Rules: The Himalayan Contest 2014

Starts: 1200 UTC (1730 IST) Saturday, November 1^st, 2014

Ends: 1200 UTC (1730 IST) Sunday, November 2^nd, 2014

1. Objective:

• For amateurs in India to contact maximum number of amateurs within India and DX during the contest period.
• For DX amateurs to contact stations in various states and Union Territories in India

2. Period of Operation: 24 hours.

3. Bands: ONLY the 3.5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 MHz bands may be used. Observance of established band plans is strongly encouraged. On 40m, please spread out and use the upper section of the band from 7100 to 7200 as well.

4. Modes: This is a Mixed mode contest only. Contacts may be made with each station on SSB and on CW, on each band, for QSO credit.

(a) Participants may call “CQ VU” or “CQ VU CONTEST” to differentiate from other contests that may be running at the same time.

(b) All entrants must operate within the limits of their chosen category when performing any activity that could affect their submitted score. Only the entrant’s call sign may be used to aid the entrant’s score.

(c) A different call sign must be used for each entry.

(d) Entrants must not exceed the maximum power limit specified by their license, or the power limit of their entry category, whichever is less, on any band. Power is measured at the final output connector of the transmitter.

(e) Self-spotting or asking other stations to spot you on any DX Cluster is not allowed.

(f) Use of QSO alerting assistance is not permitted except for multi operator categories. QSO alerting assistance is the use of any technology or outside method that provides call sign and frequency information regarding any other station to the operator. This can include telephone calls, DX Clusters, Skimmers etc.

(g) All operation must take place from one operating site. Transmitters and receivers must be located within a 500-meter radius circle or within the property limits of the station licensee, whichever is greater. All antennas must be physically connected by wires to the transmitters and receivers used by the entrant.

6. Entry Categories:

(a) Single Operator Categories: All operating and logging functions are performed by one person (the operator). Only one transmitted signal is permitted at any time. QSO alerting assistance of any kind is not allowed.

(i) Single Operator High (All Band): QSO alerting assistance is not permitted. Total output power above 100 watts up to legal limit.

(ii) Single Operator Low (All Band): QSO alerting assistance is not permitted. Total output power must not exceed 100 watts.

(iii) Single Operator QRP (All Band): QSO alerting assistance is not permitted. Total output power must not exceed 10 watts.

(b) Multi-Operator Categories (All Band): More than one person can contribute to the final score during the official contest period. Select category based on number of transmitted signals.

(i) Single-Transmitter (MULTI-ONE): Only one transmitted signal is permitted at any time.

(ii) Multi-Transmitter (MULTI-UNLIMITED): No limit to transmitters, but only one transmitted signal (and running station) allowed per band at any time. Use a separate serial number sequence for each band.

7. Exchange:

• VU sends RST Report + Indian State abbreviation (2 letter abbreviations of States and Union Territories)
• DX sends RST Report + power (number or abbreviation indicating approximate transmitter power)

CW: 599 KA (sent by Indian Station) or 599 100 (Power sent by DX station)

SSB: 59 TN (sent by Indian Station) or 59 400 (Power sent by DX station)

8. Contact Points:

(a) Contacts between stations in India or any of its territories (VU4, VU7, Antarctica Bases etc.) are worth three (3) points

(b) Contacts between DX stations and stations in India or any of its territories (VU4, VU7, Antarctica Bases etc.) are worth six (6) points

9. Multiplier:

(a) Total of VU States counted once on each band

10. Scoring: An Indian station may be worked once each on CW and SSB on each band for QSO point credit.

(a) Single-Operator and Multi-Operator:

(i) All-Band score is total contact points from all bands X Total Multipliers

11. Awards: Only logs submitted in electronic format are eligible for awards.

(a) To be eligible for an award, a Single Operator station must show a minimum of 4 hours of operation. Multi-operator stations must operate a minimum of 12 hours.

(b) Certificates will be awarded to the first three highest scoring stations in each category listed under Section 5 above for VU and DX stations. The scores of VU stations will also count towards the annual VU Top Contester of the Year award each year.

12. Instructions for Submission of Logs: We would appreciate receiving all logs in electronic format. Electronic submission of logs is required for anyone competing for an award and for those who use a computer to log the contest or prepare contest logs.

(a) The log MUST show the following for each contact: correct time of QSO, frequency (or band), call, Exchange sent, and Exchange received. A log without all required information may be reclassified to CHECKLOG.

(b) The CABRILLO file format is the standard for logs. However you may use the Excel or Word documents which will be provided in the Resources section of this Contest on the ARSI web site.

The following is the Cabrillo format for this contest. This is similar to ARRL-DX if you are using a regular logging program.

START-OF-LOG: 3.0
CALLSIGN: Your Call Sign
CONTEST: ARSI-HIMALAYAN
CATEGORY-OPERATOR: SINGLE-OP/MULTI-OP
CATEGORY-BAND: ALL
CATEGORY-MODE: MIXED
CATEGORY-POWER: HIGH/LOW/QRP
CATEGORY-TRANSMITTER: ONE/TWO/UNLIMITED
CLAIMED-SCORE: 2356
CLUB: Your Local Club Name if applicable
NAME: Your Name
ADDRESS: Your Address Line 1
ADDRESS: Your Address Line 2
ADDRESS: Your Address Line 3
OPERATORS: List call signs of all operators 
SOAPBOX: Put your comments here.
SOAPBOX: Use multiple lines if needed.
QSO:  7025 CW 2012-04-29 0911 VU2VWN        599 KL     VU2TS         599 KA     0
QSO: 14185 PH 2012-04-29 1020 VU2VWN        59  KL     N2UR          59  400    0
QSO:  3545 CW 2012-04-29 1143 VU2VWN        599 KL     VU2NKS        59  MH     0
END-OF-LOG:
 

Each QSO lines above will be formatted as below in text mode – the starting column of each line is important. Windows Notepad is an appropriate tools to just type this up.

                         UTC  --------info sent------- -------info rcvd-------- QSO: freq  mo date       time call          rst exch   call          rst exch   t QSO: ***** ** yyyy-mm-dd nnnn ************* nnn ****** ************* nnn ****** n QSO:  7025 CW 2012-04-29 0911 VU2VWN        599 KL     VU2TS         599 KA     0 QSO: 14185 PH 2012-04-29 1020 VU2VWN        59  KL     N2UR          59  400    0 QSO:  3545 CW 2012-04-29 1143 VU2VWN        599 KL     VU2NKS        59  MH     0 000000000111111111122222222223333333333444444444455555555556666666666777777777788 123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901  

Note the Cabrillo log format abbreviations for CW and SSB are CW and PH respectively.

If your radio does not use CAT control from a computerized logging program you may use the following FREQ designators in the QSO line of the Cabrillo log for each band.

80m    - 3500
40m    - 7000
20m    - 14000
15m    - 21000
10m    - 28000

(c) E-mail is the expected method of log submission. Please provide only your call sign in the SUBJECT line of the email. Logs in CABRILLO, Microsoft Excel or text format replicating the above columns may be sent to [email protected]

(d) Instructions for paper logs: Paper logs using may be mailed to Prasad Rajagopal, PO Box 7523, Bangalore, 560075. Please superscribe the envelope in bold as “HIMALAYAN CONTEST”. Each paper log entry must be accompanied by a Summary Sheet listing all scoring information, the category of competition, and the entrant’s name and mailing address in BLOCK LETTERS.

(e) Logging Software: SD by Paul O’Kane EI5DI now supports this contest on a free basis for both the VU and DX ends. The software is available from http://www.ei5di.com

13. Rule Violations: Violation of amateur radio regulations or the rules of the contest; unsportsmanlike conduct; taking credit for excessive unverifiable QSOs or multipliers; use of any non-amateur means of communication to SOLICIT, ARRANGE, or CONFIRM any contacts during or after the contest will be deemed sufficient cause for disqualification.

14. Declaration: By submitting an entry in the ARSI Himalayan Contest you agree that:

(a) you have read and understood the rules of the contest and agree to be bound by them,

(b) you have operated according to all rules and regulations that pertain to your amateur radio license,

(c) your log entry may be made open to the public when notifying awards and scores, and

(d) all actions and decisions of ARSI are official and final.

15. Deadline: All entries must be emailed or postmarked NO LATER than November 30^th, 2014. Logs emailed or postmarked after the deadline may be ineligible for any awards.

16. Abbreviations of VU States & Union Territories:

17. Questions:

Any questions pertaining to the ARSI Himalayan Contest may be e-mailed to the ARSI Contests & Awards Manager, Prasad VU2PTT, at [email protected]