This topic keeps coming back...and underneath that elephant is the whale in the
room: propagation advantage of different locations which is an even bigger
factor in both DX and domestic contests. Things can be done by contest sponsors
to offset it a little- for example hold domestic contests at different times of
the year; choice of multipliers and maybe distance-based scoring in DX contests.
Tor
N4OGW
On Wednesday, September 17, 2014 9:37 AM, David Cockrum <n5do@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
>
>
>As I read the responses about the history of low power, specifically 150
>vs 100 watts, I think we are missing the elephant in the room.When it
>comes to factors that help an operator do well in contests at the top of
>the list should go antennas.We divide competitors in many contests into
>three categories based on power:high, low, and qrp.Yet in each of these
>categories the best scores are made by those with the best antenna systems.
>
>For the most part the power categories divide us into groups that
>correspond to antenna systems as well.The stations with big antenna
>systems usually operate in the high power category, those of us with
>lesser systems often operate in low power and QRP categories.
>
>From my point of view I have a small antenna system (SteppIR at 50
>feet), but I know I have it much better than many others.After every
>contest in which a relatively large number of "casual" operators are
>worked, I receive many QSL cards which state the antenna is a "wire
>antenna in the attic," multiband vertical, or other marginal antenna.
>
>As long as there are communities that regulate antenna height and deeds
>with restrictive covenants, contesting will continue to have a hard time
>attracting new blood to replace our aging membership. No one wants to
>compete in an activity in which they have little chance to do well.
>Perhaps every contest should have a category for those individuals with
>restricted space antennas.
>
>73,
>
>Dave, N5DO
>
>
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>
>
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