1999 North American HSMS Contest
Sponsored by

DATE
(UTC)	 START
TIME
(UTC)	
END
TIME
(UTC)	
FREQ
(MHz)	
STATION WORKED
 (or CQx-letter)	
REPORT
(GRID)	
QSO POINTS	
MULT
#	

								

								

								

								

								

								
								
QSO Points: Random QSOs:                                        6M = 1 pt.   2M = 6 pts.  UHF = 18 pts.
                      Assisted QSOs (Nets, Web, Skeds, etc.): 6M = 1 pt.  2M = 3 pts.  UHF =  9 pts.
Final Score Multiplier: Add total grids worked on all bands
SCORE SUMMARY:              QSO Points  X              Multipliers  =                 Final points

ENTRY CLASS (choose one only):  2M Limited              2M Unlimited (> 5 kW ERP)
         All bands Limited   All bands Unlimited

If Limited (< 5 kW ERP), TX Pwr (at ant.): ____ watts   Ant. Gain: ____ dBd ERP: _____ kW

This is to certify that in this contest I have operated my transmitter within the limitations of my license and have observed fully the rules and regulations of the contest.

Signed _________________________Printed ______________________ Date ____________

Your Callsign: ________ Mailing Address:____________________________________________

Logs may be mailed to: WSWSS HSCW Contest, P.O. Box 86, Downey, CA 90241-0086
or e-mailed (ASCII TEXT ONLY!!) to:	    hscw@contesting.com
Logs must be postmarked or e-mailed no later than May 30, 1999.

CHART OF CQx LETTERS:
North American HSMS calling frequencies: 50.300 MHz, 144.100 MHz (suggested: 222.080, 432.200)	
A	1	F	6	K	11	P	16	U	21	Z	26	
B	2	G	7	L	12	Q	17	V	22			
C	3	H	8	M	13	R	18	W	23			
D	4	I	9	N	14	S	19	X	24			
E	5	J	10	O	15	T	20	Y	25			
Usage of CQx Letter System: 
Calling CQJ on 144.100 MHz means you will listen for replies on 144.100 MHz + 10 kHz or 144.110 MHz.
Calling CQM on 144.110 MHz means you will listen for replies on 144.110 MHz + 13 kHz or 144.123 MHz.	
When you hear a reply on your listening frequency, immediately shift your transmitting frequency to that frequency and continue your QSO. When finished, you may call QRZ on your listening frequency, or return to your CQ frequency and resume CQing for another QSO. 	
Note: The use of listening frequencies close to 144.100 should be avoided to reduce the possibility of QRM from other stations calling CQ on 144.100.	

REQUIREMENTS FOR A QSO: 
An exchange of both call signs, an exchange of some type of report, and an exchange of confirmation of the same.	
When a station copies :	He sends:	
both calls	Both calls & report: WB4KMH W9JN EN54 WB4KMH W9JN EN54 ...	
both calls & report	R & report:              R EN54 R EN54 R EN54 R ...	
R & report	Rs:                          RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...	
a pair of Rs (you must have at least two to be sure!)	QSO is officially complete	
However, the other station may not know this;	So it is customary to then send "73" to let the other station know that he may QRT.	
73	he may QRT	
A typical exchange:	
N1RWY calls CQ for one minute on 144.100:                CQJ N1RWY CQJ N1RWY CQJ N1RWY...	
KB0VUK calls N1RWY for one minute on 144.110:          N1RWY KB0VUK N1RWY KB0VUK N1...	
N1RWY copies KB0VUK calling on 144.110; so he shifts his transmitter frequency to 144.110 and sends calls and report to KB0VUK for one minute on 144.110:   KB0VUK N1RWY FN54 KB0VUK N1RWY FN54…	
KB0VUK copies both calls and the report and sends, for one minute and with no calls:
                                                                                R EN34 R EN34 R EN34 R EN34 R EN...	
N1RWY copies R and report and sends, for one minute:  RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...	
KB0VUK copies Rs, and the QSO is complete. Note that if KB0VUK has not copied Rs, he would continue sending R EN34 R EN34, etc. so that N1RWY will keep sending R’s. Otherwise, KB0VUK may stop transmitting at this point.
If reflections are good, KB0VUK may send 73 during the next transmitting sequence or two to tell N1RWY that he has everything.	
N1RWY copies the 73s or does not hear KB0VUK any longer, so N1RWY quits sending and completes his log sheet.  (He may also wish to send 73, or QRZ before returning to 144.100 to call CQ again).	

MISSING INFORMATION:
On high-speed CW MS operation, it is possible to request a missing piece of information.	
BBB	Both callsigns needed	
MMM	My callsign needed	
YYY	Your callsign needed	
SSS	Signal Report Needed (Note: Signal Report is your grid in the NA HSMS Contest)	
UUU	Your keying is Unreadable	
When used, nothing but the appropriate string of letters is sent. The other operator should respond by sending only the requested information. When the requesting station has the needed data, he returns again to the proper exchange sequence.	
TNX to W8WN for writing the original HSCWOP.DOC from which these tables are adapted.
The Western States Weak Signal Society Introduces the
1999 North American High Speed Meteor Scatter (HSMS)
Contest

Purpose: To promote the development of skilled HSCW operators in North America.

Objective: Work as many North American stations as possible via meteor scatter during the contest period using HSCW on the amateur radio bands above 50 MHz. HSCW for the purpose of this contest is any speed no less than 495 LPM (99 WPM).

