General Rules for RSGB VHF/UHF/SHF Contests 2017
1. General
a. These rules apply to all RSGB VHF/UHF/SHF contests
except where superseded by specific contest rules.
b.
c. Entrants must abide by their standard licence
conditions (no high power permits) and observe the RSGB band plans including
the 6m DX Window (50.100-50.130 MHz) where only inter-continental
contacts may be made. Calling frequencies or centres of
activity, +/- 5 kHz, must not be used to call CQ for contest QSOs. GB2RS and
GB2CW frequencies (+/- 5 kHz) must not be used during the period of a scheduled
transmission from these stations.
d. All entrants and operators of
·
VHF NFD
·
All
·
2m, 70cm and 6m AFS
Contests
e. Overseas stations may enter RSGB domestic contests
but are only eligible for their own awards.
f. There will be special certficates for the highest placed single-operator entries from entrants aged 18 or under. To register for these awards please send your details including you date of birth to vhf.query@rsgbcc.org
g. Any queries about the contests, or cases of dispute
should be addressed to the RSGB VHFCC Chair, telephone number: 077 99 88 76 17,
e-mail: vhfcc.chair@rsgbcc.org
2. Entries
a. Electronic logs should be submitted via the portal
at http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfenter.pl.
b. Acceptable formats are REG1TEST .EDI (preferred),
or Cabrillo, or .LOG and .COV files from SDV, .EDI or .LOG and .COV from G0GJV
programs (NOT .GJV or .MINOS),
Free software is available from
http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/links.shtml.
c. If you have used paper to log your entry do not
send your paper log to the RSGB Contest Committee. The Committee have set up a
simple to use web-based Contest Log Entry system to enable you to enter your
log details online at http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfenter.pl.
d. All times must be logged in UTC.
e. Any complaints/adverse comments received or made
about signal quality must be recorded in the 'comments' column or ‘soapbox’
section of the electronic log or paper log.
f. Entries must be made by 23:59:59 on the 7th day following the end of the contest
By submitting your log entry, entrants give the RSGB
permission to score, amend, publish, republish, print, and otherwise distribute
(by any means including paper or electronic) the entry either in its original
format, in any other suitable format with or without modifications or combined
with the entries from other contestants for entry into the specific contest,
other contests, or for other reasons including training, development and
advancement of amateur radio.
g. Entrants are advised to use the entries received
web page http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfposted.pl to check that their entry
has been received.
h. A spreadsheet containing all the QSOs from all the received logs can be downloaded via a link on each contest results web page
3. Station/Operators
a. In multi-band events, all stations forming one entry
must be located within a circle of 1 km radius.
b. Stations that persistently radiate poor quality
signals, cause deliberate interference to other stations, or otherwise
contravene the code of practice for VHF/UHF/SHF contest operation may be penalised.
c. Entrants must permit inspection of their stations
by members of RSGB CC or its representatives, and give site access information
if requested to do so. The inspector must be permitted to remain for as long as
desired, and to return to the site for subsequent inspections at any time
during the contest. Contestants must demonstrate to the inspector's
satisfaction that they are obeying the rules of the contest.
d. ‘Single operator’ is defined as a station operated
by a single person, with no operational assistance of another person or persons
during the contest period.
4. Contacts
a. The contest exchange consists of at least both
callsigns, RS(T) signal reports followed by a serial number, and the IARU
locator. Particular contests may require additional information to be exchanged
as described in the individual contest rules.
b. Serial numbers start from 001 on each band and
advance by one for each contact. In cumulative contests, serial numbers start
from 001 for each activity period.
c. Crossband contacts do not count for points
d. No points will be lost if a non-competing station
cannot provide an IARU locator, serial number, or any other information that
may be required. However, the receiving operator must receive and record
sufficient information to be able to calculate the score.
e. Contacts with callsigns appearing as operators on
any of the cover sheets forming an entry will not count for points or
multipliers.
f. Only one scoring contact may be made with a given station
on each band, regardless of suffix (/P, /M, etc.) or prefix (G, GW, GM etc.)
during an individual contest or cumulative activity period. More than one
contact with the same operator using different call signs may not be claimed.
Contacts with stations which have no other contest contacts may be disallowed.
g. Contacts made using repeaters, satellites or moon
bounce will not count for points.
h. Usage of the DX cluster, or any similar spotting
network, and the use of the ON4KST site or similar is permitted in all
sections, but must be via the public network only. This means a system which is
well-known, is demonstrably part of a more general system, and in common use by
contesters in different locations. Private networks may be set up for communicating
spotting information and similar messages between different parts of the same
station, but must be contained within a circle of 1 km radius.
i. Any band or 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 and confirmation that signals are
audible or inaudible. No attempt should be made during the QSO to obtain any
part (including asking for a repeat or conformation of information) of the required
exchange information via other communication methods such as the Internet chat
channel, DX Cluster, talk-back on another amateur band, telephone etc.. Any
such attempt to use other communication methods (internet chat, DX Cluster
etc.) invalidates the contest QSO. Self-spotting on the DX Cluster network is
not permitted during the contest.
