[CQ-Contest] NAQP Power Levels

[Bill Coleman AA4LR]

On 8/5/98 3:27 PM, K4RO Kirk Pickering at k4ro at k4ro.net wrote:

>I still feel that NAQP is an exciter only contest, and I choose 
>to never use an amplifier in any low power entry, whether it's 
>NAQP or any other contest.

You know, this practice of running an amplifier to acheive 150W (or 100W) 
output isn't so uncommon in RTTY contests. With RTTY, the duty cycle is 
higher, so many transceivers are hard-pressed to acheive full output. 
With final transistors at their limits, the likelihood of failure is 
higher. Running an external amplifier allows the exciter and amp to loaf 
along.

>Maybe now that a Real Big Gun has proposed the idea, the
>response attitude will be different.  I don't still don't
>think amps belong in the NAQP, and I support W4AN's suggestion.

As a perpetual low-power operator, I tend to agree. I think the benefit 
of running an amplifier to acheive the "full" 150W is purely 
psycological. If you think you are loud, you are loud. This may be 
particularly true for ops who otherwise always run in the high power 
category.



Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at radio.org
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901



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