GARES Spring Challenge 2020 - 4m and/or 6m (four sections): Rules
This is a club-sponsored opportunity for you to do some targeted operating and to share your results with others. You are invited to work stations in as many six-figure locator squares (e.g. IO81VV) as possible on the 6-metre AND/OR 4-metre band during the period of the challenge. You may submit entries for a single band or both. Modes will be separated into two sections; CW/SSB and DATA. Again, you can submit entries for both mode sections, so you may enter all four possible sections, namely: 6m CW/SSB, 6m DATA, 4m CW/SSB and 4m DATA. This challenge is designed to enable participants to enjoy the sporadic ‘E’ propagation which should be available during the period of the challenge. Please note the restriction placed on automatic operation of data modes below.
WHEN: Saturday 16th May to Saturday 4th July 2020, both dates inclusive
WHERE: Individual entries on the 6 metre or 4 metre amateur bands or both.
MODE: Section A: CW & SSB; Section B Any DATA mode including those in the WSJT-X suite.
ENTRIES: To observe the requirements of Covid-19 restrictions (at the time of writing), contacts must be made from main station locations only.
POWER: 100 Watts or less. The power used for each contact should be recorded.
AERIALS: No restrictions.
SCORING: Each six-figure locator square (e.g. JN76AB) may be worked once for scoring purposes per SECTION. For example, you may claim JN67AB on 6m CW/SSB and 6m DATA. Each square will score 1 point.
Contacts must be made by you, using your own callsign. Unattended operation is not permitted. Please note, operation of AUTO-FT4 mode in WSJT-X software, where intervention of the operator in proceeding from one QSO to the next is not required, is NOT in the spirit of the Challenge and is therefore not permitted. Similarly, modification of WSJT-X software to enable such operation with the FT8 mode is not permitted.
REPORTING: Locator square, callsign of station worked, date, mode, power (p.e.p.) at the output of the transmitter, and the aerial in use should be reported for each scoring contact.
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: Please ensure you use a standard spreadsheet format, (e.g. Excel). A suitable template is available from G4IZZ. Please rename this file so that it shows your callsign and your chosen band and mode section when submitting claims, e.g. G4IZZ_6m_A for 6m CW/SSB section or G4IZZ_6m_B for 6m DATA section as appropriate. If entering two bands and two mode sections please submit separate files named as above.