[CQ-Contest] Question on how transmitter power category is figured

[Steve Lott]

Ladder line for long runs
Feedline loss is as much a receiver issue as it is xmt
Use ladder or open wire line then a match mfr at each end of those long runs

Steve
KG5VK

On Thu, Apr 6, 2023 at 7:32 AM Lee Hiers <lee.hiers at gmail.com> wrote:

> Every contest I've heard of measures power at the radio - otherwise I
> wouldn't have just purchased a couple kilo bucks of Heliax.
>
> 73!
>
> Lee, AA4GA
>
> On Thu, Apr 6, 2023, 12:18 AM Randy Thompson <k5zd at outlook.com> wrote:
>
> > Good question.
> >
> > The rules for the CQWW and CQ WPX contest set the limit at “total output
> > power.”
> >
> > That means output from the transmitter/amplifier. NOT power at the
> antenna.
> >
> > Other contests may specify differently.
> >
> > Randy K5ZD
> >
> > > On Apr 5, 2023, at 9:57 PM, lstoskopf at cox.net wrote:
> > >
> > > 38.80835593087689, -97.51169124812611  (or so!)
> > >
> > > A long question for which I'm afraid I know the answer!
> > >
> > > I own 80 acres at the above location known as Iron Mound, near Salina,
> > Kansas. I have operated from there for the past 30 plus years.  I'm not a
> > rabid contester, but enjoy working the SSB contests as activity events.
> > Usually on 20, 15, and 10M as I get tired (at age 84!).  I've used
> > everything from dipoles, Moxon's, Inv V, etc at various heights.  My
> usual
> > antenna is a 4 el. SteppIR at 40 ft positioned near the NE edge.  Using
> > manual slope measurements, K6TU's info and HFTA it seems that no matter
> the
> > band, about 45 ft height gets me a signal on the far horizon to wherever.
> > We're using slope, not height for gain and this gives a single lobe to
> EU.
> >  With 1500 watts I'm almost always able to break a pile first call and
> hear
> > stations early in the openings, sometimes getting a comment like, "Is the
> > band open to central US?"  It's usually pretty quiet.  So I've been
> playing
> > the slopes since way back reading Moxon.  I'm able in a few hours to work
> > all of the big boys and seldom call CQ a
> > > s I'm not good at handling self generated piles.
> > >
> > > I have a large antenna junk pile and some resources.  The SteppIR is
> > down again after two days of 50+ mph Kansas wind up the slope.  The dog
> and
> > I were hiking the other day and I'm dreaming:  Just for fun, what if I
> put
> > a Moxon on the NE corner to EU, another on the SE corner taking care of
> SA,
> > and a third on the NW corner for JA and VK and things in between.   I
> work
> > them OK from the fixed antenna, but ...   Problem is that those 3
> locations
> > are all about 250 ft or so from the shack.  Critters eat coax.  Big coax
> is
> > expensive. etc.  I've got two rigs but putting  linears out there brings
> on
> > the power problem.
> > >
> > > So what if I run some old RG8 to each, calibrate the loss to each
> > antenna, and just run the shack linear with enough power to get 100 watts
> > to the selected antenna?  Then I could run in the 100 watt category?  I'm
> > splitting hairs and am not going to win anything, but just having fun.
> Or
> > should  just run wide open and play with the big boys with several
> hundred
> > feet of coax loss in line?  The choice latter makes a difference in which
> > coax I choose to sacrifice.
> > >
> > > Who knows the REAL rules on power?  Thanks,  N0UU
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > CQ-Contest at contesting.com
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> >
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-- 
Steve
*KG5VK*
*Steven Lott Smith*
Tele 318-470-9806
ARRL NTX Section Manager
*Please note: My Out Going Email address is LottsPhoto at Gmail.com*
*KG5VK at ARRL.ORG <KG5VK at ARRL.ORG> is forwarded to my Gmail address*