Virginia QSO Party

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

Contest RulesWork fixed stations once per band/mode. Out-of-State stations work Virginia stations only. No cross-mode or repeater QSO's. Work VA mobiles in each county that they operate. Mobiles or fixed stations on county lines count as one QSO and as many county multipliers as they offer. Stations in Virginia independent cities select one bordering county as county multiplier. Count fixed stations only once as multipliers. VA mobiles receive a bonus of 100 additional points for each Virginia county from which they log a valid QSO. Fixed and Mobile operation will be considered separately. 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. MultiOperator stations should indicate all operators by call sign.

Follow standard ARRL contest guidelines. Paper Logs, Summary and Dupe sheets required; No disks please. Summary sheet should include name, mailing address, call sign, number of counties 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.
Operator CategoriesSingle 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.

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

Single Operator / Multi Transmitter and Multi Operator / Multi Transmitter stations will be in separate categories and may submit logs for certificate consideration.

DatesMarch 18-20, 2000.

Contest times are from 1800 UTC on March 18 through 0200 UTC on March 20.

Submit logs by April 17,1999 to the VA QSO Party, Call Box 599, Sterling, VA 20167. Include SASE or email address for summary of contest results.

Frequencies160 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, 14260, 21360 and 28360 KHz. Novice/Tech Plus--10 KHz up from the edge of the CW band and 28360 KHz on PHONE. VHF -- 50.125, 147.48 and 223.50 MHZ. UHF--446.00 MHZ.

All frequencies plus or minus QRM and nets. No Repeater or cross-mode QSO's.

ExchangeExchange QSO number and QTH (County for VA stations; state, province or DX country for others). VA mobile stations log QSO's by county of operation. Identify all QSO's with band/mode, sequential QSO number sent/received and date/time of contact in UTC.
ScoringCount 1 point per Phone, 2 points per CW, and 3 points per VA mobile QSO (Phone or CW).

Virginia fixed stations multiply QSO points by the total number of VA counties, U. S. states, Canadian Provinces (12 maximum: Novia Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, kAlberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador Yukon, Prince Edward Island) and DX countries. No extra DX multiplier for U.S.(including Alaska and Hawaii) and Canada. Mobiles, add to your Virginia fixed station score 100 bonus points for each Virginia county from which you log a valid mobile QSO. Outside of VA, multiply QSO points by the number of VA counties worked (maximum of 95) to obtain final score.

AwardsPlaques

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

High Virginia Mobile
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

Certificates

High Score CW Virginia County
First Runner Up CW Virginia County
High Score Phone Virginia County
First Runner Up Phone Virginia County
High Score All Mode Virginia County
First Runner Up All Mode Virginia County
High Score QRP CW Virginia County
First Runner Up QRP CW Virginia County

High Score CW State
First Runner Up CW State
High Score Phone State
First Runner Up Phone State
High Score All Mode State
First Runner Up All Mode State
High Score QRP CW State
First Runner Up QRP CW State
First Runner Up QRP CW State

High Score CW Country
First Runner Up CW Country
High Score Phone Country
First Runner Up Phone Country
High Score All Mode Country
First Runner Up All Mode Country
High Score QRP CW Country
First Runner Up QRP CW Country

High Score Multiple Operator/Single Transmitter
First Runner Up Multiple Operator/Single Transmitter

High Score Multiple Operator/Multiple Transmitter
First Runner Up Multiple Operator/Multiple Transmitter

ARRL Standard Contest GuidlinesMake sure your log details the date, time, band, call sign, and complete exchange sent and received, for each QSO claimed for contest credit.

Your summary sheet should indicate your score, including how you figured it, and a declaration that you followed FCC/DOC regulations and the contest rules. Your name, call sign, and complete address should be typed or printed in block letters.

Crossband, crossmode and repeater contacts are usually not permitted. Contacts with the same station on different bands are usually permitted.

Your log should be checked carefully for duplicate QSOs; and if more than 200 QSOs are made, dupe sheets should be included with your entry.

Your log may be considered a check log or disqualified if too many errors are detected by the contest committee.

Avoid standard net frequencies.

International contests generally offer awards to top scores from each US call area and each country, state QSO parties to each state/province.

Your summary sheet should include the following statement: "I have observed all competition rules and all regulations established for Amateur Radio in my country." The declaration should be signed and dated.

Update: 02/04/00