[HCRA] ARRL 10 Meter Contest

[Jim Mullen]

The ARRL 10 Meter contest starts tomorrow evening at 7:00 PM. Are you ready
to have a good time and contribute to HCRA's club score? I knew you were!

Dan, AA1TE has thoughtfully provided a lot of good information on an earlier
posting. It's worth a look if you haven't read it yet. In addition to Dan's
info, here's a brief rundown of what to do during the contest.  I have
attached a complete copy of the rules at the end of this message.

Basically the contest is to contact as many stations as possible on 10
Meters. You can use either SSB or CW (or both) and run power levels of QRP,
Low or High. Packet spotting is also allowed but will put you into the
"multi-operator  class". Take a look at the rules if you have any questions.

Times:

The contest start Friday evening (December 13th) at 7:00 PM and end Sunday
evening (December 15th) at 7:00 PM. That's 48 hours but the rules only allow
you to work 36 of them (oh darn!)

Exchange:

For W/VE stations (that's us!) is simply signal report (59) and state (MA).
That's it! The station you're working will give report and state/province
(if in USA Canada), or if DX report and serial number. You also might get a
/MM or /AM for Maritime Mobile or Aeronautical Mobile stations.

Scoring:

Is pretty simple and is detailed below in the rules.

Logging:

If you're only going to make just a few contacts then a paper log will work
fine. You can download copies of logs and entry forms from:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/. If you are going to make a lot of
contacts (YEAH!!!) then computer logging makes it much easier. Here's a
freeware program that is cheap (free!), easy to setup and works well. It's
N1MM Logger and you can download your very own copy from:
http://pages.cthome.net/n1mm/. Follow the links, download the program and
follow the installation instructions and you will have a great contest
logging program.

Submitting your entry:

Follow the instructions in the rules. If you're using a logging program
create the Cabrillo file and email to ARRL. If submitting your entry on
paper then send it in to the correct address. The only thing to remember is
to clearly and correctly spell out the name of our club in the appropriate
area of the paper log or Cabrillo header. The correct name is: "Hampden
County Radio Association" - no abbreviations - or it will be rejected by the
email robot when you send the file.  I'm sure there is a little room for
error if you submit on paper!

We need a minimum of three entries to qualify for club competition. I'm sure
we will make that, it will be very interesting to see how we stack up when
the scores published. At the very least we will have something to compare
against next year. One thing to remember, this contest lists lots of
certificates so it's a good way to add to the "wallpaper" in your shack.
There are nine single operator categories (plus multi with packet) for each
ARRL Section. We are in the Western Massachusetts section (WMA) so you will
only be competing against a small number of hams. I know at least three club
members that got 1st place certificates from the 2001 contest.

So, I'll be looking for you on 10M this weekend. This is a nice contest, the
band usually goes dead in the early evening so you will still have time to
pry yourself out of the chair and take the family out to dinner Saturday
night. And I don't want to hear any excuses about a low score because you
had to watch the Patriots game. They are not playing until Monday this week!

Have fun, enjoy and drop me a note if you have any questions.

Jim, KK1W


2002 ARRL 10-Meter Contest Rules
General Rules � HF Rules



1. Object: For Amateurs worldwide to exchange QSO information with as many
stations as possible on the 10-meter band.

2. Date and Contest Period: Second full weekend of December. Starts 0000 UTC
Saturday; ends 2400 UTC Sunday (December 14 -- 15, 2002).
2.1. All stations operate no more than 36 hours out of the 48-hour period.
2.2. Listening time counts as operating time.

3. Entry Categories:
3.1. Single Operator: (9 categories)
3.1.1. QRP.
3.1.1.1. Mixed Mode (Phone and CW).
3.1.1.2. Phone only.
3.1.1.3. CW only.
3.1.2. Low Power.
3.1.2.1. Mixed Mode (Phone and CW).
3.1.2.2. Phone only.
3.1.2.3. CW only.
3.1.3. High Power.
3.1.3.1. Mixed Mode (Phone and CW).
3.1.3.2. Phone only.
3.1.3.3. CW only.

