·        VHF NFD

·        All UK&CD Activity Contests (UKACs)

·        2m, 70cm 4m and 6m AFS Contests

·        Christmas Cumulatives

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, 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 here

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 here

d. All times must be logged in UTC.

e. Any complaints/adverse comments received or made about signal quality and actions taken to attempt to resolve the issue must be recorded in the comments section of the 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 here 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. 

i. The only allowable modes for RSGB V/U/SHF (non-MGM) contests are SSB, CW, FM, AM, JT6M, ISCAT and FSK441

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. 

e. Once a contest has started entrants cannot change their locator during that contest period. 

f. In club events only the first three callsigns using the same rig or antenna will have their results count towards the club's score, additional logs will be accepted but as if from an individual with no club allegiance.
If a station is shared by multiple callsigns, this must be declared in the Soapbox (comments) area of the logs. 

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 does not send 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 and all information that is sent must be logged. If you are not sent a serial number, log a zero.

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.Use of the DX Cluster, or any similar spotting network (e.g. ON4KST), is permitted.

i. Any band or 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.

ON4KST or other live chat facilities are not allowed (active or passive) in the following contests.

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 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 if all operators are members of the same family. 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.

For the purposes of calculating the contest overall results the Microwave Band will count as a single band during normalisation.

6. Awards & Results

a. The list of RSGB Contest Trophies can be found here.

b. Certificates will be awarded to the leading and second placed UK&CD station in each section of the contest where more than three entries are received for that section.

c. In all contests with single operator fixed station sections where the power limit is greater than 25W, a certificate will be awarded to the leading single operator fixed station using 25W or less into a single antenna.

d. 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. Licensees who have previously held a higher license level are also not eligible to receive lower license level awards.

e. A certificate will be awarded to the leading overseas station in each section.

f. 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 Northern Ireland may be worked up to six times for multiplier credit. The TD area counts three times regardless of whether the stations contacted are in England or Scotland.

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 here.

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 here for any possible updates. The rules published on the web site are definitive and take precedence in the event of a conflict