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

[W7TMT - Patrick]

Jeff,

I'm a huge fan of this idea. I was thrilled when the ARRL added it to their contest structure. One can see the value for this given the list of stations entering this category in each ARRL contest since it was added.

It provides visibility for like equipped stations to compete against each other. It highlights the great scores many of those ops produce when the categories are compared to each other. Some of those folks produce truly amazing results with simple and limited antennas. It encourages small single element antenna stations to participate since it allows them visibility. More participation benefits everyone.

I'd also love to see the CQWW contest team add this as an overlay to their events. Anything that encourages more participation is a good thing. 

I am not a fan of any sort of "handicap" system but rather simply providing more granularity to the current structure and recognition for those who participate with minimal antennas.

73
Patrick, W7TMT




-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest <cq-contest-bounces+w7tmt=outlook.com at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Jeff Clarke
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2025 10:34
To: CQ-Contest at contesting.com
Subject: [CQ-Contest] NAQP Contest and Adding a Limited Antenna Category?

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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