[UK-CONTEST] Antenna for SSB field day

[Chris G3SJJ]

  I recall some discussion about this some years ago David but the facts are a bit hazy (No wine, honest!) I have a feeling that at some stage the 
rules said one element per band. Just wondering if I am confusing this with 21/28MHz contest. The 1996 Rules Supplement shows the rule as now - "One 
antenna only which must be a single element." I would have thought a stack of dipoles are one element per band but maybe the interpretation has changed.

Apart from the rule word, I wouldn't have thought a stack wouldn't be so efficient though as effective height could be lost, it also would be very 
unwieldy to erect and support. Additionally, since a 20m EDZ has gain over a dipole on that band, and on 40m with the extensions, I would have thought 
that a better option.

Hope that hleps the discussion.

73 Chris G3SJJ




On 10/08/2010 16:03, David Honey wrote:
> At 14:54 10/08/2010, Alex GM3ZBE wrote:
>> Chris, et al
>> You reminded me of a question I've meant to ask for some time.  I.e. are
>> you allowed to change aerials during the NFD contest?  Could I have more
>> than one dipole and swop them as necessary during the contest.  Each
>> antenna being a single element?  I'm talking about the restricted
>> section of course.
>> Alex 'ZBE
>
> When Reading and District asked the contest committee about this some
> years back, we were advised that a fan dipole consisting of several
> dipoles all connected to a common feedpoint did meet the criteria and
> could be used in the restricted or lower power sections of field day
> contests. One of our stations has used such an arrangement for
> several years and an official inspection during the contest did not
> raise this as an issue. If the rules, or their interpretation has
> changed, I'd like to know for sure from someone on the contest
> committee as we might consider a fan dipole in the future.
>
> We have often used a single dipole with banana plugs for band changes
> for CW NFD. Of course, you have to lower it to swap the plugs in and
> out, but at any one time, it's the same feedpoint and a single
> element dipole. There has never been a question about the legaility
> of doing that. On SSB FD where the ability to band change quickly to
> S&P on multipliers is important, we have used a doublet with an auto
> ATU on top of the mast directly at the feedpoint. That worked very
> well last year.
>
> David, M0DHO