[CQ-Contest] Low Power Change to ARRL Contests

[Jack Brindle]

The first one I played with, about 1972, the rules stated clearly that the ‘A’ Category was limited to 200 Watts DC input power to the final amplifier.
That was volts x amps on the plate. My SB401 runs a pair of 6146 tubes, with a rating of 180 watts DC input. That gave me somewhere around 100 watts out.

ARRL changed to specifying *output* power sometime in the late 70s as I recall.

73,
Jack,W6FB


> On Dec 22, 2021, at 7:21 PM, kq2m at kq2m.com wrote:
> 
> Hi Mike,
> 
> I may be remembering this incorrectly but wasn't the Low Power category maximum originally 100 watts?
> 
> 73
> 
> Bob, KQ2M
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 2021-12-22 15:29, Michael Ritz wrote:
>> 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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