Rules Questions
Q: What is meant by “time period” in this rule? If Radio A is on 15M SSB,
Radio B is not allowed on 15M SSB or 15M CW during the same time
period).
Both radios
cannot “flip flop” between bands. If Radio A makes a contact on 15M,
Radio B cannot make a contact on 15M and then Radio A makes another on
15M. However, you can switch functions at any time. The requirement is
that the other radio makes at least one QSO on another band.
Example:
Radio A 2305z QSO: 21007
Radio B 2306z QSO: 14250
Radio A 2307z QSO: 21008
Radio B 2308z QSO: 21250
Radio A 2309z QSO: 21009 <<<<<<<<< Not allowed! Radio A must change
bands now.
Q: Is the tribander considered the same antenna for sharing (triplexer)?
For purposes
of WRTC2014, the tribander in conjunction with the triplexer is
considered 3 discreet (separate) antennas. You can think of it as having
3 monobanders for 10/15/20 Meters. There are a total of 5 antennas for
use between radios, one at a time for each radio.
Q: Which VFO’s are allowed to be used in each radio?
You may switch
between VFO’s on each radio at any time. What is not allowed is use of a
sub receiver. You must receive on only one frequency at any time. No
VFOA in left and VFOB in the right ears and no mixing of channels. While
this may be possible for the operator, it becomes too confusing for the
referee to follow. You may switch VFOs at any time.
Q: Am I allowed to use the A=B button to save a frequency in VFO B? I
would not be on 2 VFOs at the same time.”
Yes, you can
use VFO A and VFO B, or any memories to save frequencies. You are not
allowed to receive on both frequencies at the same time. You can switch
VFOs or memories at any time.
Q: Do Maritime Mobile stations count for multipliers?
Maritime
Mobile stations can be worked for QSO credit, but do not count for
Multipliers.
Q: May we bring watt meters to monitor power?
The committee
will provide official meters to monitor power. You can add your own if
you want.
Q: Is it allowed to use a QRP TX and a 100W amp to achieve 100W or does
it have to be an all in one transceiver? E.g., Elecraft KX3 + KXPA100
Absolutely.
Teams are allowed to bring any equipment they want or need to transmit
100W. The organizers will provide power monitors at the output of the
transmitter or amp in this case. The only requirement is that you do not
exceed the power limit. Any losses through bandpass filters, etc must be
accepted, since filtering must be connected between the power monitors
and antennas.
Q: I understand that the super check partial (SCP) database is not
allowed for the WRTC competition. In Russia, this same rule was
implemented but they allowed a fill database for use with headquarter
exchanges. Will this be allowed?
Yes, you may
have HQ exchange information filled automatically, or manually. You may
have it available on paper or in a database. The CALL SIGNS may NOT
appear automatically, such as with Super Check Partial. However, just as
with zone information the software can provide the HQ exchange
information automatically.
Q: What happens in the event an antenna fails?
Your referee
will notify the site team. If repairs are necessary and easily done,
they will attempt to fix the problem. You may use the working antennas
in the interim.
Under no
circumstances is anyone allowed to climb the tower. The only thing a
team member may do is adjust the length of the 80M antenna.
Q: Just to be clear – the 80m and 40m dipoles cannot be used even as RX
antennas only on high bands (unless the tribander breaks)?
You may use
any antenna on any band, but you cannot share it with the other radio.
For WRTC
purposes, the Triplexer separates the Tribander into 3 discreet
antennas. Sharing of the Tribander is obviously not prohibited in this
manner. EX: Radio A is on 21025 with the Tribander (through the
Triplexer) running a pileup.
- Radio B
can listen on 21025 with the 40M dipole, but CANNOT transmit.
- Radio A
can also use the 40M dipole to listen or transmit, but NOT while
Radio B is using it.
- Radio B
can go to any other band and use any antenna not being used by Radio
A.
In summary,
you can use any free antenna on either radio for TX or RX. You may not
split them to RX on both radios.
Q: Can you advise if we are permitted to make changes to the length of
the antennas remotely? For example by using a remote controlled relay to
add or remove a length of wire to adjust resonance from inside the
shack? This would remove the need for physical adjustments and/or ATUs.
No, it is not
allowed to remotely tune the ends of the wire antennas. All adjustments
must be made manually at the ends which are just above ground level. You
may make them at any time during the event.
