12-15-2014, 08:02 PM
With the present higher-than-normal energy and support for contesting at the "new" MARC, what's wrong with just putting up an all-band wire dipole and with the club's rig & Ameritron AL-811H, we could be a potent signal in any contest! I think an important function of the MARC is to give members who do not have an operational station yet at home the chance to participate in any upcoming 2015 contesting opportunities to gain operating skills and exposure to the benefits of ham radio contesting! One does not need a 3-element yagi at 40 feet to do very well (scoring). I remember with some satisfaction my experiences in the Triple-Play ARRL activity 2009, thanks to the January contests, working almost all 50 states in three modes, all LoTW in the first month of the Triple-Play! This was all due to the presence of ops from all 50 states working the contests for the required contacts. Putting up the yagi will be a plus later in the year, but for now, just to get this club energy activated would be a great boost for 2015.