1. Object: Two-way communications via the earth-moon-earth path on any authorized amateur frequency above 50 MHz.
2. Date and Contest Period: Two full weekend 48-hour periods (0000 UTC on Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday). The 2003 dates will be the weekends of October 18-19, 2003 and November 15-16, 2003.
3. Entry Categories:
3.1. Single Operator: One person performs all operating and logging functions, equipment adjustment and antenna alignment.
3.1.1. Multiband.
3.1.2. Single Band: Single-band entries on 50, 144, 222, 432, 902 and 1296-and-up categories will be recognized in awards offered. Contacts may be made on any and all bands without jeopardizing single-band entry status. Such additional contacts are encouraged and should be reported. Also see Rule 8, Awards.
3.2. Multi-operator: Two or more persons participate; includes neighboring amateurs within one call area, but with EME facilities for different bands on different team members' premises, as long as no two are more than 50 km (30 miles) apart. Multi-operator neighborhood groups may use the same call signs at each location if permissible under national licensing rules and regulations. If not permissible, separate callsigns may be used for the multi-operator neighborhood entry. When operating under this neighborhood provision, all logs must be submitted together in a single envelope or email with a single summary sheet showing the combined operation, designating the principal callsign for the entry. All multi-operator callsigns will be shown in the results.
3.3. Commercial equipment: Stations using equipment that is not amateur (such as a dish antenna for lab equipment owned by an institution or government agency) will have their scores listed separately.
3.4. Only one log may be submitted per callsign.
4. Exchange: For a valid contact to occur, each station must send and receive both call signs and a signal report in any mutually understood format, plus a complete acknowledgment of the calls and report. Partial or incomplete QSOs should be indicated on your log, but not counted for contest credit. Stations may be worked once per band for credit.
5. Scoring:
5.1. QSO Points: Count 100 points for each complete EME contact.
5.2. Multiplier: Each US and Canadian call area, plus each DXCC country (not US/Canada) worked via EME on each band.
5.3. Final Score: Multiply QSO points by sum of multipliers worked on each band for your final score.
6. Miscellaneous:
6.1. Fixed or portable operation is permitted. Stations operating outside traditional call areas must indicate so, identifying the call area of the operating site (such as W1AW/4 operating in Florida).
6.2. Contacts may be on CW, SSB or digital modes. Only one signal per band is permitted.
6.3. A transmitter, receiver or antenna used to contact one or more stations under one call sign may not be used subsequently under any other call sign during the contest. An exception is made for family stations where more than one call has been issued, and then only if the second call sign is used by a different operator.
6.4. There is no specified minimum terrestrial distance for contacts, but all communications must be copied over the moonbounce path, regardless of how strong (or weak) a nearby station's terrestrial signal may be.
7. Reporting: Entries must be postmarked no later than December 16, 2003 (30 days after the contest) and must include complete log data as well as a complete summary sheet. Official forms are available in the ARRL Website or with a SASE request to the Contest Branch. Your summary sheet should show a band-by-band breakdown of QSOs and multipliers, and include details of your station setup and a photo. Cabrillo format is not required for electronic submission in the EME Contest, provided the entry includes the log file and a fully completed standard summary sheet. Email entries should be submitted to EMEcontest@arrl.org and paper/diskette entries should be submitted to EME Contest, ARRL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111.
8. Awards:
8.1. Certificates will be issued to the top five stations worldwide in each of the entry categories: single operator multiband; single operator single band (separate awards for each band); and multioperator.
8.2. Additional awards will be issued where significant achievement or competition is evident. In addition, each station that successfully completes at least one EME contact during the contest period will receive a certificate commemorating that achievement.
9. Other: See "General Rules for All ARRL Contests" in November 2001 QST.
9.1. In addition to their official entries, participants are invited to submit contest stories and photographs to the ARRL Contest Online Soapbox.