[UK-CONTEST] SSB Field Day '05

[Tom Wylie]

Maybe I'm not reading this right:


The rules state:

One antenna only which must be a single element having not more than two 
elevated supports and not exceeding 15m above ground at its highest point.

Now what bit of that sentence dont we understand?

Is it the ONE ANTENNA BIT?    Stations with MORE THAN ONE ANTENNA are 
clearly breaking he rules.

It doesn't say that ONE ANTENNA may be used for transmitting - and you can 
have as many other antennas as you like for RECIEVING.

It simply says YOU CAN HAVE ONE ANTENNA.

Therefore if you are running a spotting station with ANOTHER OR SECOND 
ANTENNA then you are outwith the rules.   It doesn;t matter if you are in 
the same field, or the next field or in the next town.   If you are part of 
the Contest station entry - you may NOT have another antenna!

IMHO  the second receiver bit does not cover "spotting" stations per se, but 
is simply for the operators to check propagation on another band to see if 
it is worthwhile going QSY.   Spotting is clearly intended to be done via an 
RF network to a public cluster.


All this hoo hah about pushing the envelope.   The rules is the rules - they 
are produced year by year and are as clear as we can make them.   If you 
choose to "push the envelope" dont be surprised, if at some point the HFCC 
says "enough is enough" and somebody gets disqualified.   If that happens 
dont get on your high horse and start to moan and complain.

Tom
GM4FDM