations with bigger
antennas
and compare your score to them?

And if you want your score listed with the guys with the bigger antennas,
submit your score under that category.

Perhaps you don't realize that if you are running qrp  single op, 
you are welcome to submit your score as a multi multi.   
You just can't be multi-multi and submit your score as qrp 
single op.    To attempt to make it clearer to you ...  
you may always choose a higher category than what you
actually are,   you may not choose a category that is lower 
that your actual category.

Red
K0LUZ/4

>From aa4lr at radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR)  Fri Dec 15 13:52:32 1995
From: aa4lr at radio.org (Bill Coleman AA4LR) (Bill Coleman AA4LR)
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 09:52:32 -0400
Subject: New Categories - replt to Bill
Message-ID: <v01520d0aacf64e5e827d@[206.28.194.40]>

>>
>> >In conclusion...
>> >
>> >Once again it must be a difference in philosophy.  In basketball I always
>> >want to guard the other teams best player.  How can I test myself if I play
>> >against someone who has my identical skills.
>>
>> You missed the point. With subcategorization, an attempt is made to
>> equalize the STATIONS, not the skills.
>>
>> The contest itself is always a test of skill.
>
>No, you missed my point.  Perhaps the wrong choice of words but what I was
>saying is how can I test MYSELF if I contest against someone with
>the same equipment that I have.  If we're both average op's we should be
>fairly close in score.  I want to compare myself against those with bigger
>antennas and see how I do.

I'm confused. Just because a contest creates subcategories doesn't mean
that the other categories go away. No matter what category you submit your
score in, you'll be able to compare it with other categories.

So, if you submit a score in the TS category, there's no reason why you
couldn't compare yourself to the Unlimited category.

If you eliminate these subcategories, then you have no way of knowing what
kind of setup the other guy has. So what can you compare it to? All you'll
know is that W1xx did better than you. You won't know if he has stacked
monobanders for 5 bands, or just a tribander at 30' and a couple of
dipoles.

Maybe we just need to add an annotation to the scores to indicate the type
of antennas / radios used.




Bill Coleman, AA4LR      Mail: aa4lr at radio.org
Quote: "The same light shines on vineyards that makes deserts." -- Steve
Hackett



>From Ronald R. Sigismonti" <sig at locke.ccil.org  Fri Dec 15 15:09:55 1995
From: Ronald R. Sigismonti" <sig at locke.ccil.org (Ronald R. Sigismonti)
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 10:09:55 -0500 (EST)
Subject: The Ice Storm
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9512151048.C28082-0100000 at locke.ccil.org>

On Fri, 15 Dec 1995, Barry Kutner wrote:

> Gary Schwartz <garyk9gs at solaria.sol.net> writes:
> 
> > While we're on the subject of antenna wire, does anyone know of a source
> > for cheap BARE wire, 20-22 ga for radials?  The problem with enamel wire
> > is removing the insulation outside in an efficient manner, especially if
> > it is cold.  I had a terrible time laying radials on my recent trip to FP.
> 
> Gary - Not sure if there's a down side with increased resistance, but 17 
> ga electric fence wire is pretty cheap. Agway sells 1/2 mile spool for 
> about 10 bucks here. I use it for my Beverage - IMO steel is fine for 
> that since it is a high resistance, low current antenna, so losses should 
> be negligible. 
> I would expect it to be similar with a LOT of radials, since the current 
> is divided by the number of radials. But have never used a vertical 
> myself, so can't speak from experience. Comments from the gurus?
> 73 Barry

I would suggest that you use a good quality copper wire.  One of the 
reasons for using radials is to cut down on losses that occur when the 
return path currents flow through lossy materials.  Depending on the 
physical height of the vertical with respect to its electrical height, 
the radiation resistance of the antenna can be quite low.  In these cases 
(loaded verticals) it is essential that the return path be as low a 
resistance as possible.  This is less important for full size 1/4 wave 
verticals, but good practice is to use copper for all conductors.  Of 
course large diameter aluminum tubing is preferred for the vertical radiator 
for mechanical reasons. 

de Sig, N3RS
Sig at Locke.CCIL.org
 

>From R. Torsten Clay" <torsten at mephisto.physics.uiuc.edu  Fri Dec 15 15:28:10 1995
From: R. Torsten Clay" <torsten at mephisto.physics.uiuc.edu (R. Torsten Clay)
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 95 9:28:10 CST
Subject: Radial wire
Message-ID: <199512151528.AA24962 at mephisto.physics.uiuc.edu>

> 
> On Fri, 15 Dec 1995, Barry Kutner wrote:
> 
> > Gary Schwartz <garyk9gs at solaria.sol.net> writes:
> > 
> > > While we're on the subject of antenna wire, does anyone know of a source
> > > for cheap BARE wire, 20-22 ga for radials?  The problem with enamel wire
> > > is removing the insulation outside in an efficient manner, especially if
> > > it is cold.  I had a terrible time laying radials on my recent trip to FP.
> > 
> > Gary - Not sure if there's a down side with increased resistance, but 17 
> > ga electric fence wire is pretty cheap. Agway sells 1/2 mile spool for 
> > about 10 bucks here. I use it for my Beverage - IMO steel is fine for 
> > that since it is a high resistance, low current antenna, so losses should 
> > be negligible. 
...
> 
> I would suggest that you use a good quality copper wire.  One of the 
> reasons for using radials is to cut down on losses that occur when the 
> return path currents flow through lossy materials.  Depending on the 
...
You can also buy Aluminum electric fence wire...it's resistivity is only 
1.5 that of copper's. It's cheap, and light weight (bonus for portable 
operations). Of course, you can't solder it easily, so connections must 
be made with clamps.  I've used it for temporary verticals, and it works
fine. I think the stuff I bought was #16 or #18 gauge.


Tor N4OGW/9
n4ogw at uiuc.edu

>From barry at w2up.wells.com (barry)  Fri Dec 15 14:04:52 1995
From: barry at w2up.wells.com (barry) (barry)
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 95 09:04:52 EST
Subject: traffic on CQ-Contest
Message-ID: <Tam6FD2w165w at w2up.wells.com>

Personally, I enjoy reading the scores (actually, the comments moreso 
than the numbers). By moving them elsewhere, we will be left with a lot 
of "drivel" which now seems to generate endless comments about what 
should be here and what shouldn't. I vote for keeping the scores here.
73 Barry

--

Barry N. Kutner, W2UP       Internet: barry at w2up.wells.com
Newtown, PA                 Packet Radio: W2UP @ WB3JOE.#EPA.PA.USA.NA
                            Packet Cluster: W2UP >WB2R (FRC)
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