[CQ-Contest] Low Power Change to ARRL Contests

Sun Dec 26 09:48:52 EST 2021

The NAQP rules were changed a couple of decades ago from 150 to 100w, when it became apparent that a few participants were running an amplifier to make up the last 50 watts.

> On Dec 24, 2021, at 4:05 PM, John Unger <w4au.john at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I seem to remember that not all that long ago, when LP was 150W, that the
> League made it illegal to use an amp in the LP contests to bring the output
> of a 100W rig up to 150W. But I can’t remember exactly when that ruling was
> made or how common the practice was, though…
> 
> 73 - John, W4AU
> 
> 
> On Fri, Dec 24, 2021 at 09:59 Edward Sawyer <EdwardS at advanced-conversion.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> I believe it was - back in the 60s and 70s - however it changed to 150W
>> output power sometime by 1980 or so and has been that ever since, by my
>> remembrance.
>> 
>> Ed  N1UR
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: W4NZ Ted Bryant <w4nz at comcast.net>
>> Sent: Friday, December 24, 2021 10:26 AM
>> To: wc1m73 at gmail.com; Edward Sawyer <EdwardS at advanced-conversion.com>;
>> cq-contest at contesting.com
>> Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] Low Power Change to ARRL Contests
>> 
>> Wasn't the original rule for 150w based at that time on INPUT power, plate
>> voltage X plate current?  With final amp efficiencies then, that equated to
>> about 100w output, today's rule.
>> 
>> 73 es MX,
>> Ted W4NZ
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces+w4nz=
>> comcast.net at contesting.com]
>> On Behalf Of wc1m73 at gmail.com
>> Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2021 1:20 PM
>> To: 'Edward Sawyer'; cq-contest at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Low Power Change to ARRL Contests
>> 
>> 100W vs 150W for Low Power has been under discussion at ARRL for a long
>> time. I agree that it affects comparisons with previous scores, records,
>> etc., but I don't have a lot of concern about that. It doesn't seem to make
>> a whole lot of sense from a contesting perspective to make an exception for
>> FD, but ARRL says FD isn't a contest.
>> 
>> I think the idea is that the vast majority of modern transceivers max out
>> at 100W (or a little less), and it requires a more expensive rig or an amp
>> to achieve 150W. That means you have to spend considerably more money to be
>> competitive in the Low Power category. Also, some amps may not perform
>> properly (cleanly?) at such a low gain level. I guess there could be a
>> concern that there would be too much temptation to goose the power a little
>> higher to complete a tough contact. It seems like a sensible change to me.
>> 
>> I'm thinking the exception for FD is to reduce the level of frustration
>> when operating with low wire antennas from less than ideal locations, and
>> ARRL wants FD to be a happy, non-competitive event. That said, I doubt many
>> low power teams operating on emergency power use amps because they require
>> more gas for the generators.
>> 
>> As for messing up comparisons with previous scores and records, that's
>> always possible when rules are modified. But if that consideration prevents
>> modification of contest rules, then we can never improve contests. Similar
>> things happen with DXCC, Honor Roll, #1 Honor Roll, etc. You can't compare
>> apples to apples when the list of official entities keeps changing, which
>> it must. And can we really compare Tom Brady with Joe Montana or Otto
>> Graham?
>> The numbers say yes, but the rules and game were totally different in
>> their respective eras.
>> 
>> I take contest records with a grain of salt. It's even hard to compare
>> one's own performance from year to year because conditions and
>> participation are never the same. Rough comparisons may be helpful to see
>> if your performance is improving, but a more useful way to do that is to
>> compare your rank with the same set of competitors over a period of many
>> years and multiple sunspot cycles if possible. I have spreadsheets for CQ
>> WW CW and CQ WPX CW going back over 20 years that compare my score, rank,
>> QSOs and mults on each band, etc., with the winner of the contest. The
>> spreadsheet also records the antennas I used and solar/geomagnetic activity
>> for the contest weekend each year.
>> 
>> 73, Dick WC1M
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Edward Sawyer <EdwardS at advanced-conversion.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2021 7:01 AM
>> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
>> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Low Power Change to ARRL Contests
>> 
>> 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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Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
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