[NLRS] VHF contest SOLP power question

[Ken Boston]

As I understand the history of the low power classification, the power levels were picked to be at a midpoint between the QRP class (5 w? all bands) and the QRO class (1500 w all bands) and were selected to be fairly representative of the multimode/multiband radios of the time, and the ever popular brick amps that were/are available.  The only major shift that I have seen within these guidelines is the common availability of higher power (but still nowhere near the 1500 w QRO) transverters and bricks for the microwave bands.

My feelings is that this midpoint classification may need to be changed to reflect this, IE, keep the levels unchanged at 50-432, and raise the microwave levels to 50 or 100 watts.  An alternative would be SOLP at 200 watts across the board.  (Folks, this is still, in no way, a QRO level)

This second alternative would then give;

QRP = 5 watts
SOLP= 200 watts
SOLP= 1500 watts

Just my opinion;

Kenneth Boston PE NCE
W9GA