Bill,
The type of antenna you are using (i.e. ERP) makes probably more of a
difference than running a kW . As loud as W5*** (who has a big antenna farm)
was on 20 meters backscatter there is no way he was running just 100 watts.
I can name other stations who are consistantly loud in NAQP as well. I am
100% sure that some of these guys are cheating. I also know guys like Mike,
W9RE, are NOT cheating because he is much louder when I hear him running
full bore in a DX contest.
Look at the top ten in every NAQP. It always consists of people who have
big stations and antenna farms.(almost the same guys who make top ten in SS)
Why should I have to compete against them with my small station. Make the
contest have a HP and LP class like SS. The main reason I do LP in SS is I
have a chance if condx are just right to maybe make the top ten. That would
be impossible in the HP category.
The odds are if you allow these guys to run a KW they will. If anything it
would encourage those who do a PT effort to operate more if they had a
chance to maybe win something competing against like stations in a LP class
or just have a higher rate to have more fun , which running a KW would give
them. Overall that would make activity will go up making it more fun for
everyone.
It ain't going to ruin anything because in general activity in contests in
the US is going down anyway. (NAQP included)
73, Jeff
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Coleman" <aa4lr at arrl.net>
To: "ku8e" <ku8e at bellsouth.net>
Cc: <secc at contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 9:26 PM
Subject: Re: [SECC] Fw: NAQP SSB KU8E Single Op HP
>
> On Aug 19, 2007, at 6:48 PM, ku8e wrote:
>
>>> There are certain
>>> stations who year after year just sound way too loud to be only running
>>> low
>>> power.
>
> Hard to say. I know I got some S9+30 signal reports on 40m, but I was
> only running 100 watts. I think propagation must have been favoring the
> angles of my antenna system.
>
>>> I would be in favor of changing the rules to allow HP in this contest.
>>> It
>>> sure
>>> would make it more fun when conditions are marginal like they were this
>>> weekend.
>>> Plus it would allow those guys with the big stations (who always win
>>> anyway) to
>>> go at each other for bragging rights. If would give those of us with
>>> small
>>> stations a chance to win something.
>
> This would completely ruin this contest.
>
> The purpose of the NAQP was to be different from every other HP QSO fest.
> As envisioned, it was important that everyone as running barefoot. In
> fact, they changed the rules several years ago when it became apparent
> some guys were running amps with their 100 watt rigs in order to get the
> full 150 watts allowed. The rules were changed to stipulate 100 watts
> with no external amplifiers permitted.
>
> I spend most all of my contesting time at home running low power. It's a
> different discipline than high power contesting. There are different
> skills.
>
> It's bad right now at the sunspot low. It will get better when the spots
> return. Don't spoil a great contest in the meantime.
>
> Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
> Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
> -- Wilbur Wright, 1901
>
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