[CQ-Contest] New category: "Wires only"??

[Tyler Stewart]

Rules have to be measureable and enforceable and trying to specify a gain
limitation would be anything but that IMHO...  How would you calculate
ground losses, odd configurations due to space limitations, ground
reflections, etc?  There would be all sorts of excuses made to justify
estimated gain calculations.  Totally unenforceable and way too abstract.
 
The good thing about limiting space, height and basic antenna design is that
its fairly clearcut what you can and cannot do...I also dont think its a bad
idea to allow some creativity in the antenna design as long as it's
something that's relatively inexpensive and easy for anyone to duplicate
given limited space and money.
 
If you want to create a totally spec class, it should be a single all-band
ground-mounted vertical class with a height limit of say 25 feet and a
limited radial number and length.
 
Of course you still have geographical differences, so...
 
All of these classes should be limited to 100 watts output power, at least
initially.  Amps are fairly expensive and many people cant run them because
of RFI complaints, etc.
 
Ty K3MM
 

  _____  

From: Bill Turner [mailto:dezrat1242 at ispwest.com] 
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 10:20 PM
To: Tyler Stewart; 'John Geiger'; cq-contest at contesting.com
Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] New category: "Wires only"??


ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

At 01:20 PM 1/27/2006, Tyler Stewart wrote:



No, I'm saying single element for the wires/vertical category, but also add
the space limitation to eliminate bizarre things like rhombics, beverages,
etc. that most people don't have the space to construct.

Ty K3MM



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Wouldn't it be better to state the "antenna must have gain no greater than a
half-wave dipole or a 1/4 wave vertical in their most favored direction"?

I think that having a space limitation would lead to bizarre things too.
Nothing wrong with that kind of experimentation, but the idea here is to
help level the playing field, not create more loopholes.

73, Bill W6WRT