RSGB 80m Sprint QSO Format

The Sprint format requires stations to QSY if a contact was solicited on a frequency, and means that different skills and operating style are needed compared with a traditional contest. To reduce the risk of confusion between stations because of the QSY element, the contact exchange consists of both callsigns. A serial number and first name or nickname are also exchanged, and as a departure from the norm, no RS(T) exchange is required.  The contest exchange and scoring is the same as the popular EUSprint contest, which is supported by SD, N1MM, Writelog, and WinTest amongst others already.  The preferred order of the exchange is also different depending on whether you solicited the contact or not. See the examples below.

The fun of the sprint format is that numerous stations will use and call CQ on the same frequency in a short amount of time. A criticism of traditional contests with limited available bandwidth is that those with the strongest signals, or those who get on air first, occupy the frequencies for calling CQ. Here, a relatively weak station can call a ‘big gun’ and, after their QSO, immediately claim the frequency as their own to call CQ. Of course, that same frequency must then be given up following the next QSO on the frequency.

A common practice is to call CQ for a first contact, then QSY, search for someone else calling CQ, and work them for a second contact. Then you can call CQ on that frequency for a third QSO, before searching again for a fourth.

You could still entirely work Search and Pounce and never call CQ. For a domestic contest with many similar signal strengths and a high band occupancy, a tactic of trying to only call CQ, maybe on alternating frequencies, is not likely to be very successful.

Example SSB QSOs:  (Use of phonetic alphabet needed in real life on-air)

3715 kHz:

M0AAA: “CQ Contest M0AAA M0AAA Contest”

G4ZZZ: “G4ZZZ”

M0AAA: “G4ZZZ, M0AAA 001 TOM”

G4ZZZ:  “M0AAA, 002, BILL, from G4ZZZ”

(Note the different order that the contact information is given in. If you solicit the QSO, you should give your callsign immediately after your QSO partner. If you are responding to a CQ, you should give your callsign at the end. This enables anyone else who tunes across the QSO in progress to know which station will take the frequency and make the next QSO. This lowers the risk of confusion and frustration when searching for new stations. When done efficiently, the next station can call in without a QRZ? or CQ call being needed to identify who has taken the frequency, improving the QSO rate as well.)

M0AAA: “QSL. Good Luck”

(M0AAA needs to now QSY up or down at least 2 kHz to call another station, or to start calling CQ himself. G4ZZZ can now call CQ on the now vacant 3715, if no-one calls immediately.)

G4ZZZ: “CQ Contest, G4ZZZ”

2E0YYY: “2E0YYY” etc.

Example CW QSOs:

3525 kHz:

M0AAA: “CQ TEST M0AAA M0AAA TEST”

G4ZZZ: “G4ZZZ”

M0AAA: “G4ZZZ M0AAA. 001 TOM”

G4ZZZ:  “M0AAA 002 BILL G4ZZZ”

M0AAA: “TU”

(M0AAA needs to now QSY up or down at least 2 kHz to call another station, or to start calling CQ himself. G4ZZZ can now call CQ on the now vacant 3525.)

G4ZZZ: “CQ TEST G4ZZZ”

2E0YYY: “2E0YYY” etc.

With so much changing of frequencies, some accidental QRM is unavoidable. Please remember to be considerate and polite, and to ask if the frequency in use, or send QRL? before calling CQ.