GARES Winter 2018/19 Challenge: Rules
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 on the 80, 40, 20, 17, 15 and 12 metre bands during the period of the challenge with points based on the Continent that the other station is in. There will be high power (100 W max) and low power (10 W max) sections.
Entrants may use a single mode (e.g. CW, SSB, Data or Weak Signal) although you can make multiple entries.
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: Saturday 3rd November 2018 to Saturday 26th January 2019, both dates inclusive.
WHERE: 160, 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 metre bands. (All HF bands except 30m and 60m)
MODES: One mode per entry from the range CW, SSB, Data and Weak signal.
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:
- High Power: 100 Watts or less.
- Low Power: 10 Watts or less.
- The power used for each contact should be recorded.
AERIALS: No restrictions.
SCORING: Points will be awarded for each contact with a separate station, as follows:
| Europe (inc UK) | 1 point | |
| North America | 10 points | |
| South America | 20 points | |
| Asia | 20 points | |
| Africa | 20 points | |
| Australia | 50 points | |
| Oceania | 50 points | |
| Antartica | 50 points |
Each scoring entity may only be claimed once irrespective of the band, power, mode and antenna used.
Contacts must be made by you, using your own callsign, with a suffix if appropriate.
REPORTING: Continent, callsign of station worked, date, band, mode, 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 section.
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 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 as:
Your callsign and section (A or B), e.g. G4IZZ_LOW or G4IZZ_HIGH as appropriate.
Rules updated 17th October 2018