Q. Is it permitted for Radio B to go the the same band as Radio A to
work multipliers while Radio A is running (assume they are interlocked
so there is only one signal transmitted at a time)?
No, you cannot
transmit on the same band as the other radio. If Radio B makes a QSO on
the same band as Radio A, the next qso on that band must be made by
Radio B. Radio A must go to another band, or not transmit. Additionally,
they may not share the same antenna. (No alternate CQing etc on same
band with same antenna.)
Q: Is it permitted for Radio B to go the Radio A band just to tune
around and fill up the band map on that band?
Yes, Radio B
can listen anywhere at any time. However, it cannot use the same antenna
as Radio A (no splitting of RX line). For this competition, the
Tribander is considered as 3 separate antennas for 10/15/20 Meters.
Radio B may also listen to the audio of Radio A if desired.
Q: We will use FT5000 radios and have one QS1R SDR device connected to
the 9MHz IF output from each radio. The QS1R’s will be connected to each
of the logging computers and no more computers will be used. Separate
displays will display the current instant spectrum of the active band of
either radio. It will be for monitoring only as the rules say, QS1R’s
will not control the radios in any way. Radios will control the
frequency and band on the spectrum display.
Yes you can
use the QS1R, as long as it’s not in the waterfall display mode. No
callsign information, or decoding of the waveform is permitted.
Q: Can we watch the scoreboard on our computers or smartphones?
No. Teams are
not allowed any kind of communication with anyone starting 15 minutes
before the contest starts. Referees will ask you for your cellphone
before they give you your callsign. The phones must be switched
completely off. If we discover that you have used any mode of
communication besides HF CW and SSB during the contest, you will be
disqualified.
Q: Can I call or text my friends to tell them my callsign so they can
find me easier and work me?
No.
Q: Can I bring a cellular device with a Wi-Fi hotspot to connect to the
Internet?
No.
Q: If I find a Wi-Fi or other wireless connection at the site, can I use
it?
No.
Q: Can I run a cable outside the tent to an Internet connection?
No.
Q: What will the penalty be for an improperly logged call sign, a bad
exchange, or a NIL?
The way the
logs are checked is consistent with the IARU contest. An exchange that
is judged to be incorrect will result in removal of the QSO with no
penalty. A QSO that has either a callsign that is judged to be busted –
or not appearing in the other log – will have a one QSO penalty in
addition to removing the QSO.
“Uniques” that
are not allowed to count in your log will not have any penalty
associated with them. The criteria for what makes a unique will not be
defined until sometime during the log checking.
Referee Questions
Q: Do I understand correctly that my single stereo plug will hear both
radios - with the tip for one radio, the ring for the other radio, and
the body of the plug common for both radios?
16.8.1 “The
audio output should be terminated in a 3.5mm headphone female jack for
the referee to plug into”
16.8 “… The
audio must be isolated so
the referee may listen to either channel or both at the same time.”
A: Yes, that is correct.
Q: Can I assume that isolated includes
audio ground loop elimination – if relevant to a station design?
16.8 “If the
referee uses his or her own headphones, it must not interfere with the
team’s audio in any way.”
A: If your box
produces hum or is mismatched in such a way that the team’s audio levels
are too low; that is a problem. Also, there should be no crosstalk
between channels.
It is the
team’s responsibility to provide an audio output that is isolated from
their own. This would allow a standard stereo headphone to plug in and
monitor both channels.
Q: If I bring my own switch box and phones, is there a suggested minimum
impedance to ensure no interfere with the team’s audio in any way?
Typical
impedance is around 35-75 ohms. You should not go too far below that.
General Questions
Q: How can my family reach me if there is an emergency?
A: We will have an emergency phone number at HQ during the contest. We
can then relay messages to your site.
Q: Can I change the power outlets from USA to Euro style? Or use
adapters to convert to my radios power requirement?
Yes you can adapt the outlets in any way necessary to make your
equipment work. The committee will have some adapters available, or may
be purchased locally. It is recommended the teams bring whatever is
necessary for their particular setup.
Q. Will the 80m and 40m dipoles will have a balun? We have found that
this may sometimes be helpful to lower common mode current and
inter-station isolation.
No. There will be no choke or balun on the wire antennas. Our
tests showed very little difference in interference or RF currents in
the tent with or without them. We do recommend bringing some ferrite
cores and/or bypass capacitors in case you run into some RF issues. You
may also install any chokes or baluns at the tent end of the coaxial
feed (not at the antenna) if desired.
