[CQ-Contest] Re: SO2R Again

[Russell Hill]

FWIW:  I have recently tried to get back into contesting, and for various 
personal reasons having nothing to do with the contesting community, have 
been unable.  I hope to do so before long, but who knows.

I have however been reading the mail on this reflector, and would like to 
share a thought or two.

SO2R-- requires a level of committment and expertise which I will likely 
never reach, but it is nonetheless a single op performance,and should be 
honored as such.  If Joe is SO2R-ing and I am plain single radio and he 
beats me, then he beat me as a single op and that is that.  Good on 'im!! No 
unfair advantage at all, just a better operator.  To complaints about SO2R, 
my thought is "Get better, or get beaten by a better op!"

Different categories for power levels?  Sure-- although I do not  believe a 
bigger amp is as decisive as a better antenna system, including higher. 
We've all seen a lot of scores where the lower power station with 
outstanding antennas outscored the higher powered station with lesser 
antennas.

Higher antenna sytem?  AHA!!  I believe most water pistols are that mostly 
because of restricted antenna systems.  Maybe it would make sense to pick 
some arbitrary antenna height which would put a station into one or another 
class.  It might be 40', or 50' or perhaps 60'.  (Or perhaps 10M, or 15M, or 
20M.)  'Tribander and wires' has attempted to level the field for some, but 
perhaps an arbitrary antenna height might less subject to creative 
interpretation than some other criteria.  A rule could be:  "The 'limited 
class' shall consist exclusively of antennas below the height of nn' or nnM. 
The use for any purpose whatsoever of any antenna above the height of nn' or 
nnM shall place the entry into the 'unlimited class'."  Scoring or entry 
reports could include a report of the highest antenna used.  Yes, folks 
could cheat, but it would require a statement which the op would know to be 
an unambiguous lie, and anyone who was familiar with the station would also 
know.  Perhaps peer pressure in this area would cut down the cheating.

Incidentally, when I get my antenna fully grown, I expect it to reach 90', 
so I am not suggesting a criterium which would benefit me.

73,
Rusty, na5tr

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <sawyered at earthlink.net>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 8:27 AM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Re: SO2R Again


>I need to echo Bill and Chuck's comments on this.
>
> I was minimal, but effective SO2R, for years.  Main rig, TS530, 2nd radio 
> IC706 (doubled as mobile and DXpedition rig), homebrew speaker/mic/key 
> box, separate feed lines into shack, couple of 1x6 and 1x2 manual 
> switches, and TRLog.  Yes, I have now graduated up to the WX0B six pack, 
> dunestars, etc.
>
> HOWEVER
>
> The investment I have made into going SO2R is not even half of my 
> investment recently to move up to competitve antennas on a 70 foot 45G 
> tower.
>
> There is just no way anyone can tell me that SO2R should be a separate 
> category yet guys with no tower or an A3 at 40 feet and a trap dipole on 
> 40 - 160 should be in the same category as me with my tower and monoband 
> yagiis.  I think separating by power level makes sense.  Single 
> transmitted signal makes sense.  After that, let innovation and hard work 
> determine competition.
>
> Last year, I lost the CQ WW CW contest to a guest Op at K8CC's 
> superstation.  Admittedly, I have an advantage being in VT vs. Dave's MI 
> QTH, but I couldn't overcome the antenna advantage being driven by a great 
> Op.  Good for him, I take my hat off to him.  I have no idea whether he 
> was SO2R or not, but it didn't matter.  I lost it to Dave's stacked 
> monobanders on 20 and his very high 40M monobander.
>
> If someone gets frustrated that they can't compete without SO2R, then get 
> on as best you can (as described here).  If you get consistently beat out 
> by a higher placed guy on a band (like I do by N1SV's great 4 square), 
> improve your signal on that band.  Don't ask the rest of us to come down a 
> level because you don't want to put in what's required to be competitve. 
> You will be surprised how effective you can be with wire antennas, small 
> low beams, a minimal SO2R set-up, and a winning attitude.
>
> Ed  N1UR
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