Radio Society of Great Britain – Contest Committee


RSGB - Contest Committee

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                                                                                                          RSGB - HF Contest Committee


    RSGB IOTA Contest
     The IOTA Contest is the most popular contest in the RSGB HF Contests calendar, attracting entries from around the world.  If you have any queries about these rules, please email hf.query@rsgbcc.org
              Changes for 2017
              Removal of band change restrictions for Multi-ops
              Reduced log submission time
              (Note - the HFCC are considering shortening the exchange for Island stations in the longer term)
     
    1. Objective To promote contacts between stations in IOTA island groups and the rest of the world, and to encourage expeditions to IOTA islands.
    2. Date & Time 29th - 30th July 2017
    1200 - 1200 UTC  

    3. Frequencies and  Power    		 80m to 10m  
    See section 4.5 below for Power categories

    4. Entrants and Sections

    4.1  Categories - Location

    Island Station DXpedition or Island Station Fixed - any station operating from a qualifying IOTA island, as listed in the IOTA Directory. Island Stations must ensure beforehand that the island from which they are operating is a valid island for IOTA - see RSGB IOTA Web site.

    An Island DXpedition is defined as (a) where the island can only be reached by boat or air. (Islands which can be accessed by bridge or causeway, man-made or natural, are not eligible) (b) where the majority of operators are non-resident on the island and (c) where the operators take all radio equipment and antennas with them, and do not rely on a resident or on any masts or towers already installed for any part of the station.  A World Station is defined as any station not on a qualifying IOTA island.

    4.2  Categories - Operators

    Single operator Unassisted. Only one signal may be transmitted at any one time.

    Single-operator Assisted.  Only one signal may be transmitted at any one time.

    Single Operator Category Overlay - NEWCOMER. (Unassisted or Assisted) - the operator was first licensed less than 3 years before the date of the contest. Only one signal may be transmitted at any one time.

    Island Multi-1 :  24-hour Mixed Mode, Assisted, only.  Island Multi-1 stations are restricted to a maximum of two transmitters, where the first station is the RUN station, labelled "0" in the Cabrillo log. The second is the MULTIPLIER station, labelled "1" in the Cabrillo log, and is used to find and call other stations, but only if the station is a new multiplier.  The MULT station must not be used to solicit other contacts, e.g. by calling "CQ" or "QRZ?". Any non-mult QSOs made accidentally on the MULT station must be logged, but will be scored as zero points.

    Island Multi-2 - 24-hour Mixed-mode, Assisted, only - a maximum of two transmitted signals at any one time, where the first station is labelled "0" in the Cabrillo log and the second is labelled "1". Both stations may be used to solicit contacts.

    Island Multi-1 and Island Multi-2 entrants must include a full list of operators with their entry in the Cabrillo OPERATORS section.

    There are no World Station Multi-Operator categories.

    4.3  Categories - Mode

    CW

    SSB

    Mixed-mode          (Island Multi-Operator entries must be Mixed-mode)

    4.4  Categories - Operating Time

    24 hours   (Multi-Operator entries must be 24 hours)

    12 hours. In the 12-hour categories, operation need not be for one continuous 12-hour period, but once operation has commenced in the contest, off periods must be a minimum of 60 minutes.

    4.5  Categories - Power

    High Power Max licensed power, but no more than 1500W o/p

    Low Power Max 100W o/p

    QRP Max 5W o/p

    Any station not indicating transmitter power will be classified as High Power.

    Special Contest Callsigns or Club Callsigns may be used. Remote operation is allowed, only for World stations where the remote station is in the same DX entity, and only after advance authorisation by the HFCC Chair.

    5. Exchange

    RS(T) and serial number starting from 1, plus IOTA reference number if applicable.    If you are not sent a serial number, log a zero.

    Island Stations must include the IOTA reference as part of their exchange. Do not use separate numbering systems for CW and SSB. Stations may be contacted on both CW and SSB on each band.  Island Multi-operator entrants may find it convenient to allocate separate blocks of serial numbers for each station, but do ensure if possible that there is no duplication of serial numbers.

    Island stations should announce their IOTA reference during CQ calls so that Mult stations can check for Dupes before replying.



    6. Scoring

    Island Stations contacting
    World Stations: 5 points.
    other Island Stations having the same IOTA reference : 5 points.
    other Island Stations: 15 points.

    World Stations contacting
    World Stations: 2 points.
    Island Stations: 15 points.

    Multiplier - The multiplier is the total of different IOTA references contacted on each band on CW, plus the total of different IOTA references contacted on each band on SSB. Island Multi-Op stations may not contact members of their own group for multiplier credit.

    The Total score is the total of QSO points on all bands added together, multiplied by the total of multipliers.

    7. Log submission
    and Adjudication    		 Submit in Cabrillo format here within 5 days of the end of the contest.
    If the robot finds format errors, it will reject the log and ask for resubmission of a corrected logfile.
    Adjudicated results will be online and will include online logfiles for all entrants.
    Errors will incur penalties as outlined in the RSGB HF Adjudication Principles  This penalty will be the loss of an additional 5 QSO points.
    The use of CAT control to log the correct frequency and mode is highly recommended - you will lose QSO points for frequency and mode errors.

    8. Results and Awards    		 Click here for the available Awards.

    9. Supplementary Rules    		 (a)   Any infringement considered to be outside the spirit of the contest may result in an entry being reclassified as a Checklog or disqualified.
    (b)   Self-spotting or asking to be spotted is not permitted.
    (c)   Call signs logged must be the same as those exchanged over the air by the entrants during the QSO. Correction of logged call signs and exchanges after the contest, by use of any database, recordings, email or other methods, is not allowed.
    (d)  All requests for contacts, responses to calls, and copying of call signs and contest exchanges must be accomplished during the contest period using the mode and frequencies of the contest.
    (e) You must send your callsign at least every 3rd QSO and no less often than once a minute.
    (f)  Proof of contact e.g. an MP3 audio recording, may be used as part of the adjudication process.

    10. Declaration    		 By entering any RSGB HF Contest you declare that :
    (a)  Your station was operated strictly in accordance with the rules and spirit of the contest, within the conditions of your licence, and that the power output from your transmitter was no greater than that permitted in the section of the contest that you are entering.
    (b)  You agree that decisions of the RSGB HF Contest Committee will be final in cases of dispute.
    (c)  By submitting a log entry, entrants give the RSGB permission to score, amend, publish, republish, print, and otherwise distribute that entry by any means.