[UK-CONTEST] Power Limitations

[Bob Henderson]

Bob

You could deal with the ERP issue by simply mandating use of an
omni-directional antenna.  Of course, you would need to level the playing
field in other areas.  Perhaps by mandating:

1.  All stations to be at sea level. (It's so unfair that some have a
height advantage, especially at VHF and above.)
2.  Inclination to the horizon.  (Those blighters enjoying a clear take-off
really bug those who don't.)
3.  Use of a standard receiver perhaps a coherer.

Once these have been implemented to the applause of the masses you might
move on to:

4. Levelling the playing field with regard to operator skill.

Finally when a position has been reached in which neither investment nor
skill provide advantage, I would recommend the concept of winning be
abandoned altogether, with trophies becoming available to participants and
non participants alike.  Perhaps this could be funded with the money the
RSGB gets back from the ex-GM.

Welcome to contesting in the 21st century!

Bob, 5B4AGN

On 28 January 2012 11:43, Rob Harrison <robharrison at g8hgn.freeserve.co.uk>wrote:

> Hi Ray,
>
> I find this argument re accuracy of ERP frankly poor. I've put this idea
> forward for consideration for VHF/UHF contests, but it would apply to HF
> also. I get the same old weak arguments against, when frankly the arguments
> for power only are weak too, as they don't take into account antennas of
> any
> sort, which is bizarre.
>
> Everyone seems to be hung up with the Nth degree of ERP accuracy, surely we
> can agree on generic gain for certain antennas, we know the power out,
> feeder loss, it's relatively simple to work out a figure for any given
> station to within fairly accurate limits. Not taking antenna gain into
> account at all is utterly wrong.
>
> It seems there is a reluctance to even try it, are vested interests at play
> here?
>
> 73
>
> Bob G8HGN
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ray Hills" <g3hrh at btinternet.com>
> To: <uk-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Saturday, January 28, 2012 11:21 AM
> Subject: [UK-CONTEST] Power Limitations
>
>
> >I don't think using ERP to set the limit will work because few, if any,
> > actually have the ability to determine it accurately.  They would have to
> > rely on the antenna manufacturers' claims, not all of which are reliable
> -
> > or even credible.  Power into the antenna is OK because many (most?) have
> > a
> > Bird, especially if it has the peak power modification.  I find it very
> > reassuring to have a Bird permanently in circuit, as part of the antenna
> > patch panel set-up, to make sure that all is both healthy and within the
> > power limit for any particular contest.
> >
> > Ray  G3HRH
> >
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