[UK-CONTEST] G0TZZ queries

[Tony Pugh]

Some observations below. 

1. 
[Tony Pugh] The UKACs do have a low power section and there are very few
stations who use more than 100W. Even on 2M. 

>From my experience there are more problems with over driven, over
compressed, low power stations. 

You could have a Foundation licence holders contest provided it excluded
those who had other licences but were using their old Foundation callsign
just to be able to enter.

Possibly only allow those who had been licenced a year or less? But then,
who would they have to work? 

Just other, unsure, newcomers with minimal setups and minimal experience. 

I'm not sure that is the way to learn? 

2. [Tony Pugh] Personally I would try to encourage entrants to avoid the use
of vertically polarised antennas for SSB QSOs. Have an FM contest, with
verticals by all means.

There are several problems involved with the use of omni directional
antennas the main one being the fact that at no point do you get respite
from their signals.

Those with a reasonable beam may well be very strong for part of the time
but, at least, when they beam away you do get some respite.

In addition, because they cannot hear other stations very well, there is a
tendency for them to pop up on frequencies that are already in use.

Add the cross polarisation losses that a vertical involves and the problem
is compounded. 

None of this will be too much of a problem in some areas but in others it's
a real annoyance. 

In my case it's usual to have 30+, local, stations active on a, 2M and 70cm,
UKAC so you can imagine the struggle to work through the wall of RF.

Many of these are in elevated locations, using verticals, and are S9+
irrespective of the direction of the station they are working. 

I assume your observations are based on being regularly active in these
contests but that you are in a much quieter area.

Cheers 

Tony 

GW8ASD 

50MHz and above from IO83lb 

  


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Chris Rolinson G7DDN

Sent: 24 January 2011 14:19 
To: uk-contest at contesting.com 
Subject: [UK-CONTEST] G0TZZ queries 

  

"No, because it's not either-or". 

In which case, may I respectfully suggest that as many contests as possible
have an "S&P only" section, a "run-only" section and a ""mixed S&P and run"
section? (objection solved?)

And in addition may I also propose... 

1. That the RSGB introduce some kind of Foundation-based contest, where ONLY
foundation licence holders can run - that should encourage some new blood to
try contesting out without getting "swamped" with 400w+ signals. After all
Foundation license holders are usually only just getting over being mike-shy
when they come on air...


2. That the 2m/70cm UKACs (and maybe other VHF/UHF contests) have some kind
of section that rewards, in some way, taking part with a vertical antenna -
I recall that Callum brought something like this up in the past and for the
life of me, I cannot think of one good reason against it.



In case it is not obvious, I am not being awkward for the sake of it;  these
suggestions are aimed at getting more NEW stations interested in contesting
on the basis that they can actually ACHIEVE something within a given event. 

Doesn't the future of UK contesting depend on getting more people interested
in it? 

[Tony Pugh] The popularity of the UKACs has exploded over the last few
years, even on 23cm, mainly through club involvement and personal
encouragement. 



Chris G7DDN 










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