RSGB IOTA contest The object of the contest is to promote contacts between stations in qualifying Island groups and the rest of the world and to encourage expeditions to IOTA Islands. Many IOTA Islands are very accessible and it is relatively easy for small groups of amateurs or individuals to mount Island expeditions for the contest. A special interest for UK stations is that mainland Britain counts as an Island (EU-005) and GI / EI count as EU-115. Important Note: The General Rules for RSGB Contests do NOT apply to the IOTA Contest 1. General. The aim of the contest is to promote contacts between stations in qualifying IOTA island groups and the rest of the world and to encourage expeditions to IOTA islands. 2. When. 1200 UTC Saturday 29 July to 1200 UTC Sunday 30 July 2000. 3. Bands and Modes. 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28MHz, CW and SSB. IARU bandplans should be observed, with CW contacts being made only in the recognised CW ends of the bands, i.e.below 40khz upon the lower band edge. Contest preferred segments must also be observed, ie no operation taking place on 3.56 - 3.6MHz, 3.65 - 3.7MHz, 14.06 - 14.125 and 14.3 - 14.35MHz. 4. Categories. (a) Single operator, 24 hours. CW, SSB or mixed-mode. (b) Single operator, 12 hours. CW, SSB or mixed-mode. Off periods must be a minimum of 60 minutes. Note: Use of PacketCluster or other assistance during the contest places the entrant in the multi-operator category. One transmitted signal only allowed. (c) Multi-operator, mixed mode. A maximum of two transceivers may be used. The second transceiver may be used to call other stations only if the station is a new multiplier. It may not be used to solicit other contacts, eg by calling "CQ" or "QRZ?" NB: this category is open to Island Stations only. 5. Sections. (a) IOTA Island Permanent station. (b) IOTA Island Dxpedition. ie antennas and equipment installed specifically for the contest. (c) IOTA Island 100w Dxpedition. ie antennas and equipment installed specifically for the contest. (d) World Any station in a location which does not have an IOTA reference. (e) Short Wave Listener See rule 10. 6. Exchange. Send RS(T) and serial number starting from 001, plus IOTA reference number if applicable. Do not use separate numbering systems for CW and SSB. Stations may be contacted on both CW and SSB on each band. Entrants in section (a) must send their IOTA reference as part of each contact. 7. Scoring. (a) QSO Points Each contact with an IOTA island counts 15 points. Other contacts count 3 points, including contacts with the entrant’s own IOTA reference. (b) Multiplier The multiplier is the total of different IOTA references contacted on each band on CW, plus the total of different IOTA references contacted on each band on SSB. (c) Total Score The score is the total of QSO points on all bands added together, multiplied by the total of multipliers. 8. Logs. a. Electronic logs are preferred using recognised contest software i.e. SDI, NA, TR. Paper logs should be on separate sheets per band, but not mode. A summary indicating category and section, contacts per band/mode, points and multipliers per band/mode should be included with a declaration that the rules and licence conditions have been complied with. IOTA stations must state their island name and IOTA reference number. Single mode entrants who make contacts on the other mode should submit these separately as checklogs. b.Logs must show: Time, Callsign, RST / serial number / IOTA reference sent, RST / serial number / IOTA reference received, multiplier claimed, and QSO points. c. Entries can be e-mailed to hf.contests@rsgb.org.uk. TWO files only, (callsign).log and (callsign).sum should be sent as a normal attachment to an e-mail. Postal entries should be addressed to : RSGB IOTA Contest, PO Box 9, Potters Bar, Herts EN6 3RH, England. The closing date is 1 September 2000. 9. Penalties. Points may be deducted, or entrants disqualified, for violation of the rules or the spirit of the contest. This includes refusal by IOTA island stations to make contacts with their own country when requested or use of a third party to make contacts on a list or net. Duplicate contacts must be marked as such with no points claimed. Unmarked duplicates will be penalised at ten times the claimed points, and excessive duplicates may cause disqualification. 10. SWL Contest. Scoring as for the transmitting contest. Logs must be separate for each band, and show: Time, Callsign of station heard, RST / serial number / IOTA reference sent, callsign of station being worked, multiplier claimed, and QSO points. Under ‘callsign of station being worked’, there must be at least two other QSOs before a callsign is repeated, or else ten minutes must have elapsed. If both sides of a QSO can be heard, they can be logged separately for points if appropriate. 11. Awards (a) Certificates will be awarded to leading stations in each category and section. (b) CDXC Geoff Watts Memorial Trophy (non-returnable) to the leading IOTA Islands home station. (c) IOTA Trophy (non-returnable) presented by the IOTA Committee to the leading IOTA Island DXpedition station. (d) DX News Sheet Trophy (retained for one year) presented by the Editor of DX News Sheet to the leading British entrant operating from a location in the UK in the single operator 24 hour SSB category, (Category A). The winner of the IOTA Trophy will not be eligible for this award. (e) David King, G3PFS, Trophy, in memory of Geoff Watts (retained for one year), to the leading British entrant operating from a location in the UK in the single operator 12 hour SSB category. The winner of the IOTA Trophy will not be eligible for this award. (f) G3DYY Memorial Trophy to the leading British entrant operating from the UK in the single operator 12 or 24 hour CW category. (g) W9DWQ Contest Award to the leading North American Island Expedition station 12. Note from the RSGB IOTA Manager. Amateurs planning to activate an all-time new one for IOTA over the IOTA Contest weekend should, if possible, arrange to commence their operation in the preceding 24 hours to enable the new reference number to be issued before the start of the contest. Once the contest is under way, it will not be possible to issue a new number and, without this, contacts made will not count as island contacts.