Contest Period: 0000z, 1 May 1999 to 2400z, 9 May 1999. You may operate up to 48 hours during this time period. An operating period begins with your first TRANSMISSION and includes time spent listening between transmissions. Operating time must be taken in 30-minute blocks. Time spent listening outside of your operating periods does not count towards your operating time. Multi-ham households--Each licensed ham is eligible to operate 48 hours under their own callsign. 

Contest Operation: Random and scheduled QSOs count for contest credit. The use of the letter system for CQing is REQUIRED, i.e. CQF, CQX. Report is your four-digit grid square. Real-time schedules, spotting assistance, DX-alerting nets, etc. are permitted for the purpose of arranging contact attempts. Refer to the Region II HSCW standard operating procedures <http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/hscw-sop22.html> for suggested HSCW techniques and meteor scatter calling frequencies. The use of HSCW on VHF SSB calling frequencies is poor operating technique. A station may only be worked once per band during the contest period unless one of the stations has changed grid squares. A separate log is required for each grid 
activated. Each grid activated will be scored separately.

QSO Requirements: To log a completed contact you must copy: both calls, report, rogers. Any form of liaison communication between the parties involved in a contact in progress is prohibited. Any interruption of a contact in progress requires both stations restart the QSO attempt from the 
beginning. All information required for a complete contact must be exchanged using meteor scatter and no other propagation mode. 

Classes: Single Operator Limited, 2 meters only 
Single Operator Limited, Multi-band 
Single Operator Unlimited, 2 meters only 
Single Operator Unlimited, Multi-band
Limited: Station ERP is restricted to less than or equal to 5kw. 
Unlimited: Station ERP is greater than 5kw. 
Multi-band stations must enter in the class corresponding to the highest ERP used. 
A station may only enter in ONE class.

Multipliers: The sum of each unique four-digit grid square worked on each band.

Scoring (QSO points): 
BAND ASSISTED RANDOM 
6m	1	  1 
2m	3	  6 
1.25m	9	18 
.7m	9	18 
The final score is the sum of all QSO points from each band times the 
multiplier. 

Awards: Certificates will be awarded to the top three overall, and to the highest scoring station in each USA/VE call district and each North American DXCC country for each category. In addition, a certificate will be awarded to the highest scoring portable station activating two or more grids (based on the sum of their scores from each grid activated). A minimum of 2 QSOs is required to qualify for any award. Additional certificates may be awarded where activity warrants. Participants can only enter in one class for contest credit.

Reporting: The following information must be contained on the summary sheet which must accompany the log: Callsign used, Grid Square(s) activated, Maximum ERP used, Name, Address, and Email Address (if available). Log information must contain the following data: Callsign of station worked, starting and ending times/dates of contact (and operating 
periods), Frequency, Reports, and sked or random.

Miscellaneous: Station equipment can only be used under one callsign, with the exception of multi-ham households. Single Band Entrants, time spent working stations on bands other than 2 meters does not count against your 48-hour operating time. Single band entrants are requested to send in check logs for all contacts made on other bands. The decisions of the awards committee are final. All logs must be postmarked or email dated no later than May 30th. Email logs must be sent in ASCII format to: hscw@contesting.com. 

Postal mail logs may be mailed to: 

WSWSS HSCW Contest 
P.O. Box 86 
Downey, CA 90241-0086

Sample blank log page/summary sheets are available from http://www.qsl.net/n7stu/hscw.html 
or a reasonable facsimile may be used. A printed copy of the rules and sample log/summary sheet can be obtained by sending a SASE to the WSWSS. Please enclose a SASE if you would like to receive a printed copy of the results via postal mail. 

Note: The radiant of the Eta Aquarids shower is projected to provide the best conditions during the contest (in North America) from approximately one hour before sunrise local time for approximately eight hours daily. This is the suggested best operating time each day. Remember though, HSCW contacts can be completed at any time of the day.

The following web site may provide some up-to-the-minute information of value to the North American HSMS operator: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1090/hot_news.html

The following web site is a directory of many of the more active North American HSMS operators whom you may wish to contact for schedules: http://www.umecut.maine.edu/~baack/hsms/

Further Information about HSMS: The following Internet web sites contain a wealth of information about High-Speed-Meteor-Scatter. Please note that there are several minor operating practice differences between North America and European techniques; for example, in North America, the northern- or eastern-most station normally transmits during the odd minutes 
(those minutes beginning with odd numbers: 1231Z, 1415Z; etc.). Also, North American sked speeds (and sometimes CQ speeds) tend to be somewhat higher than in Europe because most North American HSMSers are using computers to record and playback recorded reflections. Suggested HSMS operating practices are described in HSCW Procedures (v. 7), available at 
http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/hscw-sop22.html Information regarding calculating station ERP can be obtained from W5UN's website http://web.wt.net/~w5un/  Other information, including hardware modification tips, software, and HSMS articles may be found at these URLs:

http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/ws1_15.html 
http://www.ilk.de/sites/gap 
http://www.mint.net/~n1bug/ 
http://www.qsl.net/k0sm/ 
http://www.sci.fi/~oh5iy/ 
http://www.cannon.net/~mattmc/kb0vuk/hsms/hsms.html 
http://www.qsl.net/kd5bur/ 
http://www.qsl.net/n7stu/hscw.html

Many more links covering other HSMS topics may be found on most of the above web sites.