[UK-CONTEST] Power Limitations

[Roger Parsons]

I believe that the whole issue of ERP as opposed to output or input power limitations is contrary to the spirit of amateur radio - during contests or otherwise. We are supposed to be innovators.

I recall many (many, many) moons ago that Low Power Field Day had a limitation based on the total weight of equipment used - this in the days when most people were using valves. David G3KLH was/is a whiz designer and made a transistorised transmitter capable of an order more output power than battery valves and we cleaned up. Of course the rules were then changed, but that is fair enough - the original rules produced progress.

The ERP rule deters me from operating on 500kHz and lower frequencies. I know this is not a usual situation, but I have access* to a 325' former AM broadcast tower with 120 x 1000' radials. So I could make a quite efficient LF antenna. But then I have to run low power to comply with the ERP limit - so why bother?

73 Roger
VE3ZI/G3RBP

*Actually I won't have access again until around March/April when the snow goes..........