[SFDXA] Are You Ready for the Ultra Marathon in 2021?

Kai k.siwiak at ieee.org
Mon Dec 28 09:18:44 EST 2020 

Be cautious with this one. Virtually every URL link has different target than 
what is printed in the email text! Mouse over the URLs to see what I mean.
Kindest Regards and Stay Amused,
Kai, KE4PT

On 12/27/2020 17:10, Bill wrote:
>
> Are You Ready for the Ultra Marathon in 2021?
>
>
>   A major new initiative for 2021!
>
> The True Blue DX Club announced in the fall of 2020 their plans for a 
> year-long event to promote CW and SSB activity on the HF bands. Now, with 
> hundreds of operators pre-registered to participate in the event, we are ready 
> to launch!
>
> Are you ready for the First Annual Ultra Marathon?   The event begins at 0000z 
> on January 1, 2021 and ends on December 31, 2021.
>
>  All the event details are available here: https://www.tbdxc.net/marathon 
> <https://grooveplanet.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=13c09fdf063993d3a241af04b&id=8209c30c2c&e=387f7d5253>
>
> *Q & A with Jeff N1SNB, Ultra Marathon Manager*
>
> *Q: What is the purpose of the Ultra Marathon?*
>
> *A: *  The event exists to bring more activity to the HF bands while also 
> creating a fun, stimulating, and unique event. There is an explanatory 5 
> minute video here: https://www.tbdxc.net/marathon 
> <https://grooveplanet.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=13c09fdf063993d3a241af04b&id=583a3f91c5&e=387f7d5253> that 
>
>
> I think this event is very appealing because it can tie a lot of your 
> operations together into one big score, a sort of Annual Report of your HF 
> activity. The Ultra Marathon also fills a void between casual contesters and 
> DXers and their more competitive brethren: one might not have the station or 
> work schedule to be a top contester or atop the Honor Roll. but one can still 
> put together an impressive Ultra Marathon score and maybe even win or earn a 
> top placement.
>
> I don't think of my ongoing HF operation now in terms of Ultra Marathon, so 
> who knows what I can accomplish? Can I work 175+ entities in 2021? Can I work 
> 30 zones and 100 countries on 80m as part of my Ultra Marathon score? I don't 
> know. What goals will you set for yourself and your station?
>
> I also like that even if one misses some big chunks of caledar with other 
> commitments, they can jump back into the Ultra Marathon and still push forward.
>
> *Q: Who do you think will participate? Contesters? DXers?*
>
> A: The short answer is that anyone who uses HF and enjoys making contacts on 
> CW and SSB is eligible to participate and submit a score. The entry barriers 
> are low; you don't need to know a specific Ultra Marathon contest exchange or 
> anything like that nor do you need to be a member of our club.
>
> Contesters and DXers are competitive groups of operators. Based on 
> pre-registrations, we expect strong support from both of these groups. We are 
> in a unique moment in ham history as few DXpeditions are happening, while 
> contest participation is at all-time high. 2021 also will feature the return 
> of sunspots. Taken together, I think the timing is perfect for an Ultra 
> Marathon to launch and take off.
>
> *Q: What are the categories I can enter?*
>
> Each participant must choose CW or SSB and indicate their power: High, Low, 
> and QRP. There are six total categories possibilities. Please note, there is 
> no mixed-mode category.
>
> *Q: How is the Ultra Marathon different from the CQ DX Marathon?*
>
> A: The fundamental difference is that we're running on the scoring model 
> provided by the CQ WW contests. Ultra Marathon has multipliers (zones and 
> countries), QSO points, and a more contest-like structure. The CQ DX Marathon 
> is different. For instance, in the CQ DX Marathon in 2019, R6YY won the CQ DX 
> Marathon's unlimited category with a score of 322 (countries plus zones).
>
> We don't know what to expect in terms of high scores for Ultra Marathon, but 
> they could conceivably get very high into the tens of millions of points. 
> Other differences are that we are asking entrants to choose one mode (CW or 
> SSB) and that contacts on the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10-meter bands are the 
> only ones eligible. Some of the contacts could be rapid-fire contest QSOs 
> (even QSOs made in other contests) or ragchews or however you choose to make 
> contacts. It doesn't matter, they are all potentially eligible for inclusion 
> in your Ultra Marathon score.
>
> These parameters introduce all sorts of potential strategies that could help 
> maximize one's score. For instance, here in the United States, I could 
> maximize my Ultra Marathon score by working as many VE/Canadian stations as 
> possible on 160m even if I can't work more than a handful of different zones 
> on that band.
>
> The feeling is also that the event's duration can be a great equalizer between 
> larger and smaller stations. There are many opportunities for strategy 
> development to improve one's score regardless of your stations' capabilities.
>
> *Q: How should I log QSOs?*
>
> A: You'll want a computer logging program that supports the CQ WW contest. See 
> the help videos on our website, https://www.tbdxc.net/marathon 
> <https://grooveplanet.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=13c09fdf063993d3a241af04b&id=054f054406&e=387f7d5253>, 
> to answer all your questions on logging and software.
>
> *Q: Can I use other contest QSOs or event QSOs in my Ultra Marathon score?*
>
> Yes, absolutely -  but just like the WW contest, you can only work a station 
> once per band, and that contact is worth a set number of points based on the 
> geography of the station you work.
>
> There is a record-keeping challenge as you begin to merge logs into an Ultra 
> Marathon score submission. For instance, I'll be using N1MM as my' log of 
> record' and will need to make some effort to maintain it separately than my 
> day to day or contest logs.
>
> *Q: Will there be a scoreboard?*
>
> Yes, there will be a place to register, enter results, and view the results of 
> other participants on the club's website. We will also be providing regular 
> updates. Participants are encouraged to enter scores often! Visit it here: 
> https://tbdxc.hamserver.de/marathon/ 
> <https://grooveplanet.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=13c09fdf063993d3a241af04b&id=7e19819711&e=387f7d5253>
>
> *Q: What about log checking?*
>
> Unlike more traditional contests, we are operating primarily on the honor 
> system. We are not asking for logs from most participants. However, If you 
> qualify for an award, you will be asked to submit a log file that the Club 
> Contest committee will adjudicate.
>
> *Q: How can I participate, and where can I get more information about the 
> Ultra Marathon and read the full rules?*
>
> A: Everything is available on the website, https://www.tbdxc.net/marathon 
> <https://grooveplanet.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=13c09fdf063993d3a241af04b&id=6d0a9df460&e=387f7d5253>. 
> Sign up and get started today! Make contacts and submit your score; that's 
> most important. But we also need help spreading the word.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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