Sponsor

Sponsored by the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club, Call Box 599, Sterling VA, 20167.

To promote amateur radio activity in the 95 Virginia Counties and 39 Virginia Independent Cities.

March 20 - 22, 2004. 19 - 21, 2005  Contest times are from 1800 UTC on Saturday, March 20 19 through 0200 UTC on Monday, March 22 21.

Entries

Submit logs, summary and dupe sheets (for greater than 200 QSO’s) by April 15, 2005 to the VA QSO Party, Call Box 599, Sterling, VA 20167 or by email to [email protected]. The 'dupe sheet' requirement is waived if recognized contesting software is used. Contest information and the summary of contest results will be posted to the Virginia QSO Party web site at http://www.qsl.net/Va_QSO_Party. A $1.00 donation to help defray the costs of printing and mailing is encouraged.

Work fixed stations once per band/mode. Modes are Phone (SSB/FM), CW, and Digital (RTTY/PSK). Out-of-State stations work Virginia stations only. No cross-mode or repeater QSO's. A Virginia Mobile transmitter must remain on one band for a 15 minute period starting with the first logged QSO on that band for that time period. Work Virginia Mobiles in each Virginia County or Independent City from which they operate. Mobiles and Fixed stations on County or Independent City lines count as one QSO and only one County/Independent City multiplier. Multipliers are only counted once. Contacting the same Virginia County, Independent City, State, Province or Country using a different band or mode counts only as a new QSO, not as a new multiplier. Virginia Mobiles receive a bonus of 100 additional points for each Virginia County/Independent City from which they log a valid QSO. For award purposes Fixed and Mobile operation will be considered separately, please submit separate logs for Fixed and Mobile operation. Spotting nets, DX clusters, etc., may be used to locate other stations - no self-spotting permitted. All operators must observe the limits of their operator's license. Multiple operator stations should indicate all operators by name and call sign.

Paper or electronic (preferred) Logs, Summary and Dupe sheets (200 or more QSO’s) are required for all entries unless the logs are prepared by recognized contesting software which indicate duplicate entries. Summary sheet should include name, mailing address, call sign, number of Virginia Counties/Independent Cities in which operated, license class, club name and a signed statement that all contest rules and regulations have been observed. Dupe sheets by band and mode are required for 200 or more QSO's. For Club Competition (minimum of 3 valid club entries), be sure to indicate club name on summary sheet and log. Contestants using computer logging and reporting software are required to verify scoring and duping to ensure contest rules have been followed.

Scoring

QSO’s count 1 point per Phone, 2 points per CW, 2 points per digital mode (RTTY, PSK31,etc.), and 3 points per contact made with a Virginia Mobile (Phone or CW or Digital). Mobile stations that contact 10 (ten) or more different stations while operating from a county or independent city may claim it as a multiplier, if not otherwise worked. Virginia Fixed Stations multiply QSO points by the total number of Virginia counties, Virginia Independent cities, U. S. States, Canadian Provinces and DX Countries.  No extra DX multiplier for U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii) and Canada. Virginia Mobiles, add to your Virginia Fixed Station score 100 bonus points for each Virginia County or Independent City from which you log a valid mobile QSO. Outside of Virginia, multiply QSO points by the total number of Virginia Counties (95) and Independent Cities (39) worked to obtain final score. All stations add 500 bonus points for a contact with K4NVA the club station of the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club.

Exchange

Exchange QSO number and QTH (Virginia County or Independent City for VA stations; State, Province or DX Country for others). Virginia Mobile Stations log QSO's by Virginia Independent City or County of operation. Identify all QSO's with band/mode, sequential QSO number sent/received and date/time of contact in UTC. Please follow standard contest practices by making and responding to "CQ Virginia QSO Party" calls. Multiple Transmitter stations may maintain sequential QSO numbers Independently for each transmitter.

Frequencies

160 meters and up, except no WARC band QSO's permitted. Suggested frequencies: CW--1805 KHz and 50 KHz up from band edge on others. PHONE --1845, 3860, 7260, 14270, 21370 and 28370 KHz. Novice/Tech Plus--10 KHz up from the edge of the CW band and 28370 KHz on PHONE. VHF -- 50.125, 144.200 (CW & SSB), 146.580 and 223.50 MHZ. UHF--446.00 MHZ. Digital contacts should use normally accepted subbands for these modes. All frequencies plus or minus QRM and nets. No Repeater or cross-mode QSO's.

Additional information may be obtained by mail at VA QSO Party, Call Box 599, Sterling, VA 20167 from the SPARC website www.qsl.net/sterling or by contacting Gordon Miller, [email protected].

Single Operator - One person performs all operating and only one transmitter may be on the air at a time

Mobile - Single or Multiple individuals operating Mobile under a single call sign with only one transmitter on the air at a time. A mobile station is self-contained and capable of legal motion (land, water or air) while operating. Motion is optional, and discouraged, during operation.

Club - Minimum of three valid contest entries each indicating club affiliation.

Multi Operator / Single Transmitter - Two or more operators with one transmitter on the air at one time.

Multi Operator / Multi Transmitter - Two or more operators with two or more transmitters on the air at one time.

Expedition - One or more operators of a single transmitter station that moves between two or more Virginia locations during the course of the contest. All equipment, power supplies and antennas must be transported to each operating site.

AWARDS

Plaques

Awarded to the Virginia Single Operator Fixed Station with the highest total score.

Awarded to the Virginia Mobile Station with the highest total score resulting from only Mobile operation. May be multiple operators but only one transmitter on the air at a time under a single call sign.

High Virginia Club Combined Score

Awarded to the Virginia Club (minimum of three valid club member entries) with the highest total combined club member scores.

High Single Operator VHF Only

Awarded to the Single Operator Station with the highest total score resulting from only VHF (1.25,2 & 6 meter) operation.

High Virginia QRP All Mode

Awarded to the Single Operator Station with the highest total score resulting from only QRP (output RF power less than 5 watts at all times) operation within the state of Virginia.

High QRP All Mode Outside Virginia

Awarded to the Single Operator Station with the highest total score resulting from only QRP (output RF power less than 5 watts at all times) operation outside the state of Virginia.

High Single Operator Outside Virginia All Mode

Awarded to the Single Operator Station located outside the state of Virginia with the highest total score.

High Single Operator Novice/Tech All Mode

Awarded to the Single Operator station receiving the highest total score where the operator holds a valid Novice, Technician or Technician Plus License.

High Single Operator CW Only

Awarded to the Single Operator Station with the highest total score resulting from only CW operation.

High Multiple Multiple Station

Awarded to the Multiple Operator Multiple Transmitter station with the highest total score.

High Multiple Single Station

Awarded to the Multiple Operator Single Transmitter station with the highest total score.

High DX Station All Mode