[CQ-Contest] Here we go again

[Joe Subich, K4IK]

Bill Turner [mailto:dezrat1242 at ispwest.com] writes:  

> 
> Ok, here's a subject for discussion:  How about re-doing contest
> classes entirely?  I'm suggesting just two basic classes, Limited and
> Unlimited.
> 
> Limited class would spell out the hardware limits specifically, much
> like the WRTC does already.  It would be oriented toward a "typical"
> ham station, not a contest station.  I would suggest one radio, no
> packet or other spotting assistance, one antenna per band, dipoles
> only and a height restriction.  "Dipole" could be defined to be any
> antenna with the equivalent gain of a dipole.  This would allow
> inverted vees, quarter wave GPs, etc.

Bill, 

I like your idea but "dipole equivalents" only is perhaps a bit too 
restrictive - even WRTC used triband yagis.  Now, an antenna limit 
of a single element (dipole or vertical) below 7 MHz and three elements 
above 14 MHz with a maximum height of 22 meters and everything contained 
within a 30 meter (diameter) circle there might be the basis for a 
reasonable "limited" class.  Add a 250 Watt power limit and you've 
defined a reasonable category for the casual contester.  

Unfortunately, this would not solve your problem with SO2R as an 80' 
tower and four element quad would put you in the unlimited class. 

> You could, if desired, subdivide those classes into LP and HP or
> multioperator, but the hardware would remain the same.

Other than high/low power, multiple operator/single transmitter and 
multiple operator/multiple transmitter, I would not further subdivide 
the unlimited class to avoid the "slice and dice" phenomena. 

73, 

   ... Joe, K4IK