[TAC] Stew Perry warm-up 160M

[Ian Hill]

The Stew Perry warm-up is going on this weekend. It starts today 
(Saturday) at 1500z and goes until tomorrow at 1500Z. You should start 
to hear and work W/VE stations about an hour before sunset.

Here are the rules.

 
                 13th STEW PERRY TOPBAND DISTANCE CHALLENGE



1. Contest period:  1500Z December 27th to 1500Z December 28th, 2008.
   Operate for a maximum of 14 hours.  Off times are 30 minutes minimum
   and a maximum of four off periods are permitted.

   A separate warm-up even will be held on October 18th/19th with the 
   same time period and entry categories.  

2. Bands and mode: 160 meters CW only.

3. Categories: Single operator or multi-operator.  Remote or Cluster 
   spotting shall not be used.  All transmitting and receiving antennas 
   used must be within 100 km of each other.  Use of skimmer like devices
   are okay for the multi-operator category only.

4. Exchange: Four character grid square (i.e. CN85).  

5. QSO Points: The number of QSO points for each contact depends on the
   distance between the two stations.  This is computed by taking the 
   distance between the centers of the two grid squares.  Count a minimum 
   of one point per QSO and an additional point for every 500 kilometers 
   distance.  For example, a QSO with a station 1750 kilometers away will 
   count for 4 QSO points.  No additional distance for long path is allowed.  

   QSO Points are multiplied by 2X if you work a low power station and 4X 
   for working a QRP station.  This is done based upon received logs and
   is computed automatically during the log checking process.

   Do not worry if your logging software does not compute the QSO points.  
   Our automated log checking software does this.  

6. Score: Final score equals the total number of QSO points.  There is 
   no multiplier for different grids worked.  Stations running 5 to 100 
   watts output multiply their score by 1.5.  Stations running less 
   than 5 watts multiply their score by 3.  Scores will be grouped by 
   category.

7. Reporting: Your log can be sent via the internet to TBDC at CONTESTING.COM 
   using the Cabrillo format before January 31st, 2009.  Paper entries can
   be mailed to BARC 15125 SE Bartell Rd; Boring, OR  97009.  If possible,
   please provide an electronic copy of your log.  You can use the tool 
   INSTEW.EXE to generate a Cabrillo log from your paper log.  It can be
   found at http://web.jzap.com/k7rat/stew.html.

   Logs for the warm-up event are due by November 18th.  

8. Plaques will be awarded for categories we have sponsors for.  To 
   volunteer to sponsor a plaque, contact Lew Sayre, W7EW at w7ew at arrl.net.  
   A list of the plaques sponsored can be found on the web at 
   http://jzap.com/k7rat/stew.html.  

   There are no plaques or other awards for the warm-up event.  
   
   To "apply" for a plaque such as a first time entry - or other special 
   category, please include this information in your SOAPBOX fields on the 
   Cabrillo log.  Information contined elsewhere in your e-mail will not 
   be seen by the log checking process.

   Only one plaque can be won by any station for a specific contest.  BARC 
   will make decisions about which plaque you will win in cases where you 
   qualify for more than one.

9. Results are published on the web in September or October.  Look for an 
   announcement on the topband and contest reflectors.  Warm-up results will
   be published before the real event in December.