ARRL November Sweepstakes ------------------------- 1) Object: For stations in the United States and Canada (including territories and possessions) to exchange QSO information, as detailed in rule 4, with as many other US and Canadian stations as possible on 160 through 10 meters, excluding 30, 17 and 12 meters. 2) Contest Period: (A) CW--First full weekend in November. (B) Phone--Third full weekend in November. (C) Time--Begins 2100 UTC Saturday and ends 0300 UTC Monday. Operate no more than 24 of the 30 hours. Off periods may not be less than 30 minutes in length. Times off and on must be clearly noted in your log, and listening time counts as operating time. 3) Categories: (A) Single operator: One person performs all transmitting, receiving, spotting and logging functions. (B) Multioperator, single transmitter only: Those obtaining any form of assistance such as relief operators, loggers or use of spotting nets, including Packet Clusters. (C) QRP, single operator: QRP is defined as 5 watts output or less. 4) Exchange: A consecutive serial number, precedence ("A" if you run 150-W output or less, "B" if more than 150 W, or "Q" if 5-W output or less), your call sign, check (last two digits of the year you were first licensed) and your ARRL Section. For example, WJ1U answers W1AW's call by sending W1AW NR178 A WJ1U 89 CT for QSO number 178, less than 150 W, first licensed in 1989 and Connecticut Section. 5) Scoring: (A) QSO points: Count two points for each complete two-way QSO. No cross-mode contacts. Work each station only once, regardless of the frequency band. (B) Multiplier: Each ARRL Section (listed on page 8 of this issue) and CRRL Section plus VE8/VY1--maximum of 77. KP4 is the Puerto Rico Section, KV4/KP2 and KG4 stations are in the Virgin Islands Section, and KH6 and other US possessions in the Pacific count as the Pacific Section. (C) Final score: Multiply QSO points (two per QSO) by the number of ARRL/RAC sections (plus VE8/VY1). 6) Miscellaneous: (A) A transmitter used to contact one or more stations may not be subsequently be used under any other call during the contest period (with the exception of family stations). (B) One operator may not use more than one call sign from any given location during the contest period. (C) The use of two or more transmitters simultaneously is not allowed. (D) 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) Reporting: (A) Entries must be postmarked no later than 30 days after the end of the phone contest. No late entries can be accepted. Entries with more than 200 QSOs must include cross-check sheets (dupe sheets). Use ARRL November Sweepstakes forms, a reasonable facsimile, 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, date, time in UTC, call of station worked, complete exchange sent, complete exchange received, multipliers [marked the first time worked] and QSO points). One entry per diskette. An official summary sheet or reasonable facsimile with 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 contest@arrl.org. 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. 8) Club Competition: ARRL-affiliated clubs for club gavels and awards in the local, medium and unlimited categories as described in January QST. 9) Awards: Certificates to the top single operator CW and phone scores in "A", "B" and "Q" categories in each ARRL/CRRL Section, and the top multioperator entry in each ARRL Division and Canada. 10) Condition of Entry: (A) Each entrant agrees to be bound by the provisions as well as the intent of this announcement, the regulations of his licensing authority and the decisions of the ARRL Awards Committee. 11) Disqualifications:See January QST. Suggested Frequencies Novice and CW Slow Speed CW Phone Novice Phone 1800-1810 1855-1865 3530-3600 3665-3705 3850-3950 7030-7080 7090-7130 7200-7250 14,030-14,060 14,250-14,300 21,050-21,080 21,090-21,130 21,300-21,400 28,050-28,080 28,090-28,130 28,550-28,650 28,350-28,400 Contest Period Starts Ends CW Saturday, Monday, 2100 UTC 0300 UTC Phone Saturday, Monday, 2100 UTC 0300 UTC Explanation of Exchange Number Precedence Call Check Section Consecutive Power output less Send your Last two digits of Your ARRL serial number than 150-W PEP station call year first licensed Section NR178 A WJ1U 89 CT Comfortable Code Speeds Have you been reluctant to a CW contest because the code speeds are too high? Now, there is a solution for folks to whom 35 WPM is another word for impossible. Specific band segments have been set aside for slow-speed code up to 10-13 WPM (see the Suggested Frequencies box). US Amateur Radio operators should note that operation in the Novice portions of these segments on 80, 40 and 15 meters is restricted to 200 watts output. Stations, however, should continue to use the same power designator (A, B or Q) throughout the contest. Now you can participate at code speeds you find comfortable. CQ SS! PINS--Participation in November Sweepstakes Wouldn't it nice to know that you've qualified for an award during the contest? Would you like to be sure that you will receive an award when you send your November Sweepstakes logs to HQ? Here's an award you can earn, whether you are a first timer or a weathered veteran of the sport. The ARRL is offering a handsome SS participation pin to qualified participants in the ARRL November Sweepstakes. Anyone who makes at least 100 contacts during the ARRL November Sweepstakes, CW or phone, will qualify for an achievement pin. Separate, CW or phone, will be available. Also all the individual operators of a multioperator station (that qualify) are eligible for their own pins. These handsome pins are marked with the year and mode, making them possible collector's items. To order, include with your log entry of 100 or more QSOs: (1) A mailing label (preferably a self-adhesive label). (2) Make sure to indicate which pin, "CW" or "phone", with your order. (3) A check or money order for $5, payable to the ARRL (includes the price of the pin, packaging, padded envelope and postage). Your pin will be shipped after your contacts have been verified and the results printed in QST. Coffee Cups--Clean Sweep Award By popular demand, we are, again this year, offering a beautiful gray coffee cup with a gold and white design commemorating the prestigious "clean sweep" for those who manage to work all 77 sections on either CW or phone during the 1995 November Sweepstakes. These coffee cups will look terrific in your shack full of steaming hot coffee, holding pencils or as a trophy, high upon a shelf. They are sure to become the talk of the air ways and quickly become a most sought after collector's item. To order, include with your log entry indicating a "clean sweep": (1) A mailing label (preferably a self-adhesive label). (3) A check or money order for $10, payable to the ARRL (includes the price of the coffee cup, packaging and postage). Your coffee cup will be shipped after your clean sweep has been verified and the results printed in QST.