3.2. Multioperator, Single Transmitter, mixed mode (only).
3.2.1. Includes single operators using packet or spotting assistance.

4. Contest Exchange:
4.1. W/VE stations (including Hawaii and Alaska) send signal report and
state or province (District of Columbia stations send signal report and DC).
4.1.1. Novice and Technician Plus stations sign /N or /T on CW. If used, you
must indicate /N or /T on your summary sheet.
4.2. DX stations (including KH2, KP4, etc) transmit signal report and
sequential serial number starting with 001.
4.3. Maritime mobile stations send signal report and ITU Region (1, 2 or 3).

5. Scoring:
5.1. QSO points:
5.1.1. Count two points for each complete two-way phone QSO.
5.1.2. Count four points for each two-way CW QSO.
5.1.3. Count eight points for CW QSOs with US Novice or Technician Plus
stations signing /N or /T (28.1 to 28.3 MHz only).
5.2. Multipliers: (per mode, phone and CW).
5.2.1. Each US state (excluding KH6 and KL7) and the District of Columbia.
5.2.2. Canada [NB (VE1, 9), NS (VE1), QC (VE2), ON (VE3), MB (VE4), SK
(VE5), AB (VE6), BC (VE7), NWT (VE8), NF, (VO1), LB (VO2)], YT (VY1), PEI
(VY2) NU (VY�).
5.2.3. DXCC countries (except the mainland US and Canada). KH6 and KL7
participate and count as DXCC countries.
5.2.4. ITU regions (maritime mobiles only).
5.3. Final Score: Multiply QSO points by total multipliers (the sum of
states/VE provinces/DXCC countries/ITU regions per mode). Example: KA1RWY
works 2245 stations including 1305 phone QSOs, 930 non-Novice CW QSOs, 10
Novice CW QSOs, for a total of 6410 QSO points. She works 49 states, 10
Canadian call areas, 23 DXCC entities and a maritime mobile station in
Region 2 on phone and 30 states, 8 Canadian call areas, and 19 DXCC
countries on CW for a total multiplier of 140. Final score = 6410 (QSO
points) X 140 (multiplier) = 897,400 points.

6. Miscellaneous:
6.1. Single operator mixed-mode and multioperator stations may work stations
once on CW and once on SSB.
6.2. Your call sign must indicate your DXCC country if competing as DX.
(N6TR in Oregon does not send N6TR/7, but K6GSS in Puerto Rico must send
K6GSS/KP4).
6.3. All entrants may transmit only one signal on the air at any given time.
6.4. All CW contacts must take place below 28.3 MHz.

7. Awards: Certificates will be awarded to:
7.1. The highest-scoring single-operator station (in each category) from
each ARRL/RAC Section and DXCC country.
7.2. The top scoring Novice/Technician Plus station (in each category) in
each ARRL Section.
7.3. Top multioperator entries in each ARRL Division, Canada and each
continent.
7.4. Additional certificates will be awarded as participation warrants.

8. Miscellaneous:
8.1 All electronic logs (computer generated) must submit an ASCII text file
of the log information in Cabrillo file format. Paper print outs of the
electronic file are not acceptable substitutes.
8.2 Hand written paper logs are acceptable submissions.
8.3 All entries must be emailed or postmarked by January 15, 2003.
8.4 Email entries only to: 10meter@arrl.org. Submissions require Cabrillo
log file with all required information (including exchange sent, category
entered, power, and ARRL/RAC section - see General Rules for specific file
format).
8.5 Electronic files not in Cabrillo file format may be designated as
checklogs.
8.6 Paper entries should be mailed to 10-Meter Contest, ARRL, 225 Main St,
Newington, CT 06111.
8.7 Paper entries must be submitted on current ARRL entry forms or an
acceptable facsimile.
8.7.1. Forms are available for downloading at the Contest Branch Homepage at
http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/
8.7.2. Forms are available for an SASE sent to the Contest Branch.
8.8 See "General Rules for All ARRL Contests" and "General Rules for ARRL
Contests on bands below 30 MHz (HF)" on the ARRL Web.
8.9 General queries should be directed to the Contest Branch at
contests@arrl.org or by calling (860) 594-0232.