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

[Ed Kucharski]

I agree too, great idea.  Even though fun to chase, it is frustrating and difficult to compete against big stations with a lot of aluminum high in the air.  I've been trying for a long time!  The TB/Wires category has allowed me to break into the top ten (US) several times in WPX but I'd only be somewhere in the top 50 if not for the TB/Wires category.
 
I prefer the CQ WPX model of TB/Wires but think there should be a height limitation on all the antennas (50-60 feet?) but include a tribander (a lot of us "little pistols" use low tribanders - I wish ARRL limited antenna category would allow for a low tribander).  Kinda combine the ARRL limited antenna category with the CQWPX TB/Wires category. One tribander (w. one feedline) and single element wires at a max of 50-60 feet.  That takes away the TH7's at 100ft and rotatable dipoles (as mentioned) and the 80m vertical at 100ft apex, etc.
 
BTW, to answer AF5CC's question; in 2023 SS Phone there were 517 logs out of 1,398 eligible (37%) choosing the limited antenna overlay.
 
73,
Ed K3DNE

> On 01/17/2025 12:19 AM EST JOHN GEIGER via CQ-Contest <cq-contest at contesting.com mailto:cq-contest at contesting.com> wrote:
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> 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.
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> It will be interesting to see how many entered the limited antenna category in the SS this past year.
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> 73 John AF5CC
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> ---- On Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:33:39 -0600 Jeff Clarke <ku8e at ku8e.com mailto:ku8e at ku8e.com> wrote ---
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> Maybe make the rules similar to the ARRL overlay :
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> 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.
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> Anyone else have any thoughts on this ?
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> Jeff
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