ARRL September VHF QSO Party
Last updated 14:46 ET 06/05/06
2006 September VHF QSO Party Rules
1. Object: To work as many amateur stations in as many different
2 degrees X 1 degree grid squares as possible using authorized
frequencies above 50 MHz. Foreign stations work W/VE amateurs
only.
2. Date and Contest Period: The second full weekend of September.
Begins 1800 UTC Saturday and ends 0300 UTC Monday (September 9 -
11, 2006).
3. Entry Categories:
3.1. Single Operator.
3.1.1. Low Power
3.1.2. High Power
3.1.3. See "General Rules for all ARRL Contests Above 50 MHz"
page 106 in the November 1999 issue of QST for power
limits for Single Operator entries.
3.2. Single Operator Portable.
3.3. Rover.
3.4. Multioperator.
3.5. Limited Multioperator.
4. Exchange: Grid-square locator (see April 1994 QST, p 86).
4.1. Exchange of grid square is required. Exchange of signal
report is optional.
5. Scoring:
5.1. QSO points:
5.1.1. Count one point for each complete 50- or 144-MHz
QSO.
5.1.2. Count two points for each 222- or 432-MHz QSO.
5.1.3. Count three points for each 902- or 1296-MHz QSO.
5.1.4. Count four points for each 2.3-GHz (or higher) QSO.
5.2. Multiplier: The total number of different grid squares
worked per band. Each 2 degrees X 1 degree grid square
counts as one multiplier on each band it is worked.
5.3. Final score: Multiply the total number of QSO points from
all bands operated by the total number of multipliers for
final score.
5.4. Rovers only: The final score consists of the total number
of QSO points from all bands times the sum of unique
multipliers (grid squares) worked per band (regardless of
which grid square they were made in) plus one additional
multiplier for every grid square activated (made a contact
from).
5.4.1. Rovers are listed in the contest score listings
under the Division from which the most QSOs were
made.
5.4.2. Rovers who submit scores for the club competition
must submit a separate summary sheet and log
indicating QSOs and score if they make any contacts
from outside of the club territory. The summary
sheet should be clearly marked "for club competition
only" and must be emailed separately to
contests@arrl.org
6. Miscellaneous:
6.1. Stations may be worked for credit only once per band from
any given grid square, regardless of mode. This does not
prohibit working a station from more than one grid square
with the same call sign (such as a Rover).
6.2. Only one signal per band (6, 2, 1 1/4, etc) at any given
time is permitted, regardless of mode.
6.3. Multioperator stations may not include QSOs with their own
operators except on frequencies higher than 2.3 GHz. Even
then, a complete, different station (transmitter, receiver
and antenna) must exist for each QSO made under these
conditions.
7. Awards:
7.1. Certificates will be awarded in the following categories.
7.1.1. Top Single Operator High and Single Operator Low
power in each ARRL/RAC Section.
7.1.2. Top Single Operator High and Single Operator Low
power on each band (50, 144, 222, 432, 902, 1296
and 2304-and-up categories) in each ARRL/RAC Section
where significant effort or competition is evident.
(Note: Since the highest score per band will be the
award winner for that band, an entrant may win a
certificate with additional single-band endorsements.)
For example, if KA1RWY has the highest single-operator
low-power all-band score in the CT Section and her 50-
and 222-MHz scores are higher than any other CT single
operator's, she will earn a certificate for being the
single-operator Section leader and endorsements for
50 and 222 MHz.
7.1.3. Top Single Operator Portable in each ARRL/RAC Section
where significant effort or competition is evident.
(Single Operator Portable entries are not eligible
for single-band awards.)
7.1.4. Top rover in each ARRL Division and Canada where
significant effort or competition is evident. (Rover
entries are not eligible for single-band awards.)
7.1.5. Top multi-operator score in each ARRL/RAC Section
where significant effort or competition is evident.
(Multioperator entries are not eligible for single-
band awards.) Top limited multi-operator in each ARRL/
RAC Section where significant effort or competition is
evident. (Limited multi-operator entries are not
eligible for single-band awards.)
7.1.6. Top scoring club in each club competition category
will be awarded a gavel.
See "General Rules for all ARRL Contests" for club
competition information.
8. Submission:
8.1. All submissions must be emailed to SeptemberVHF@arrl.org or
postmarked no later than October 11, 2006. Paper logs
should be mailed to Sept VHF QSO Party, ARRL Contest Branch,
225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Logs mailed or emailed
after the submission deadline may be designated as check logs.
8.2. Stations that use computers to log must send the electronic
log in the Cabrillo file format for entry into the results.
Submitted electronic files must be in ASCII / text readable
format. A paper printout of an electronically created log
is not an acceptable substitute for the required log file.
8.3. Electronically submitted entries are considered signed.
8.4. Logs may be submitted via the special web applet at
www.b4h.net/cabforms
8.5. All paper entries must include a fully completed summary
sheet and a complete log of the contacts made.
9. Other:
9.1. See "General Rules for All ARRL Contests" and "General Rules
for ARRL Contests on bands above 50 MHz (VHF)" November 2001
QST or at the Contest Branch Website at:
http://www.arrl.org/contests
9.2. For queries contact contests@arrl.org or (860) 594-0295.
9.3. Forms may be obtained by:
9.3.1. Downloading from the Internet at the Contest Branch
website: http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms.
9.3.2. Sending an SASE to September VHF Form Request,
ARRL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111