RSGB CONTEST COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER
ISSUE 2
DATE: February 2013
RSGB CONTESTS FOR FEBRUARY 2013
|
Sunday |
3rd February 2013 |
432 MHz Affiliated Societies Contest |
1000 – 1300 UTC |
|
Monday |
4th February 2013 |
80m Club Cumulative Contest (SSB) |
2000 – 2130 UTC |
|
Tuesday |
5th February 2013 |
144 MHz UK Activity Contest |
2000 – 2230 UTC |
|
Saturday – Sunday |
9 – 10th February 2013 |
1st 1.8 MHz Contest |
2100 – 0100 UTC |
|
Tuesday |
12th February 2013 |
432 MHz UK Activity Contest |
2000 – 2230 UTC |
|
Wednesday |
13th February 2013 |
80m Club Cumulative Contest (data) |
2000 – 2130 UTC |
|
Tuesday |
19th February 2013 |
1.3 GHz UK Activity Contest |
2000 – 2230 UTC |
|
Thursday |
21st February 2013 |
80m Club Cumulative Contest (CW) |
2000 – 2130 UTC |
|
Sunday |
24th February 2013 |
1st 70 MHz Cumulative Contest |
1000 – 1200 UTC |
|
Tuesday |
26th February 2013 |
50 MHz UK Activity Contest |
2000 – 2230 UTC |
|
Tuesday |
26th February 2013 |
SHF UK Activity Contest |
2000 – 2230 UTC |
Further details including rules are available here (HF) and here (VHF).
OTHER EUROPEAN VHF/UHF CONTESTS IN FEBRUARY
The first hour of 432MHz AFS on 3rd February
coincides with French and German contests.
Details of French events
(English translation can be obtained by clicking on the “Translate” box in the
Google toolbar)
Details of German events (English translation can be obtained by clicking on the “Translate” box in the Google toolbar)
The NAC Contests in Scandinavia
RECENT RESULTS
The following results have been published or
updated since the previous Newsletter:
144MHz
UKAC
432MHz
UKAC
1.3GHz
UKAC
Overall
UKAC
INDIVIDUAL ADJUDICATION REPORTS
Individual adjudication reports (also known for historical reasons as UBNs) are made available for all entrants and are generated as part of the adjudication process in which the information in each entrant's log is compared with the information in all the other entrants' logs and disparities analysed in order to identify errors.
From February 2013 these reports will not be emailed to entrants but are available via links from the contest results web pages. To reveal these links (one for each contestant) click on the “UBNs” link in the “Callsign” column of the contest results table. The results table will now contain a link at the right hand side of each row. Choose and click the link on the row containing your entry to access your UBN.
To view your UBN you will need the email address you used when you uploaded your log and a Passcode. Your Passcode will have been created by the log entry robot and sent to you in the confirmation email for your contest entry. The Passcode for your email address is fixed and can be used for all contests that are submitted using this email address. You can change your Passcode using the link given in the confirmation email.
Enter your email address in the User Name field and your Passcode in the Password field. It is possible to then allow your browser to remember your Passcode so any future UBNs can be viewed more easily. However it should be remembered that if this is done, other users of the same computer will be able to see your UBNs: this may be a disadvantage – perhaps in a house occupied be several amateurs…..
If you
have any problems accessing your UBN then email Pete at G4CLA@rsgbcc.org Any queries on
the contents of individual UBNs should go to the adjudicator of the contest.
CHANGES TO VHF GENERAL RULES
A number of changes to the VHF General Rules are being made and have now been posted on the CC website. The changed paragraphs are listed below (in italics) for clarity, along with the associated set of DOs and DON’Ts.
4. Contacts
i. Other than in the contests/sections listed in 4j below, the active use (posting messages, arranging skeds, self spotting etc.) of the DX Cluster and other spotting networks (including internet facilities for example ON4KST or similar) to assist an entry to a contest is banned in all VHF RSGB contests. You may spot a DX station as long as your operating frequency is not given. A list of do's and don'ts can be found below
j. The active use (posting messages, arranging skeds etc.) of the DX Cluster and spotting networks (including internet facilities for example ON4KST or similar) is only allowed in the following contests/sections:
· 50MHz Trophy
· 144MHz Trophy
· Oct UHF 432MHz to 248GHz
· 144Mhz Marconi CW contest
· UKAC AX section ONLY
· Any contest/section on 1.2GHz and higher
l. Any band (including, where individual contest/section rules permit the use of the internet, publicly available facilities such as the DX Cluster, ON4KST or similar) may be used for setting up contacts or talk back in connection with antenna alignment signals and confirmation that signals are audible or inaudible. Mobile phones (voice or texting), Skype or other similar VOIP facilities, VPN, email, PSTN etc. must not be used for talkback.
m. All information must be copied at the time of the QSO and on the band in use. Databases must not be used to fill in missing information. The DX Cluster, ON4KST or any other internet facility, radio talkback channels, mobile phones (voice or texting), Skype or other similar VOIP facilities, VPN, email, PSTN etc. must not be used for passing or confirming any contest exchange related information.
o. A station may be shared by multiple operators with each operator using a different callsign and submitting a separate log for the contest. However, such a station must not be used to work stations serially by operators sharing the station. There must be a minimum of 15 minutes between QSOs with another station. Example: A station is shared by G9AAA and G9BBB. G9AAA works G9CCC at 20.00. G9BBB cannot work G9CCC before 20.15. G9BBB and G9AAA can contact other stations in the intervening 15 minutes. Operators sharing a station may not work each other for points or multipliers.
Dos and DON’Ts
· Do spot DX you have worked or heard when tuning the band for the benefit of all.
· Do use the DX cluster to help you find DX during the contest
· Don't use the DX cluster to help the DX find you (e.g. by self spotting)
· Don't ask other stations that you work to "please spot me"
· Don't spot DX you've just worked on your frequency
· Don't spot your fellow team member (if operating in club/team/multi band contests e.g. UKAC, AFS, VHF NFD etc.)
· Don’t post any messages on internet facilities including but not limited to ON4KST or similar during the contest period unless you are entering a contest/section that permits active internet use. Note: Passive users of internet facilities (e.g. ON4KST or similar etc.) may act on information in posts (e.g. CQ calls, direct messages “are you available” or “please repeat information” or questions) as long as no reply is posted. It is recommended that passive users of internet facilities set their status as "away" in order to inform active internet users that no reply will be posted to questions etc.
· Don’t display your operating frequency on any internet facility (e.g. in the Users list on ON4KST) during the contest period unless you are entering a section that permits active internet use.
USE OF THE INTERNET IN RSGB VHF CONTESTS
Modern communication facilities such as the internet (e.g. DX Cluster, ON4KST, MMMonVHF etc.) have been used by radio amateurs to assist DXing for many years. Some amateurs feel that these facilities also have a place in amateur radio contests. However, this view is not universally held. To cater for both points of view, some RSGB VHF contests permit the use of internet facilities while other contests prohibit its use. For example, the use of internet facilities in all RSGB Contests that run alongside the IARU Region 1 VHF contests is permitted and in all contests that use bands above 1GHz.
The RSGB UKAC series of events is unusual because it permits the full use of the internet in one of the entry section (AX) while limiting the internet use in the other entry sections (AL/AO/AR). It’s up to the individual entrant which section they enter according to what their personal views are on internet use and their goals in the contest.
Recently, there has been a certain degree of antagonism directed towards entrants of the AX section by those amateurs that believe the use of the internet has no place in radio contests. This is unfair as all the AX entrants are doing is using different methods (within the rules of this section) to find and complete contacts. It is unfair to regard AX entrants as cheats or freeloaders.
The AX section was set up by the RSGB Contest Committee to allow those who wish to experiment with the internet in VHF/UHF contests to do so without a detrimental effect on other contesters. AX entrants actively give out points and multipliers to other contesters. Most AX entrants are located in very remote locations in the UK (and may be the only active amateur in their rare and often sought after locator square) and it is only by actively using internet messaging facilities such as ON4KST that these amateurs stand any realistic chance of making DX contacts.
AX entrants are not actively competing against AL/AR/AO entrants; they are in a section of their own, competing against one another and their points do not count towards any club/group scores.
In summary, if you want to actively use the internet in the UKAC series of events, please enter the AX section. If you don’t, please enter one of the other sections. Whatever your choice, please act in a gentlemanly fashion to all other operators active during these contests.
70MHZ UKAC ON 31ST DECEMBER 2013
The 70MHz UKAC events are held on the fifth Tuesday of the month (where these occur). The final fifth Tuesday of 2013 falls on New Year’s Eve. The CC is undecided whether the 70MHz UKAC should be held on that date, and are seeking feedback from entrants. E-mails to vhf.query@rsgbcc.org please.
That’s all for this month – as always, comments are welcome to editor@rsgbcc.org .
73 and good contesting.
QUIN COLLIER G3WRR
Newsletter Editor on behalf of RSGB Contest Committee