[CQ-Contest] NAQP Contest and Adding a Limited Antenna Category?

[JOHN GEIGER]

I agree Jeff that this is a good idea, and I have thought this for a while.  We have QRP awards and QRP categories in most contests and have for some time, but usually do not recognize the challenge which limited antennas pose to operating.  CQ had the TB-Wires overlay, but that would include a TH7 at 100 feet and rotatable dipoles for the low bands, not exactly limited.



It will be interesting to see how many entered the limited antenna category in the SS this past year.



73 John AF5CC


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---- On Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:33:39 -0600 Jeff Clarke <ku8e at ku8e.com> wrote ---



I was just wondering if the sponsors of the NAQP would consider adding a 
Limited Antenna category like both the ARRL and CQ contests have? The 
top scores in both SO-Unassisted and SO-Assisted categories are always 
the same people who have large stations with big antennas. Many have 
touted the NAQP's as having a level the playing field because everyone 
(except the QRP guys) are running 100 watts. That's not really the case 
because you really have to look at ERP not output power. Someone running 
100 watts and yagis isn't equal to someone running 100 watts and a dipole.

I bet there would be a lot of entries in a limited antenna category.  
Many more than the QRP category which NAQP has. The looked at the last 
NAQP CW published results. That was August 2024. There were 850 entries 
in that contest. I counted only 55 QRP entries. That comes out to only 
6% on the submitted scores. I didn't check the SSB results but I bet it 
was even lower since the QRP guys tend to prefer CW.  Personally, being 
stuck with limited antennas I would like my score compared to someone 
who has a station similar to mine.

Maybe make the rules similar to the ARRL overlay :

Limited Antennas Overlay – Operation is limited to the use of 
single-element antennas such as a single vertical, end-fed wire, or a 
single dipole antenna no more than 50 feet above ground at its highest 
point. The antenna(s) may cover multiple bands, as in the case of 
multiband verticals and dipoles with fan or trap constructions.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this ?


Jeff







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