Changes Sweeping in to November Sweepstakes

NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 5, 1999--Starting this year, the lengthy ARRL November Sweepstakes exchange will become a bit more challenging with the addition of three new precedence letters to the list. The change means SS ops will have to be sharper than ever--especially on CW--to make sure they copy the entire exchange correctly. The precedence itself also will take on additional meaning starting with the 1999 Sweeps. All other elements of the SS exchange will remain the same.

In the past, the precedence--the second element of information stations pass to each other--has consisted of a single letter--A, B, or Q--indicating the station's power level. Starting this year, the precedence also will indicate the station's entry category, and stations can expect to encounter three new precedence letters: U, M, and S.

Under the revised SS exchange, stations will send "Q" for single operator, QRP (5 W PEP output or less); "A" for single operator, low power (less than 150 W PEP); "B" for single operator, high power (more than 150 W PEP); "U" for single operator, unlimited; "M" for multi-operator; and "S" for school club.

Under the previous SS rules, a single operator using packet spotting had to enter in the multi-op category. "This allows those single operators who utilize packet to compete against like stations instead of the true multi-operator stations where they have previously been listed," said ARRL Contest Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. There is no power differentiation in the single op, unlimited or for either of the multi-op categories.

The Contest Branch has contacted the developers of popular computerized logging software so that they can take the changes into account in their programs. Henderson said all stations using computerized logging now will be required to submit their electronic log file, not just a paper file. "Handwritten paper logs are still okay," he said.

In another change, the multi-operator category will be allowed unlimited band changes, although it will remain limited to one transmitted signal at any time (ie, single transmitter).

The SS rules also will include some changes affecting the school club category. Affirming a decision reached last month by the Membership Services Committee, only current students, faculty, and staff members of an educational institution may participate in a station entering in the school club category. "If alumni of an institution participate with students, faculty, and staff, the station then must enter in the multi-op category," Henderson explained. "Our emphasis is to encourage the current students, faculty, and staff of an institution to operate."

The various rules changes resulted from several recommendations by the Contest Advisory Committee and adopted by the Awards Committee.

Henderson said the Contest Branch received more than 3000 entries in the wake of last year's November Sweepstakes, with slightly more SSB entries than CW. The entries included a record number of clean sweeps. "It's the first time we've ever sold out of clean sweep coffee mugs," Henderson said. "We reordered and sold out of them, too."

The 1999 ARRL November Sweepstakes takes place November 6-7 (CW) and November 20-21 (phone). Complete rules and details will appear in the October QST. The complete rules also will be linked from the Contest Branch Web Page at http://www.arrl.org/contests.

For more information, contact Contest Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, n1nd@arrl.org; 860-594-0232.

Previous: FCC Lays Out Arguments for Dismissal of KV4FZ Appeal

Next: The K7VVV Solar Update