[TxHam] 2 Meter Challenge

Tue Feb 10 09:43:20 EST 2009

Just an FYI, TX is a 20kHz state...thus the channels fall on even freqs like
146.42 , 44, 46 etc..same for 147.42,44, 46 ,48, etc..hence why those freqs
are being used by DSTAR....(+1 Mhz split)..ARRL band plan is not in effect
in Texas...Also the coverage is 146.42-146.60 and 147.40 to 147.58 in 20 kHz
steps (146.40 and 147.60 are FM rptr inputs)

Also 145.51 through 145.79 are allowed..145.80-146.0 is the sat band and
should be avoided.

From: txham-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:txham-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of David J
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 7:24 AM
To: wc5c at yahoogroups.com; txham at mailman.qth.net;
arrl_north_texas_section at yahoogroups.com; okham at mailman.qth.net;
laham at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TxHam] 2 Meter Challenge

Who is up for the challenge this Sunday?

2M FM Challenge

A contest open to everyone 

-- 2M FM Challenge -- 

(Sunday, February 15, 2009: 2pm-5pm Texas Time)

What: A contest. 
Where: 2m FM simplex 
When: Sunday, February 15, 2009: 2pm-5pm (3 hour duration) 
Who: Open to any licensed radio amateur. 
Why: To introduce contesting to a larger population of hams. 
Object: Make as many two-way QSO's with as many different hams as possible
in as many different cities as possible in a 3-hour time period. 

Entry Categories:

Single Operator: One person performs all transmitting, receiving, spotting,
and logging functions as well as equipment and antenna adjustments. You may
not receive assistance from any other person for anything related to the
challenge.

Multi-operator: More than one person performs the transmitting, receiving,
spotting, logging functions and antenna adjustments during the Challenge.
This allows team entries. Example: One person operates the radio while
another person logs the contacts. Multi-operator efforts may only be
conducted from fixed locations. 

a) Single operator, fixed location, 5 watts or less.

b) Single operator, fixed location, greater than 5 watts but less than 20
watts.

c) Single operator, fixed location, greater than 20 watts but not greater
than 50 watts. 

d) Single operator, fixed location, more than 50 watts. 

e) Multi-operator, fixed location. No power limit. 

f) Rover/mobile: Participant operates from a vehicle, with the option of
activating more than one multiplier during the duration of the Challenge. No
power limit.

"Fixed Location" means the participant must operate the entire duration of
the Challenge from one specific location. This category would also include
setting up a temporary, portable station at a remote location, "Field-Day"
style.

You may enter only one category for the Challenge. If a station gives out
more than one multiplier during the Challenge, that station will
automatically be entered in the "Rover" category. Exception: If you operate
both as a rover/mobile and as a fixed station location, you must submit
separate entries for each operation. (Example: You operate mobile while
coming home from a party. Once you are home, you operate from your home
antenna. In this case, you must submit a separate entry for your mobile and
fixed locations.)

STATIONS ONLY COMPETE WITH OTHER STATIONS IN THE SAME ENTRY CATEGORY FOR
PRIZES.

Frequencies: Anywhere within the 2-meter simplex range. According to the
ARRL Band Plan, FM simplex is permitted between 146.400 to 146.580, as well
as 147.420 to 147.570. QSO's made through repeaters are not allowed, and
contacts made on 146.52 will be disqualified.  146.52 needs to be reserved
as the recognized National Calling frequency and NOT tied up with contest
usage.  The following frequencies are suggested, but not required:

146.550
146.560 
146.580
145.600 
145.700 
147.420
147.440
147.510

Exchange: Give your callsign, your name and the city you are operating from.
For fixed location stations, "city" is defined as the address your mail is
sent to. Rovers/mobiles MUST be within city limits of whatever city they
claim to be operating from.

 Scoring: 

Fixed location stations: 1 point for each complete QSO. Multipliers will be
the different number of cities worked. Total score will be the total number
of QSO points multiplied by number of unique cities contacted. (Example: You
work 10 different stations in 9 different cities. 10 QSO's x 9 multipliers =
90 points)

Rovers/Mobiles: 1 point for each complete QSO. Multipliers will be the
different number of cities worked PLUS the unique number of cities you
operate FROM. Total score will be the total number of QSO points multiplied
by number of unique cities contacted plus number of multipliers. (Example: A
Rover works 15 different stations in 12 different cities, and the Rover
transmits from 3 different cities. 12 cities contacted, plus 3 cities
operated from = 15 total multipliers. 15 QSO's x 15 multipliers = 225
points)

Stations may only contact any given station 1 time for QSO points and/or
multiplier credit.

Rovers/Mobiles may be worked for QSO/multiplier credit 1 time for every
unique city they operate from.

Miscellaneous:

All duplicate QSO's must be removed from the log that is submitted. If a log
contains more than 1 contact with any given station, the penalty will be a
deduction of 3 contacts from your final score. Note that this can affect
your multiplier total, too. This penalty will be applied for every duplicate
contact found in an entrant's log.

Contacts with aeronautical mobile stations do not count.

