[Elecraft] Re: EQP Proposed Rules Revision

[wayne burdick]

Benny,

Thanks for your input. I appreciate minimal exchanges, too; they 
produce more QSOs and make a contest easy to operate in.

But we'd like EQP to be different. I think of it as a series of 
condensed QSOs rather than quick-hit contest exchanges. Many 
participants have common interests, including Elecraft gear, kit 
building in general, and a passion for portable operation. EQP plays 
like a reunion of old friends.

I can make this clearer by addressing your individual points.

> K1, K2 or KX1 already defines Elecraft user. How about another 
> transceiver and Elecraft T1?

In EQP, the focus is on the transceiver. Thanks to the shared building 
experience, it's intriguing for some ops to know what kind of rig 
they're talking to. (Myself included, usually serial number 1 or 2  :)

> Serial number is not essential, but interesting, and may be given 
> during "rag chew" part of contact.

Serial numbers are important to many of the participants, in part 
because we offer certificates for collecting them. It's part of the 
condensed QSO. One could look up numbers in a database later, but that 
wouldn't be in the spirit of things.


> US State / VE Province / DXCC Country is not necessary in message. You 
> have other means to find out that multiplier: Callbook CD, Prefix in 
> call-sign or ask the station during contact.

Perhaps, but I like this addition. Many stations will be using low 
power, with which it can be exciting to work someone even in the next 
state! The mystery of where a station is located -- revealed during a 
contact -- has always been at the core of the radio experience for me, 
especially when using QRP.


> The power of other station is not essential. It is your power that 
> counts.

Good point. An exchange of power levels is, again, rooted in low-power 
contests. It's interesting, but I would say that this is the most 
expendable part of the exchange.


> By the way: is 100W max recommendation necessary. Elecraft is going to 
> sell shortly kilowatt-amplifiers.

Elecraft gear has, from the beginning, been about doing more with less, 
and often doing it while operating in the field. KW operation has its 
place, but I personally prefer a leaner approach in EQP. Besides, to 
level the playing field, we'd have to give KW operators fractional QRP 
points, which seems a bit harsh.


> So the message might be like:
> Elecrafter		599 K2
> Other			599

Any contest can be minimalist. EQP has meat on its bones!

Just my 2.05 cents --

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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http://www.elecraft.com