[SMCARA] Rookie Round up tomorrow

[Tom Shelton]

A contest for newbies....  Full rules at: http://www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup

1) Object: 

For newly-licensed operators in North America (including territories and possessions) to experience competitive Amateur Radio by exchanging information with as many other stations as possible on the 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 and 6 meter bands. Experienced operators are strongly encouraged to participate and help new operators – either on the air or in person. Rookie entrants are encouraged to read “HF Contesting – Good Practices, Interpretations and Suggestions.”




2) Time Period, Modes, and Frequencies:

2.1 Time period: The third Sunday of April, August and December from 1800 UTC through 2359 UTC.
2011: 17 April, 21 August, 18 December

2.2 Modes: April = SSB, August = RTTY, December = CW.


2.3 Frequencies: To find contest activity, tune near these frequencies:

2.3.1. Phone: 3.850, 7.225, 14.240, 21.325, 28.400 and between 50.125 and 50.200 MHz.

2.3.2. CW: 3.550, 7.050, 14,050, 21.050, 28.050 and between 50.080 and 50.100 MHz.

2.3.3. RTTY: 3.580, 7.080, 14.080, 21.080, 28.080 and between 50.300 and 50.320 MHz

2.3.4. Rookies are encouraged to call "CQ Rookie Roundup" on phone and "CQ RR" on CW and digital modes. Non-rookies should call "CQ Rookies" on phone and "CQ R" on CW or digital modes. Please do not add suffixes to your call sign, such as /ROK, as that will make it difficult for QSL programs and services such as Logbook Of The World to match your call sign correctly


3) Entry Categories:

3.1 Single-Operator, Rookie.

3.1.1. Rookie entries are limited to operators licensed for three years or less. (see rule 4.1)

3.1.2. 100 watts maximum power out.

3.1.3. The use of information from a spotting network (“spotting assistance”) is permitted. Spotting yourself on a spotting network (“self-spotting”) or asking others to spot you is not allowed. See “HF Contesting – Good Practices, Interpretations and Suggestions” for clarification

3.1.5. Rookie stations may contact Rookie or non-Rookie stations.

3.2. Non-Rookies may call CQ, but can only work Rookie stations for contest credit.


4) Exchange: 

Call sign of station worked, your call sign, your first name, two-digit number of the year first licensed (“check”) and State, Canadian province, Mexican call area, or “DX”.

Examples: 
NØAX from KB1QAW, Carol, 08, Connecticut
KX9X DE VE7XYZ DAVE 07 BC
KD2ABC DE XE1KK RAMON 96 XE1
KG6PQR from JH4NMT Toshi 75 DX

4.1. Rookies must have a check from the current year or any of the preceding two calendar years. For example, in the 2011 Rookie Roundup events, Rookies must have a check of 2011, 2010, or 2009.


5) Scoring:

5.1. Points: 2 points for completed QSO with a Rookie, 1 point for a completed QSO with a non-Rookie.

5.2. Multipliers:

5.2.1: Each US state and the District of Columbia (51 total) – use US postal codes as abbreviations. Be careful – many states have similar spellings and abbreviations! i.e. Missouri is MO, Minnesota is MN, Michigan is MI, Mississippi is MS, Maine is ME, Massachusetts is MA, etc.See the complete list of abbreviations at the end of these rules.

5.2.2. Canadian Provinces (13 total) : See the complete list of abbreviations at the end of these rules.

5.2.3. Mexican call areas (4 total): XE1, XE2, XE3and XF4

5.2.4. One generic DX multiplier, which includes contacts with US possessions (such as Puerto Rico KP4 and Guam KH2) and all other entities not listed in 5.2.1, 5.2.2 or 5.2.3.

5.2.5. The total number of possible multipliers is 69.


6) Miscellaneous:

6.1 Stations may be worked once per band. Multiplier credit is only given once, regardless of band.

6.2. Cross-band and cross-mode QSOs are not permitted. i.e. – Both stations must be on the same band and using the same mode.

6.3 During any single contest, entrants must make all QSOs from the same state, province, call area, or DX entity. i.e. - Your exchange must contain the same location information for all contacts in a submitted log.

6.4. QSOs made through repeaters or digipeaters are not permitted.

6.5. QSOs with aeronautical or maritime mobile stations do not count.

6.6. Non-rookie operators are encouraged to assist Rookie operators in person with operating technique and instruction, including acting as the control operator to allow Technician class licensees to transmit with General or Extra class privileges. Non-rookie operators may not, however, initiate any transmissions from the station or log any contacts.


7) Awards: 

Electronic certificates will be available for download by the top five scoring Rookies in each US call area, Canadian province, and Mexican call area. No national winners will be recognized. A commemorative participation certificate will be available for download to every Rookie operator submitting a log. Non-rookies submitting a score summary will be recognized by call in the final results.


8) Entry and Score Reporting:

All score summaries (no logs are required or accepted) must be submitted within 72 hours of the end of the event.

The deadline for the December 2011 RTTY Rookie Roundup is 23:59:59 UTC Wednesday, December 21, 2011.

No late submissions will be accepted.

All official entries must report their score using the Rookie Roundup Score Summary Form.



9) Other information: 

9.1. See “General Rules for All ARRL Contests” and “General Rules for ARRL Contests on Bands Below 30 MHz (HF)” .

9.2. All contest queries should be directed to contests at arrl.org or by telephone to 860-594-0232. 


Tom Shelton 

No electrons were harmed in the sending of this message, although several were terribly inconvenienced.
Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus