ARRL DX Contest

1) Object	1.1 W/VE amateurs work as many amateur stations in as many DXCC countries of the world as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands. 1.2 Foreign amateurs (also including KH6, KL7, CY9 and CY0) work as many W/VE stations in as many of the 48 contiguous states and provinces as possible.
2) Date and Contest Period	2.1 CW: Third full weekend in February (February 19-20, 2000). 2.2 Phone: First full weekend in March (March 5-6, 2000). 2.3 Contest Period: 48 hours each mode (separate contests). Starts 0000 UTC Saturday; ends 2400 UTC Sunday.
3) Entry Categories	3.1 Single Operator -- One person performs all operating and logging functions. Use of spotting nets (operating arrangements involving assistance through DX-alerting nets, PacketClusters, etc) is not permitted. Single-operator stations are allowed only one transmitted signal at any given time. (Note: This does not permit multiple single-band entries from the same station). 3.1.1 All band. 3.1.1.1. QRP: 5 watts output or less 3.1.1.2. Low Power: 150 watts output or less 3.1.1.3. High Power: more than 150 watts output. 3.1.2. Single band (one only). Single-band entrants who make contacts on other bands should submit logs of those contacts for checking purposes. 3.1.3. Single Operator Assisted -- One person performs all operating, monitoring and logging functions. The use of spotting nets and asstistance through other alerting systems not physically located at the station (operating arrangements involving assistance through DX-alerting nets, PacketClusters, etc) are allowed. There are no restrictions on the number of band changes or the length of time spent on a band. 3.2 Multioperator -- More than one person operates, checks for dulpicates, keeps the log, etc. 3.2.1. Single Transmitter. One transmitted signal at any given time. Once the station has begun operating on a given band, it must remain on that band for at least 10 minutes; listening time counts as operating time. Multioperator, single transmitter stations must keep a single, chronological log for the entire contest period. Violation of the 10-minute rule or improper logging will result in an entrant's reclassification to the unlimited multi-multi class (see below). 3.2.2. Two transmitter. A maximum of two transmitted signals at any given time, on different bands. Once either station has begun operation on a given band, it must remain on that band for at least 10 minutes; listening time counts as operating time. Both transmitters may work any and all stations; the second transmitter is not limited to work new multipliers only. Each of the two transmitters must keep a seperate, chronological log for the entire contest period. Violation of the 10-minute rule be either or both transmitters or improper logging will result in an entrant's reclassification to the unlimited multi-multi class (see below). 3.2.3. Multitransmitter. A maximum of one transmitted signal per band at any given time. Unlimited multi-multi stations must keep a seperate, chronological log for each band for the entire contest period.
4) Contest Exchange	4.1. W/VE stations in the 48 contiguous United States and Canada (except in the islands of St Paul and Sable) send signal report and state or province. 4.2. DX stations send signal report and power (three-digit number indicating approximate transmitter output power).
5) Scoring	5.1. QSO Points -- W/VE stations count three points per DX QSO. DX stations count three points per W/VE QSO. 5.2. Multiplier -- W/VE stations: Sum of DXCC countries (except US and Canada) worked per band. DX stations: Sum of US states (except KH6/KL7) and District of Columbia (DC), NB (VE1, 9), NS (VE1), PE (VE1 or VY2), QC (VE2), ON (VE3), MB (VE4), SK (VE5), AB (VE6), BC (VE7), NT (VE8), YT (VY1), NF (VO1), LB (VO2) worked per band. Maximum of 62 per band. 5.3. Final score -- QSO points times multipliers = final score.
6) Miscellaneous	(A) Call sign and exchange information must be received and logged by each station for a complete QSO. (B) All operators must observe the limitations of their operator licenses and station licenses at all times. (C) Your call sign must indicate your DXCC station location (KH6XYZ/W1 in Maine, FS/FG0AAA on St Martin, etc). (D) One operator may not use more than one call sign from any given location during the contest period. (E) The same station may be worked only once per band--no crossmode or repeater contacts. (F) Aeronautical and maritime mobile stations outside the US and Canada may be worked by W/VE stations for QSO credit only. (G) All transmitters and receivers must be located within a 500-meter-diameter circle, excluding directly connected antennas. This prohobits the use of remote receiving installations. Exception: Multioperator and Single Operator Assisted stations may use spotting nets for multiplier hunting only. (H) The use of non-Amateur Radio means of communication (eg, telephone) for the purpose of soliciting a contact (or contacts) during the contest period is inconsistent with the spirit and intent of this announcement.
