GARES Spring 2017 Challenge: Rules
This is a club-sponsored opportunity for you to do some targeted operating and to share your results with others.
This is a club-sponsored opportunity for you to do some general operating and to share your results with others. You are invited to work stations in as many countries (DX entities), U.S.A. States and Canadian Provinces as possible on the three so-called WARC bands during the period of the challenge. For scoring purposes, a country (or DX entity), State or Province may be worked once irrespective of the frequency, power and antenna used. Although we will "keep score" the activity is not meant to be excessively competitive. It is more important that as many people as possible join in to gain experience, perhaps build new antennas and try new modes of operation, but most of all it should be fun! Please also note there will be an award to the highest placed newcomer to the Challenge.
WHEN: 1st April 2017 to 31st May 2017, both dates inclusive.
WHERE: On the so-called WARC bands viz. 30, 17and 12 metres
MODE: Choice of either CW, Data, or SSB. (N.B. SSB is not allowed on 30 metres). N.B entrants must choose one mode only for the Challenge.
ENTRIES: Contacts may be made from locations (e.g. main station, alternative, portable. mobile) within the IO81 locator square. (If you wish to operate from another square please seek advice!)
POWER: 100 Watts or less. The power used for each contact should be recorded.
AERIALS: No restrictions.
SCORING: Each scoring entity (Country, State or Province) may be claimed once irrespective of the band used. Scores for CW, Data and SSB will be listed separately. Contacts must be made by you, using your own callsign, with a suffix if appropriate.
REPORTING: Scoring Entity (Country, State, Province), callsign of station worked, date, band, power (p.e.p.) at the output of the transmitter, and the aerial in use should be reported for each scoring contact.
AWARDS: Awards will be made to the leading stations in each mode (CW, Data & SSB) and to the highest placed newcomer to the Challenge.
Note 1: If you are licensed to use more than one callsign a scoring entity may be claimed once only irrespective of the callsign in use.
Note 2: Accurate exchange of callsigns and signal reports should be considered the minimum requirement for claiming a valid contact.
Note 3: Contacts should be made directly on a one-to-one basis without assistance from others. This precludes the relaying of real-time contact information by repeaters, internet links, other amateur stations or any other mode of indirect transmission. However, the use of DX spotting sites such as, for example, DX Summit is acceptable
Note 4: It would help considerably if claims are made using a standard spreadsheet format. A suitable template is available. When submitting claims, please rename this file with your callsign and mode. For example: G4BCA_CW, G4BCA_Data, or G4BCA _SSB as appropriate.