[RTTY] Not to beat the ANTENNA OVERKILL horse...

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

W6WRT writes: 

> But...  My proposal goes beyond just one radio vs two, or what kind of
> wires one puts up. I'm suggesting two classes: Limited and Unlimited. 
> 
> LIMITED CLASS: 
> 
> 1. One TX, one RX. When the TX is on, the RX must be off and vice
> versa. In other words, conventional transceiver operation.
> 
> 2. No spotting of any kind, either help in the shack or internet,
> packet, etc, etc. Find 'em and work 'em the old fashioned way.
> 
> 3. A "modest" antenna system. One antenna per band. 20/15/10 may have
> the gain-equivalent of a three element yagi and 160/80/40 the gain
> equivalent of a half wave dipole. All antennas may be rotatable.

This is totally unenforceable and counter productive ... it would 
force any 160 meter operator with a second receiver (R4C?) or 
separate receive antenna (K9AY array?) into the "unlimited" category. 
Similarly, many stations with triband antennas (Force 12 C31XR, 
4 element SteppIR, Bencher Skyhawk, Hy-Gain TH6/TH7/TH11) into the 
"unlimited category.  Any user with an extra tribander fixed on 
South America or West Coast would automatically be "unlimited." 
A simple "shorty 40" would automatically be a "unlimited" as would 
a 40 meter 4 square ... 

Every one of those station improvements are relatively inexpensive 
and provide a significant opportunity to improve one's scores. 

Of course, I notice you did not limit antenna height to 50 feet or 
limit a station to a single tower ...  and your "limited class" 
fails to address the limitations of those who have HOA limits of 
deed restrictions that prevent any outside antenna/tower.  If 
you're serious about "limited class" why not a single multiband 
vertical (e.g., flagpole) or an endfed wire with an automatic 
(make that manual - automatic is too much of an advantage) 
antenna tuner? 

All of these limitations take the incentive and experimentation 
right out of contesting. 

73, 

   ... Joe, W4TV