Q: What direction will the wire antennas be pointing?
The 40M dipole will be broadside EU (about 45degs). The 80M
dipole will be at right angles to that, broadside NW/SE.
Q: What callsigns will teams be using?
All callsigns will be USA 1st-call area callsigns, easily
identifiable. The list will be announced in late June.
Q: What are the frequency allocations for the WRTC stations?
All teams will follow the US band allocations. These can be
seen at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band%20Chart/Hambands_color.pdf
Q: CW QSOs are allowed all over the band, right?
The FCC regulations permit the use of CW on any frequency.
However, the rules for the IARU Radiosport contest prohibit this.
Therefore, WRTC will follow this rule: All SSB QSOs must be in the SSB
segment and all CW QSOs must be in the traditional CW segments. Cross
mode is not allowed.
Summary:
Band |
CW |
SSB |
80M |
3.500-3.600 |
3.603-4.000 |
40M |
7.000-7.125 |
7.128-7.300 |
20M |
14.000-14.150 |
14.150-14.347 |
15M |
21.000-21.200 |
21.200-21.447 |
10M |
28.000-28.300 |
28.300-29.697 |
Q: What are the band edges for SSB operation?
In the United States, all emissions are required to be
contained completely within the allowed frequency allocations.
Therefore, the allowed frequencies for SSB, as shown on your radio’s
digital display are:
3603.0 –
3999.9 kHz (Lower Sideband)
7128.0 – 7299.9 kHz (Lower Sideband)
14150.1 – 14347.0 kHz (Upper Sideband)
21200.1 – 21447.0 kHz (Upper Sideband)
28300.1 – 29697.0 kHz (Upper Sideband)
Q: Are Triplexers required?
While they are not required, it is the goal of WRTC2014 to
create equal conditions for all competitors. You may construct your own,
or use a commercial version. The triplexer separates the tribander into
3 separate “antennas” and may not amplify the signal in any way. Any
losses must be tolerated, and cannot be compensated for.
Q: What callsign can we use for testing before the contest?
Here is a link
to a page that can answer questions about what call sign you should use
when testing your station before the contest: http://www.arrl.org/foreign-licenses-operating-in-u-s
Summary:
-
If you have a USA callsign, you must use it and obey the USA
band regulations. You do not need to add “/1″ or “/W1″.
-
If you are operating under a multilateral agreement (IARP, CEPT, etc.),
or a specific reciprocal agreement between your country and the
-
U.S., (Japan, for example) use “W1/yourcall” and obey USA
band regulations.
-
If you hold a Canadian license such as VE9XYZ and no U.S.
license, the correct format is “VE9XYZ/W1″, and you must obey the
USA band regulations.
Q: May we supplement the lighting in the tent? Two lamps are currently
provided. May competitors install additional lighting units?
Yes, you can add a light. Be aware of the power consumption though. The
generator is only 2KW/1600W continuous. Adding additional lights may
result in some voltage drop.
Q: What is the make/model of the 34×34 folding tables? Source? Safe
weight limit?
The table is
this model: http://www.aosom.com/d-1949/HomCom-34-Square-Multipurpose-Plastic-Folding-Table-White.html
They are
specified for a maximum of 1000 pounds (454 kg) if the weight is evenly
distributed. The tables have a warning that people should not sit on
them.
Q: Can I bring my own chair?
If you feel you need something different to be comfortable, you may
bring or purchase your own chair. The committee cannot be responsible
for transportation of any chairs however. Bringing a pillow from the
hotel may be wise to add some comfort. You cannot change the table or
the flooring.
Q: Is there a floor in the tent or bare dirt?
There is a floor made of the same material as the tent (polyester) and
there is a plastic ground cloth underneath. We will supply a flat piece
of wood to give a solid surface for each chair.
Q: Does the tent have a roof?
Yes. And windows and doors with screens. We strongly encourage you to
keep the door zipped at all times to prevent bugs from entering.
Q: What are the dimensions of the tent?
The floor is 13 x 10 feet (396 x 304 cm). The roof is 7 feet (213 cm) at
the peak. Complete specifications are available if you Google “Eureka
Copper Canyon 8 tent”. All tents are the same.
Q: How will QSLing be handled?
WRTC2014 will send paper QSLs for all QSOs in all teams’ logs
and will upload the logs to LoTW. |