All antennas must be physically connected to the transceiver being used for
the Challenge by wires. No remote operation is allowed.

Soliciting QSO's:

The use of non-amateur communications to make a pre-planned QSO (i.e: phone,
e-mail, carrier pigeon, etc.) is not in the spirit of this event. You should
test your ability to make contacts without any pre-planning.

Challenge entrants may not transmit on repeaters or repeater frequencies for
the purpose of soliciting contacts.

Rules For Rover/Mobile Stations: 

A Rover/Mobile is a station that operates from more than one city
(multiplier) during the duration of the Challenge.

Rovers are allowed to have one additional person act as the driver of the
vehicle. However, no assistance is allowed for operation of the transceiver
or antennas or logging of QSOs.

Rovers may operate with only one callsign during the duration of the
Challenge.

Rover vehicles must transport all of the radio equipment, power supplies,
cables, antennas and logging tools with them. No equipment of any type may
be dropped off at a pre-determined location for use during the Challenge,
nor may Rovers use pre-existing antennas at any fixed or temporary portable
location. In short, you can only use what you bring with you.

Rovers must sign /Rover during the Challenge. Example: "K5USS/Rover, QRZ FM
Challenge."

A Rover/Mobile shall use the city or town they are in at the time of any
given QSO as their city. Mobile/Rovers must be within the city limits in
order to give QSO credit for that city. 

Rovers/Mobiles may be worked for QSO points and multiplier credit one time
for each city the mobile operates from. (Example: It is okay if KD5UMO works
K5USS/Rover in Dallas, then works K5USS/Rover again when K5USS is in
Richardson. However, if K5USS/Rover returns to Dallas, KD5UMO is not allowed
to contact K5USS again, since KD5UMO already worked K5USS when K5USS was in
Dallas.) 

Rovers/Mobiles may record their participation in the Challenge with an audio
recorder and produce a paper or electronic log for the Challenge at a later
time. A paper or electronic log must be prepared for submission with all the
required information - the recording will not be accepted as a log. But it
can be difficult to log while driving. Your safety is important to us! 

Disqualification: A contestant may be disqualified for the following
reasons:

a) Violating any of the rules of the Challenge.

b) Breaking the terms and conditions of their Amateur Radio license.

c) Excessive duplicate contacts in their submitting log (more than 10
percent of the QSOs in the log).

d) Falsifying any information in their submitted log.

Prizes: Certificates will be awarded to the top scoring entrant in each
Entry Category. 

Logging Format: Each entrant's logs must be in the following format: QSO #,
Time, Station worked, exchange sent, exchange received, checkmark if new
multiplier. Example: I work KD5UMO for my first QSO in the Challenge, I work
W5ADC/Rover for my second QSO in the Challenge, and I work KE5TJL for my
third contact in the Challenge. My log should look like this:

QSO# 

Time 

Callsign 

Exchange sent 

Exchange Rec'd 

New multiplier? 

001 

8:01p 

KD5UMO 

Charlie, Richardson 

Chad, Plano

Yes 

002

8:03p

W5ADC/Rover

Charlie, Richardson

Tony, Wylie

Yes

003

8:05p

KE5TJL

Charlie, Richardson

Michael, Plano

No

If any of the required information is incorrect or missing from a QSO, that
QSO is considered null and void, and no points or multiplier credit will
count from that contact.

Log Submission: Logs must be received no later than 11:59 pm on Sunday,
March 01, 2009. Decision of the judges is final. Send logs to:

PARK  PO Box 860435  Plano, TX 75086-0435, 
e-mail: contest at k5prk.org

Downloadable rules, log forms and summary sheets: 

.         Contest
<http://www.k5prk.org/files/EventsFiles/2m%20FM%20Challenge%20Rules.pdf>
Rules - pdf format

.         Log Form
<http://www.k5prk.org/files/EventsFiles/2m%20FM%20Log%20Form.pdf>  - pdf
format 

.         Entry
<http://www.k5prk.org/files/EventsFiles/2m%20FM%20Entry%20Form.pdf>  Summary
Sheet - pdf format 

Electronic logs must be in Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel format only.
Handwritten logs must be legible. 
Illegible contacts in logs will be rendered null and void.

Contact Charlie <mailto:k5uss at k5uss.com> , K5USS with any questions. 

Operating Tips:

You can either scan the FM simplex frequencies listening for people to work,
or you can call CQ on a simplex frequency. We would suggest calling "CQ FM
Challenge" or something like that, so people know that you're participating
in the event. It would also be a good idea to open your squelch up, so you
can hear weaker stations.

Be sure to check the upper portion of the FM simplex band (147.420 to
147.570 MHz). Few people venture outside the lower simplex bracket, so
there's a lot of QRM-free spectrum you can use.

Make sure you copy the information from your QSO correctly. If you missed
the operator's name, ask for a repeat, and make sure you spell it correctly.
Reporting incorrect information in your log will count as a penalty, so make
sure you take the time to get it right.

READ THE RULES. If you have any questions about anything regarding this
contest, ask K5USS <mailto:k5uss at k5uss.com>  BEFORE the Challenge starts.

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