[CQ-Contest] 100 Watt power limit for Sprints-Discuss

[Dale Putnam]

NAQCC uses wire antenna catagories, but their definition is that a wire antenna with gain is the same as a yagi or quad, that's fine on 20, but doesn't allow for the turning of the "beam" antenna... and I don't think there are too many of us that turn a 3 or 4 hundred foot diameter antenna much. And what about the low bands... where the gain isn't there, but is still claimed to be a QRO station with the power limited to qrp levels.... all these make it tuff to "level" the field. The erp of an antenna is a good point, that is often overlooked, and so it the takeoff angle. Too bad we don't have a standard measurement for antenna effectiveness. Then it would level the field easier. Maybe it would be acceptable to just lower the power. Adding classes, adds to the support efforts, and only expands the oppurtunity for those that stretch the limits. If all of the entries were qrp, the obvious "stretchers" would be just that, and just because they want to flaunt the obvious that they don't have a conscience, doesn't make me enjoy the competition any less.   

--...   ...--
Dale - WC7S in Wy
 > From: ku8e at bellsouth.net
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Date: Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:09:04 -0400
> Subject: [CQ-Contest]  100 Watt power limit for Sprints-Discuss
> 
> When these discussions come up no one ever seems to talk about the ERP of
> the antennas that people are using. If you change the power limit to 100
> watts is it fair for someone using a wire antenna such as a dipole to
> compete directly against someone using directional gain antennas such as
> yagi's and quads ? This surely isn't a level playing field.
> 
>  
> 
> I wish NAQP would go to high power and low power categories. I think the
> Sprints are fine the way they are. The noisy conditions on 40 and 80 meters
> in last night's Sprint was a good example of why we should keep high power.
> 
>  
> 
> Jeff
> 
>  
> 
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