"Bill Turner" wrote

Contesting hardware has evolved to the point that one must spend a small
fortune to be competitive..........

I don't think money is what makes you competitive. Innovation and thoughtful
design of your station, honing your skills, and picking the fights you can win
are what make a station competitive.

I'll use my station as a prime example. In the major contests in which I
compete I have an excellent record of success with lots of section and division
wallpaper and walnut on the wall. Any time I get whupped it's due to better
operators, not the cost of the station.

My SO2R setup consists of a 10-year-old Icom run rig and a 17-year-old mult rig.
The city-lot antenna farm consists of a single tower with a tribander, a
selection of wire antennas, and a couple of verticals. Station control is an
8-year-old 'consumer grade 486', CT by K1EA (freeware), and homebrewed
SO2R-relay/wiring system. "Hamfest value" of the entire station is well below
the "small fortune" level.

You only need a "small fortune" if you're adverse to a little "sweat equity" and
decide to buy it all at 1-800-rigs-r-us.

In fact, if you depend on "rigs-r-us" to win I'd guess your station probably
could benefit from some thoughtful design efforts, not more money.

73, de Hans, K0HB