Acceptable Examples when using other communication
methods:-
“Shall we make a sked on 144.388?”
“I have QRM, let’s move to 144.218 kHz and start
again”
“Nothing received, please try later”
“Thank you for a nice QSO” Note: only
after the QSO has completed on the radio
Unacceptable Examples when using other communication
methods:-
“I need your serial number”
“Please repeat all information”
“Please confirm <report>, <serial number>,
<postcode> etc.”
j. All information must be copied and confirmed at the
time of the QSO, over the air and only on the band in use. The log must not be
materially edited after the contest.
k. In contests with a section 6S or 6O, stations may
choose any continuous 6 hour period in which to operate (e.g. 1500-2100, or
1917-0117). Alternatively you may split the 6 hour period into two segments
separated by at least 2 hours off time. Serial numbers must start at 001 for
this 6 hour period. Operation after this 6 hour window is allowed but will not
count for points. All contacts must be included in the log
In multi-band contests the same single 6 hour period
must be used on all bands.
l. 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
5. Scoring
a. Scoring will normally be at 1 point per km and
commenced (part) km - i.e. 137.3km counts as 138 points. Contacts with stations
in the same small locator square as your station (eg IO92AA to IO92AA) will
score 1 point.
b. Multi-band contests will contain an overall results
table in addition to the individual band results. The scores in this final
tabulation will be formed by taking the sum of the normalised scores on each
band. The normalised scores will be calculated by:
Normalised score for each band/session =
(Score achieved x 1000) / (Band/session leader score)
Points gained on bands above 10GHz will be combined
into a single "Microwave Band" the score will be the sum of the
points scored on each of the bands, using the following multiplication factors.
|
Band |
Multiplication
Factor |
|
24 GHz |
1x |
|
47 GHz |
2x |
|
76 GHz |
3x |
|
122 GHz |
4x |
|
134 GHz |
8x |
|
245 GHz |
10x |
For the purposes of calculating the contest overall results
the Microwave Band will count as a single band during normalisation.
6. Awards & Results
a. Certificates will be awarded to the leading and
second placed station in each section of the contest where entries are
sufficient.
b. In all contests/sections except UKAC and Low Power,
a certificate will be awarded to the leading fixed station using 25W or less
into a single antenna.
c. Where merited, a certificate will be awarded to the
leading Intermediate and leading Foundation licensees in each section. A
licensee who upgrades to a higher licence level is still eligible for any
awards available to the lower licence level until the end of the year in which
the upgrade was achieved, as long as the lower level callsign and limitations
are used. In the following year, this eligibility ceases, regardless of the
callsign used for the entry.
d. A certificate will be awarded to the leading
overseas station in each section.
e. A certificate will be awarded to the leading entrant aged 18 or under in each section. Entrants wishing to qualify for this award should register their date of birth by sending an email to vhf.query@rsgbcc.org.
7. Multipliers
a. Where a contest uses multipliers, the score for
each band will be the number of points made on that band multiplied by the
number of multipliers contacted on that band.
b. Where more than one type of multiplier is used in a
contest, for instance country and locator, the total multiplier is the sum of
the individual multiplier totals. (See individual contest rules.)
c. In post code multiplier contests, each Scottish
Post Code area may be worked up to three times for multiplier credit, and BT
for
d. In contests using Post Code Area multipliers the
exchange will include the first 2 letters of the postcode (e.g. EN from EN5
7JE). Where a post code consists of only a single initial letter (e.g. B6 9AA),
the exchange will be padded out to 2 letters - e.g. in this case 'BM'. A full
list is provided at http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf/rules/15rules/postcode.htm.
e. Locator multipliers are the total of large squares,
IO91, JO01 etc., worked.
f. A QSO with your own postcode, country or locator
square as appropriate to the contest counts for multiplier credit, and any
appropriate QSO can count as more than one multiplier (e.g. your first G QSO in
an M3 multiplier contest will count for a new locator, postcode and country).
8. Adjudication
a. Errors in sending/receiving are penalised by the
loss of all points/multipliers for the QSO.
b. Points may be deducted or entries disqualified or
excluded for any breach of the rules or spirit of the contest.
9. Amendments
These rules are correct at the time of going to press
but contestants are advised to check the RSGB VHF Contests Committee web site at
http://www.rsgbcc.org/vhf for any possible updates. The rules published on the
web site are definitive and take precedence in the event of a conflict