2010 WPX RULES

I. Objective: For OCRA & DFMA members to contact as many amateurs and different prefixes as possible during the contest period.

II. Period of Operation:

- SSB: March 27-28, 2010 

- Starts:  0000 GMT Saturday  Ends: 2359 GMT Sunday

III. Bands: Only the 1.8, 3.5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 MHz bands may be used. Observance of established band plans is strongly encouraged.

IV. Terms of Competition for All Categories:

(a) All entrants must operate within the limits of their chosen category when performing any activity that could affect their submitted score. Only the entrant’s call sign may be used to aid the entrant’s score.

(d) Self-spotting or asking other stations to spot you is not allowed.

V. Entry Categories:

A.  For our Contest within a Contest there will be three different categories.   The only difference for a single-op and multi-op entry is the power level. 

(a) High Power (All Band or Single Band): Total output power must not exceed 1500 watts.

(b) Low Power(All Band or Single Band): Total output power must not exceed 200 watts.

(c) QRP (All Band or Single Band): Total output power must not exceed 5 watts.

VI. Exchange: RS(T) report plus a progressive contact serial number starting with 001 for the first contact.  (ie:  59 001 if your first QSO, and 59 035 if your 35^th QSO.)

VII. Contact Points:  (If you have Contest Logging software this is all automatic.  If you are logging by hand, leave space on the right side of your paper log for a score per QSO.  See example below.)

 (a) Contacts between stations on different continents are worth three (3) points on 28, 21, and 14 MHz and six (6) points on 7, 3.5, and 1.8 MHz.

(b) Contacts between stations on the same continent, but different countries, are worth one (1) point on 28, 21, and 14 MHz and two (2) points on 7, 3.5, and 1.8 MHz. Exception: For North American stations only—contacts between stations within the North American boundaries (both stations must be located in North America) are worth two (2) points on 28, 21, and 14 MHz and four (4) points on 7, 3.5, and 1.8 MHz.

(c) Contacts between stations in the same country are worth 1 point regardless of band.

VIII. Prefix Multipliers: The prefix multiplier is the number of valid prefixes worked. Each PREFIX is counted only once regardless of the band or number of times the same prefix is worked.

(a) A PREFIX is the letter/numeral combination which forms the first part of the amateur call. Examples: N8, W8, WD8, HG1, HG19, KC2, OE2, OE25, LY1000, etc. Any difference in the numbering, lettering, or order of same shall count as a separate prefix. A station operating from a DXCC country different from that indicated by its call sign is required to sign portable. The portable prefix must be an authorized prefix of the country/call area of operation. In cases of portable operation, the portable designator will then become the prefix. Example: N8BJQ operating from Wake Island would sign N8BJQ/KH9 or N8BJQ/NH9. KH6XXX operating from Ohio must use an authorized prefix for the U.S. 8th district (/W8, /AD8, etc.). Portable designators without numbers will be assigned a zero (Ø) after the second letter of the portable designator to form the prefix. Example: PA/N8BJQ would become PAØ. All calls without numbers will be assigned a zero (Ø) after the first two letters to form the prefix. Example: XEFTJW would count as XEØ. Maritime mobile, mobile, /A, /E, /J, /P, or interim license class identifiers do not count as prefixes.

IX. Scoring: A station may be worked once on each band for QSO point credit. Prefix credit may be taken only once.

(i) All-Band score is total contact points from all bands multiplied by the number of different prefixes worked.

(ii) Single-Band score is total contact points on the band entered multiplied by the number of different prefixes worked on that band only.

X. Instructions for Submission of Logs: We would appreciate receiving all logs in electronic format. However, paper logs will also be accepted.    Please submit a separate log per band.   This will make it easier for you to identify duplicate QSOs (they don’t count) and for us to score you submission.

(a) The log MUST show the following for each contact: correct time in GMT, frequency (or band), call, serial number sent, and serial number received. A log without all required information may be reclassified to checklog.

This is a sample of a log format if you want to use paper that would work for our Contest within a Contest

*****************************************************************

Date__Time (UTC)__Frequency__Call__NR SENT_NR_RCVD_Score                                                                          

If anyone has questions - - please send my an email, call me on the phone or call me on the repeater !   I hope to work many OCRA and DFMA members during the WPX-SSB contest.

73,

As you all know, ARRL Field Day is just a few months away.   Dave (W4SAR) has already started to discuss this year’s event and the planning has  started.   One of the topics discussed at the meeting on Monday night was how we might be able to increase our score and maybe beat that California station this year.   We discussed putting more stations on the air, getting more operators, putting up different types of antennas and – making more QSOs.    The last item, making more QSOs is possible with or without implementing any of the other suggestions.  

When you combine the Field Day discussions with many comments made on the weekly Monday night 10 meter SSB net about band conditions improving, contacts made with other US and DX stations, Laurie and I had a thought.  Why not have an OCRA and DFMA Contest within a Contest.   The CQ WPX SSB contest is coming up so that  would offer a great opportunity to run them both at that same time.   The bands would be active bands and, as the contest rules allow working everyone (Domestic and DX) anyone that has HF capabilities would be able to participate.

I will be putting together a set of Contest w/in a Contest rules over the next couple nights, but until then, take a look at the WPX rules.  They can be found here: URL:  http://www.cqwpx.com/

A few of my thoughts so far are:

> multiple entry classes

        - QRP: 10 watts or less (yes, this is more than usual)

- LOW power:  Less than 200 watts

- HIGH power:  More than 200 watts

- NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE YET:  Issue certificates for working more than 50 contacts

> no difference between single op or multi op entries

        - good training for Field Day teams

> when completed, the log needs to be sent to us, not CQ

        - paper is fine, no need to use a computer (more on this later)

        - if using paper logs, QSOs info must be split by band (20 meter on a different log page then 40 meters)

        - the detailed contact exchange information will be in my next email, but must be the same as WPX so others will work you

        - NO DUPES.  You can work the same station on different bands, but only ONCE / band

> operate as much or as little as you want.

        - yes, it is a 48 hr contest, but you might just win by only spending 2 hrs on the air

> MORE TO COME

NOTE:  AT A MINIMUM – CERTIFICATES WILL BE AWARDED TO THE WINNERS

73,