[CQ-Contest] LWCC - Low Wires Contest Club

[PaulKB8N at aol.com]

To All:
 
I had some interesting responses to the Low Wires Contest Club post, my  
original post on the subject is below.
 
A couple of questions that came up (paraphrased):
 
Q:  Why no high power category?  A:  It was thought  originally that most 
activity would be low power, but the club is not restricted  in any way to low 
power.
 
Q:  Magnetic loops and/or aluminum verticals OK?  A:   Absolutely!  As long 
as they meet the overall size restrictions listed  below.

Anyone else who is interested in the club or has questions, please let me  
know.
 
Original Proposal for the club:
 
The purpose for starting this club is to encourage  participation  in 
contests 
and competition among contesters with either  budget constraints  or 
covenants 
(or even a very fussy XYL) that only  allow them to have single  element wire 
antennas (definition expanded  below).  The proposed club  would enter teams 
(probably with no  realistic hope of winning) mostly for the  camaraderie, 
fun 
and  personal improvement.  

I would define a low wire antenna as a  single element antenna, with a  
height 
of no more than 50' and a length  no longer than a half wave at the lowest  
band operated (about 250' for  160M).  The wire can be an L, a dipole, a  
vertical (aluminum  okay), a vertical or horizontal loop, an inverted  V, 
Windom or 
any  other antenna that meets the single-element and height and  length  
limitations  Multiple antennas are ok, no limit per se on the  area  the 
antennas must 
occupy.  Antennas can be used on as many  bands as  desired.

In that the antennas are pretty basic and low,  power categories would  
probably be low power and QRP, either SO1R or  SO2R.  At the end of the  
contest, 
members would submit claimed  scores which would be compiled in club  email.  
Members would be  encouraged to share information on their antennas,  and any 
other  
operating challenges (stealth appearance, RFI, etc).   Official  final scores 
would be those published by the contest sponsor.

I would  hope to find folks around the country that operate under these   
restrictions, and put together national or regional teams if  participation  
allows. 
I think this might be a good way to recognize a  lot of folks that  otherwise 
might not receive a lot of attention, and  also promote basic contest  
operation and participation.  We might  be able to sponsor a mailing list  
with 
archives, or even a  website.

I appreciate any thoughts and suggestions you might have  regarding this  
endeavor.

Paul, K5AF