USi Contest Rules

U.S. Islands Awards Program

2008 W/VE QSO Party Rules

Object:

The Revised Rules from 2007 will remain in effect for 2008
To promote the US and Canadian islands programs to amateurs. To promote verifiable amateur radio contacts with stations located on islands in the US and Canada programs for additions to confirmed island contact counts for various island award programs.

When:

Generally the weekend before October’s CQWW-Phone contest. For 2008, the dates/times will be from 16:00 UTC October 18 through 23:59 UTC October 19.

Bands:

160-10 meters, excluding 30, 17 and 12 m. Contacts are allowed on 6 meters if an island is already qualified. No repeater, Internet-sourced, MCW, or cross mode contacts allowed. If clear, normal W/VE island frequencies as outlined in general rules for the island programs are suggested. Band plans of US and Canada must be followed.

Categories:
(Phone and non-phone categories are removed)

Island stations work anyone; non-island stations work W/VE island stations.

Class A:   W/VE Island Fixed:   For single or multi-operator stations with resident amateur operators with an established station, or for any other island stations operating with over 500 watts of transmitter power.

Class B: W/VE Island Expedition:   For single or multi-operator stations who carry all equipment to a single island primarily for QSO Party “Field Day”-style” operation. Station shall be established and removed within a 30-day period including the QSO Party weekend. Power output may not exceed 500 watts, or entry must be Class (A).

Class C: W/VE Island Rover: For portable or mobile stations single or multi-operator stations with a single transmitter where all equipment is moved to more than one island primarily for QSO Party operation. Rovers shall submit a log for each island with a summary of scores totaled from all islands.   Power output may not exceed 500 watts, or entry must be Class A.

Class D: Non-Island W/VE. For fixed, portable or mobile stations within 49 US states (KH6 must be an island entry), and Canada where the station is not located on a qualified island.

Class E: DX: For stations outside of the 50 US states and Canada.

Class F:   SWL Entries. May be DX and W/VE. Entrants must log both station’s calls and exchanges.

Exchange:

Class A, B, and C stations must include the island alphanumeric designator with the exchange. It also must be shown in logs for contacts listing a 5 point island score. Class D and E stations need to send RS(T) and S/P/C.

IOTA designators are not part of the logged exchange, only the W/VE alphanumeric numbers. (LA-003S is correct; NA168 is not logged in this contest, even though they are the same island).

Scoring:

Class A, B, C: Score 5 points for a valid QSO with another A, B or C station for each band and mode. Score 1 point per band/mode per contact with D or E stations.
Class D and E work only island stations and score 5 points per island station worked, per band, per mode.
The three eligible modes are Phone (SSB, FM, digital voice); CW; and digital modes (RTTY, PSK, etc). Up to three contacts allowed per station, per band. There is no points advantage for power or mode. National band plans are suggested, with phone, CW and digital contacts in customary portions of bands.

Multipliers:

Each State or Province (S/P) worked is a multiplier only once per mode regardless of band. Each island number is NOT a multiplier. DX does not count as a multiplier, but each DX contact scores as one point for island stations. Alaska and Hawaii count as US states, PEI and NF as provinces. Include as multipliers each of the 6 areas included for US Protectorates and Territories as identified in the Island Directory.
Rovers count each S/P multiplier as new at each island. For example, if a rover works KS on CW from one island then again in CW from a second, each would be a KS multiplier on a submitted log for each island.

Other Requirements:

Class B and C stations bear the responsibility of having written owner permission to be on private land. It is suggested to notify the “authority having jurisdiction” (NPS, state/local parks, game warden, etc) before operating on public land, including parks. Participation in the W/VE QSO Party is not a wavier of any land management rules or laws There is no need to submit copies of permission with an entry, but stations should retain records in station logs for at least one year.

Reporting:

Only one call sign may be used per entry. Electronic logs or legible paper logs may be submitted. Logs shall indicate the Class and maximum power level. If an island station, indicate island number(s) and name(s) on the logs. If multi-operator, provide all operator calls. Include a mailing address with the submission. Rovers may include a summary sheet in the text area of an email with log attachment.

Awards:

The decision of the Contest Manager is final. Claimed scores may be corrected for errors. Full color certificates will be awarded to all participants

Award Sponsorship is available. We would gladly accept your support. Contact CM for details.

Contest Manager:

John Almon WA4JA
1411 Oak Leaf Drive
Columbia, TN 38401 USA

e-mail: CM@usislands.org

Entry Deadline:

Entries must be complete, legible, conform to the rules above, and submitted to the contest manager no later than November 30, 2008 in order to qualify. Entries cannot be returned. Do not send original logs; instead, send copies of logs, recap sheet and dupe sheet. Include a SASE (42 cents) with any mailed entries so that the contest manager can verify their receipt (very important).

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