GARES Winter 2014 Challenge: 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 as many American States and/or Commonwealth Call Areas as possible during the period of the challenge.
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 and to add to the fun.
WHEN: 1st October 2014 to 31st March 2015, both dates inclusive.
WHERE: On the UK amateur bands, with the exception of those requiring an NOV, in any combination.
MODE: CW, SSB, RTTY, BPSK, QPSK in any combination.
ENTRIES: You may submit claims for contacts from your main station address (note 4) for one only of the sections detailed below irrespective of whether you are claiming a State or a Commonwealth Call Area. Your operating section, once chosen, should remain the same for the duration of the of the challenge.
POWER:
Section A 400 watts (peak) maximum measured at the output of the transmitter.
Section B 100 watts (peak) maximum measured at the output of the transmitter.
Sections C1,C2 10 watts (peak) maximum measured at the output of the transmitter.
AERIALS:
Sections A, C1 unrestricted.
Sections B, C2 dipole (simple or trapped), doublet (including off-centre fed), end-fed wire, single loop, vertical (single-band or trapped). Nested single loops (e.g."cobweb") and parallel/fan dipoles may be used. You may change the aerials in use within these limitations at any time during the challenge. If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of the aerial(s) you wish to use in these sections please ask for clarification.
SCORING:
Each Commonwealth Call Area (RSGB list) worked, irrespective of the band/mode/power/aerial in use, is worth one point.
Each American State (ARRL WAS list) worked, irrespective of the band/mode/power/aerial in use, is worth one point.
Scores may be submitted for a), b), or both and two independent accumulator tables will be maintained.
Contacts must be made by you, using your own callsign, from your main station address or an agreed alternative (notes 1, 2, 3 & 4)
REPORTING: Please report progress to G3XMM (contact details on the club notice board). For each call area/state claimed please list area or state (plain language), area or state code, callsign, band, date/time, mode (note 5)
Note 1: If you are licensed to use more than one callsign a country may be claimed once only for scoring purposes irrespective of the callsign in use.
Note 2: Accurate logging of callsign, signal report and the area or state as appropriate 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 direct assistance from others. This precludes the relaying or repeating of real-time contact information by repeaters, internet links, other amateur stations or any other mode of indirect transmission. It also casts doubt on the validity of contacts made when operating as a member of a net. The use of DX spotting sites such as, for example, DX Summit is acceptable however.
Note 4: Claims from different locations will be listed as separate entries in the accumulator tables. The most appropriate operating section may be selected for each location and should then remain the same for any further operation from that location.
Note 5: It would help me considerably if claims could be made using a spreadsheet format. Links to suitable templates are given below. Please also give details of PSK modes used, e.g. BPSK63, QPSK31 etc., when claiming for these modes.
Additional information of interest to others e.g. rigs, aerials etc. will be listed separately if offered.