[CQ-Contest] Low Power Change to ARRL Contests

[Michael Ritz]

Ed, 

Field Day is technically an "operating event", not a formal "contest" for one. Contesters make it a contest, but for others it's a chance to get together, have fun, and do some mentoring. Secondarily, sometimes older equipment gets dragged out for Field Day that might contain vacuum tube finals. Not everybody, especially smaller clubs, have the latest "state-of-the-art" equipment available to them, (especially if club owned). This allows maximum flexibility for Field Day events, so we kept it at 150 W.   

Thirdly, the new 100 watt rule for LP in ARRL contests came directly out of the Board's Contest Advisory Committee. Neither ARRL staff, nor the Programs and Services Committee dreamt this up themselves. If you disagree with the new Low Power rule, please contact your CAC representative. 

73;
Mike
W7VO
Chair, ARRL Programs and Services Committee


> On 12/22/2021 11:59 AM kq2m at kq2m.com wrote:
> 
>  
> Because Field Day is "not a contest" ?   LOL!
> 
> Bob, KQ2M
> 
> 
> On 2021-12-22 06:01, Edward Sawyer wrote:
> > I saw today that this change was announced in the ARRL Contests
> > starting in Jan 1.  The Low Power Category will be changed from 150W
> > output to 100W output.  On a contest to contest basis, this has no
> > significant impact.  However, on previous scores it does.  For any of
> > you who have ever seriously competed using Low Power, 50W matters on
> > 80 and 160M, especially on SSB contests.
> > 
> > I found it surprising that an exception was made for Field Day????
> > Really??? Why Field Day? Isn't everyone using primarily mobile HF rigs
> > for Field Day anyway and none put out more than 100W?  And since "its
> > not a contest" why is making that exception so important.   The never
> > ending head scratching over the ARRL and Field Day......
> > 
> > This will make records harder to beat in this category going forward.
> > 
> > Ed  N1UR
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