7) Awards	7.1. Plaques (if sponsored) will be awarded in the following categories for both the CW and phone contests: 7.1.1. Top W/VE scorer in each entry category--single operator-all band-QRP, single operator-all band-low power, single operator-all band-high power, single operator-single band (1.8-28MHz), single-operator assisted, multioperator-single transmitter, multioperator-two transmitter, multioperator-multitransmitter. 7.1.2. Top scorer in the single operator-all band category worldwide and on each continent. In addition, worldwide leaders in the single operator-all band-QRP, single operator-all band-low power, single operator-single band, single operator assisted, multioperator-single transmitter, multioperator-two transmitter and multioperator unlimited categories will receive plaques. 7.1.3. Additional special plaques will be awarded as sponsored. 7.2. Certificates will be awarded to top single operator-all band entries (QRP, low power, and high power) from each country and ARRL/RAC Section; top single-band entries in each US call area and each country; top single operator assisted entries in each country, US call area and in Canada, top multioperator entries (single, two and multi-transmitter) in each country, US call area and in Canada. Additional single-band and multioperator certificates will be awarded if significant effort or competition is displayed. DX entrants making more than 500 QSOs on either mode will receive certificates.
8) Reporting	(A) Use ARRL International DX Contest forms, a reasonable facsmile, submit entry on diskette, upload your entry to the ARRL BBS, or send your entry to ARRL HQ via Internet. (1) Official entry forms are available from HQ for an SASE with 2-units of First-Class postage. (2) You may submit your contest entry on diskette in lieu of paper logs. The floppy diskette must be IBM compatible, MS-DOS formatted, either 3.5 or 5.25 inch (40 or 80 track). The log information must be in an ASCII file, following the ARRL Suggested Standard File Format and contain all log exchange information (band, mode, date, time in UTC, call of station worked, exchange sent, exchange received, multipliers [marked the first time worked] and QSO points). One entry per diskette. An official summary sheet or reasonable facsmile with a signed contest participation disclaimer is required with all entries. (3) You may submit your contest entry via the ARRL BBS (203-665-0090) or via Internet to [email protected]. Send your summary sheet file (Make sure it includes all the pertinent information outlined in the official ARRL summary sheet.) and your log file following the ARRL Suggested Standard File Format. (B) Logs must indicate times in UTC, bands, mode, calls, complete exchange sent, complete exchange received and QSO points. Multipliers should be clearly marked in the log the first time worked. Entries with more than 500 QSOs total must include cross-check sheets (dupe sheets). Send entries to: ARRL Contest Branch 225 Main Street Newington Ct, 06111 USA. (C) All operators of multioperator stations must be listed. (D) Entries must be postmarked within 30 days after the last contest weekend. Logs not postmarked be the deadline will be classified as checklogs; no extensions, no exceptions. All stations are requested to send their entries in as early as possible and enclose each entry (CW and phone) in a seperate envelope. Entries received after mid-July will not make QST listings.
9) Club Competition	ARRL-affiliated clubs compete for gavels on three levels: unlimited, medium, and local clubs. Details are listed in Club Competition Rules in the Contest Yearbook.
10) Condition of Entry	Each entrant agrees to be bound by the provisions, as well as the intent, of this announcement, the regulations of his of her licensing authority and the decisions of the ARRL Awards Committee.
11) Disqualification	An entry may be disqualified if the overall score is reduced by more than two percent. Score reduction does not include correction of arithmetic errors. Reductions may be made of unconfirmed QSOs or multipliers, duplicate QSOs or other scoring discrepancies. An entry will be disqualified if more than two-percent duplicate QSOs are claimed for credit. For each duplicate or miscopied call sign removed from the log by ARRL, three additional QSOs will be deleted as a penalty. The penalty will not be considered as part of the two-percent disqualification criterion. If a participant is disqualified, that operator will be barred from entering the contest on that mode the following year. The calls of all disqualified participants will be listed in the QST contest results.