June VHF contest rules question.

[Captain Kilowatt]

I was just looking at the rules for the upcoming ARRL June VHF contest and saw something I disagree with. Note the power output rules quoted below.

Power Limits By Category-
Single Operator, High Power:
1500 Watts PEP or the maximum allowable power level established by the national licensing authority of your country, whichever is lower.


If I read this correctly, someone on 6m in some European countries can only run 400 watts since that is the maximum power permitted in some of them. I picked 6m because it is the only VHF band with the possibility of working into North America from Europe. A US amateur may run 1500 watts because that is the maximum allowed in the USA. This gives the USA amateur a clear advantage. In Canada the maximum power is 2250 watts however I am only allowed to run 1500 watts according to the rules which state "1500 Watts PEP or the maximum allowable power level established by the national licensing authority of your country, whichever is lower." This places Canadian amateurs on an even playing field as USA amateurs. Why is it OK for US amateurs to have an advantage over others but not the other way around?

 

[IMD262]

J/K

 

[BJ radionut]

I was just looking at the rules for the upcoming ARRL June VHF contest and saw something I disagree with. Note the power output rules quoted below.

Power Limits By Category-
Single Operator, High Power:
1500 Watts PEP or the maximum allowable power level established by the national licensing authority of your country, whichever is lower.


If I read this correctly, someone on 6m in some European countries can only run 400 watts since that is the maximum power permitted in some of them. I picked 6m because it is the only VHF band with the possibility of working into North America from Europe. A US amateur may run 1500 watts because that is the maximum allowed in the USA. This gives the USA amateur a clear advantage. In Canada the maximum power is 2250 watts however I am only allowed to run 1500 watts according to the rules which state "1500 Watts PEP or the maximum allowable power level established by the national licensing authority of your country, whichever is lower." This places Canadian amateurs on an even playing field as USA amateurs. Why is it OK for US amateurs to have an advantage over others but not the other way around?

That's OUR ARRL CK....I agree kinda screwy...
but then again so is the
"ELITIST FATHER"S OF NEWINGTON"
Enough said on that CK, however 400w vs 1500w is still less than 6dB difference as you are aware....
Hope to work you. I look forward to it!

All the Best
Gary

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

J/K

I was just about to say something nasty until I saw the JK. It's not sour grapes mind you but a perfectly legitimate question. I realize the power difference is not significant however why should some be restricted by the rule while others are benefactors of it when discussing the exact same rule?

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

That's OUR ARRL CK....I agree kinda screwy...
but then again so is the
"ELITIST FATHER"S OF NEWINGTON"
Enough said on that CK, however 400w vs 1500w is still less than 6dB difference as you are aware....
Hope to work you. I look forward to it!

All the Best
Gary

You won't work me. I can almost guarantee it.Not even sure if I will be on but if I do my 6m antenna consists of an 80m doublet fed with 450 ohm ladder line thru a Yeasu FC-40 auto tuner at the end of the house. Apex is at 65 feet and power is 100 watts. I did work WWRF member VO1KS on it a couple weeks ago however. Oh wait..........VO1KS is Warren. He is only 15 miles away and he had a 5 element yagi. :laugh:

 

[Road Squawker]

I was just looking at the rules...someone on 6m in some European countries can only run 400 watts since that is the maximum power permitted in some of them... Why is it OK for US amateurs to have an advantage over others but not the other way around?

I have to agree,.......but...... have you seen pictures of most of the European stations?

it seems that they spend all of their $$$ on stupid things like antennas and ERP type stuff:blink:

every U.S, Amateur KNOWS the most important thing is an amp:tongue:

just run QRO into a dipole @ 25 feet<can not stand it>

 

[wavrider]

I have to agree,.......but...... have you seen pictures of most of the European stations?

it seems that they spend all of their $$$ on stupid things like antennas and ERP type stuff:blink:

every U.S, Amateur KNOWS the most important thing is an amp:tongue:

just run QRO into a dipole @ 25 feet<can not stand it>

I have seen pictures of some of those monster yagi's in EU land. ERP indeed

 

[wavrider]

I was just looking at the rules for the upcoming ARRL June VHF contest and saw something I disagree with. Note the power output rules quoted below.

Power Limits By Category-
Single Operator, High Power:
1500 Watts PEP or the maximum allowable power level established by the national licensing authority of your country, whichever is lower.


If I read this correctly, someone on 6m in some European countries can only run 400 watts since that is the maximum power permitted in some of them. I picked 6m because it is the only VHF band with the possibility of working into North America from Europe. A US amateur may run 1500 watts because that is the maximum allowed in the USA. This gives the USA amateur a clear advantage. In Canada the maximum power is 2250 watts however I am only allowed to run 1500 watts according to the rules which state "1500 Watts PEP or the maximum allowable power level established by the national licensing authority of your country, whichever is lower." This places Canadian amateurs on an even playing field as USA amateurs. Why is it OK for US amateurs to have an advantage over others but not the other way around?

IT is the ARRL'S contest. Guess that gives them the right to make the rules.

If some op does not agree with the rules of the contest then no one is forcing that op to participate in the contest.

With that said CK I agree with you, lets make an even playing field for the contest. Hard to do with country rules and restrictions.

 

[w9cll]

I have to agree,.......but...... have you seen pictures of most of the European stations?

it seems that they spend all of their $$$ on stupid things like antennas and ERP type stuff:blink:

every U.S, Amateur KNOWS the most important thing is an amp:tongue:

just run QRO into a dipole @ 25 feet<can not stand it>

Wow that hit the nail on he head.

 

[Road Squawker]

... my 6m antenna consists of an 80m doublet fed with 450 ohm ladder ... Apex is at 65 feet and power is 100 watts.... :laugh:

I feel your pain, right now I am in Florida for a few weeks, and that is almost exactly my antenna options now, except my doublet is at 35 feet{Cry_river}

mean while my 50 MHz 6 ele quad @ 75feet and my QRO amp is in Tennessee.

I'm thinking I'm not even going to mess with it this year

 

[BJ radionut]

You won't work me. I can almost guarantee it.Not even sure if I will be on but if I do my 6m antenna consists of an 80m doublet fed with 450 ohm ladder line thru a Yeasu FC-40 auto tuner at the end of the house. Apex is at 65 feet and power is 100 watts. I did work WWRF member VO1KS on it a couple weeks ago however. Oh wait..........VO1KS is Warren. He is only 15 miles away and he had a 5 element yagi. :laugh:

Just never know OM!....Worked a friend from 75m yesterday morning from FLA to IN...He was using his 75m dipole and 70w...I was using my 5el's at 45ft/100w
We chatted for maybe 10 minutes...
3 days this week same guy from FLA to IN...He uses a 75/40m Gage dipole/100w...Q last weekend lasted like 20 minutes before it started to fade...When we signed I was the Pile-up! Like half the state of FLA called me...FUN STUFF...

Maybe we'll get lucky...Last year we had a Monster Flare during the contest
Almost TOTAL Blackout the whole event...Hopefully not this year...

I should have gotten with Warren and got that last amp he had already converted...Still I would have to find a 50v supply...
All the Best
Gary

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

IT is the ARRL'S contest. Guess that gives them the right to make the rules.

If some op does not agree with the rules of the contest then no one is forcing that op to participate in the contest.

With that said CK I agree with you, lets make an even playing field for the contest. Hard to do with country rules and restrictions.

My point is that everyone should be able to run whatever their respective country allows for maximum legal power.Everything seems to revolve around USA regulations. Why are amps with a pair of 3CX800`s or with a 3CX1500 in it only rated at 1500 watts? They are quite capable of more than that and nothing in the regulations says that they cannot advertise an amp that produces more than 1500 watts. If I am in the market for an amp I want to know if it will produce 2250 watts. Same thing with switches and tuners. They all say they handle "maximum legal power". Some may well handle much more than that but how do you know? What is wrong with an honest statement of "Handles 3 Kw" or will handle up to 4 Kw" if it really will? Same goes for an antenna. How much power will a piece of aluminum handle? If an antenna will safely handle 5Kw then why rate it at "maximum legal power" which is meant to refer to 1500 watts? It seems as if the sour grapes is on the part of US amateurs in an effort to restrict anyone from running any more power then they are allowed.

 

[wavrider]

My point is that everyone should be able to run whatever their respective country allows for maximum legal power.Everything seems to revolve around USA regulations. Why are amps with a pair of 3CX800`s or with a 3CX1500 in it only rated at 1500 watts? They are quite capable of more than that and nothing in the regulations says that they cannot advertise an amp that produces more than 1500 watts. If I am in the market for an amp I want to know if it will produce 2250 watts. Same thing with switches and tuners. They all say they handle "maximum legal power". Some may well handle much more than that but how do you know? What is wrong with an honest statement of "Handles 3 Kw" or will handle up to 4 Kw" if it really will? Same goes for an antenna. How much power will a piece of aluminum handle? If an antenna will safely handle 5Kw then why rate it at "maximum legal power" which is meant to refer to 1500 watts? It seems as if the sour grapes is on the part of US amateurs in an effort to restrict anyone from running any more power then they are allowed.

I fully understand what you are saying, and I agree OM.

I also know that there will be a hell of a lot of the "Big Guns" running stacked yagi's and amps that will do legal limit plus plus. I.E. contest stations amps.

Contesting is what it is, the stacked yagi's have great ERP and receive, but the mainstay is still the skill of the op.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Exactly. Restricting power to 1500 watts regardless of nationality is ridiculous because someone can run 1500 watts into a G5RV at 30 feet while someone else can run 400 watts into stacked monobanders at 110 feet making the clear advantage the latter.I can see different classes within a contest such as QRP or 100 watt class etc. The specs on gear clearly capable of more power than stated is beyond me.

 

[Road Squawker]

I tend to agree,....... the rules should require a standard method of measurement, such as ERP wattage.

but, OTOH, many U.S. amateurs can't even compute 100 watts ERP output (as compared to a dipole) for 60 meter operations.