2013 Contest Rules

(PDF Version)

Object

For amateur radio operators outside the state of North Carolina to make contact with North Carolina stations.  Amateur radio operators within North Carolina, activating as many NC counties as possible, making contact with everyone, including other NC stations.


Contest Period

    1500 UTC February 24, 2013 to 0059 UTC February 25, 2013.  (10 am to 8 pm EST on February 24, 2013).
    All stations may operate the entire contest period.


Categories

Single-Op
One person performs all operating and logging functions operating from a fixed, permanent location set up for amateur radio operation.

Mobile
One or more persons perform operating and logging functions from a self contained vehicle capable of operating while in motion.   Motion is optional.  All apparatus used must be wholly contained in or on the vehicle.  Attention to driving and safety is of top priority if operating while in motion.  Use of a separate driver (whether an amateur radio operator or not) is allowed and strongly encouraged. 

Mobile stations that choose to move to a new county may work everyone again for QSO credit.  If returning to a previously activated county, only new stations, respective of band and mode, not previously worked from there may be counted as QSO credit.  See County Hunter rules to determine the county border.

Expedition
One or more persons operating from a temporary location using portable antennas and radios.  No  permanent antenna structures may be used.  Use of trees, buildings, etc to raise antennas is allowed as long as it is safe to do so and not originally intended for that purpose.

Expedition stations that choose to move to a new county may work everyone again for QSO credit.  If returning to a previously activated county, only new stations, respective of band and mode, not previously worked from there may be counted as QSO credit.  See County Hunter rules to determine the county border.

The purpose of the Expedition category is to deploy activity to the less populous counties in a more complete fashion not attained by a mobile passing through.  In order to differentiate this type of operation from a mobile and encourage more comprehensive coverage, mobile radios, equipment, and antennas installed in and on a vehicle wholly for mobile operation are not permitted to be used in this class.

Club
Two or more persons using a valid FCC issued club call perform operating and logging functions.  No band or mode change limit.  Operation may be from one permanent or portable location, but the location must remain fixed throughout the contest.

Awards

Plaques will be awarded for first place, and certificates for runners-up, in the following categories:

Single-Op / In-State / Phone
Single-Op / In-State / CW
Single-Op / In-State / Mixed Mode
Single-Op / In-State / QRP (Mixed Mode)
Single-Op / Out-of-State / Phone
Single-Op / Out-of-State / Mixed Mode
Single-Op / Out-of-State / QRP (Mixed Mode)
Mobile / In-State / Phone
Mobile / In-State / Mixed Mode
Expedition / In-State / Mixed Mode
Expedition / In-State / QRP (Mixed Mode)
Club / In-State / Phone
Club / In-State / Mixed Mode
Most NC Counties Worked


Exchange

In State Stations work everyone.  Send call sign and NC county.

Out of State Stations work NC stations only.  Send call sign and QTH (State, Province, or DXCC prefix.)

Sending signal report (i.e., 59) is optional.


Frequency
   
No cross-band QSOs are allowed.

No repeater, satellite, or internet transponders may be used to complete a QSO for award credit.

Bands
80/75, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, and 2 meters.  No 160, WARC, or above 2 meters.

Suggested operating frequencies (MHz)
CW: 3.540, 7.040, 14.040, 21.040, 28.040, 50.040, 144.040.
PHONE:  3.860, 7.260, 14.260, 21.360, 28.360, 50.160 (SSB), 52.040 (FM), 144.260 (SSB), 146.580(FM).

Mobile/Expedition Window
5 kHz segment just below suggested frequencies for CW and 10 kHz segment just below suggested frequencies above for phone.  Single-Op and Club stations refrain from calling CQ within these windows in order to allow mobile/expedition operation there.  Allow courtesy and common sense to prevail!



Power

QRP - 5 watts or less.

Low Power - 150 watts or less. 

All entrants competing for awards that are not QRP must operate low power.


Modes
   
Phone
Includes SSB, AM, FM voice.

CW
All CW QSO's for award credit must take place in the CW sub portion of the band.  Does not include any other digital mode.

Mixed Mode
Both Phone and CW as described above.  No cross mode QSOs are allowed for award credit.


Scoring

QSO Points
Phone - 2 points for each phone QSO.  The same Phone station may be worked again on different bands.

CW - 3 points for each CW QSO.  The same CW station may be worked again on different bands.

It is permissible to work the same station on both CW and Phone on each band.

A valid QSO logged for award credit consists of date, time, mode, call sign, and location as described in Exchange above.  Only one County/State/Province/DX can be included in a QSO at a time.

Multipliers
100 North Carolina Counties, 50 US States plus DC, 14 Canadian Provinces/Territories (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NU, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, and YK).

All others are DX, including US Territories, Mexican provinces, and DXCC countries.  No restriction on NC stations to work DX for QSO credit, but only one multiplier is applied in the calculation of the final score.

Multiplier Calculation
Count each multiplier worked only once across all modes or bands.

In-state: Add number of NC counties 100, states plus DC (excluding NC), and Canadian provinces worked. Add one DXCC prefix, if worked.  165 possible.

Out-of-state:  Add number of NC counties worked.  100 possible.

Bonus Points
50 Points for working NI4BK aboard the battleship USS North Carolina, 50 points for working RARS Club station W4DW, 150 points if both NI4BK and W4DW are worked for award credit.

50 Points for working CHE (Cherokee) County, 50 Points for working DAR (Dare) County, 150 points if both CHE and DAR are worked for award credit.

100 bonus points for each county activated where at least one QSO was worked, applies to mobiles and Expedition class only.

Final Score
Multiply the total QSO points times the total multiplier value.  Add bonus points to score (as applicable) after the multiplication.

Submitting Logs

Cabrillo
Cabrillo format is required for all electronic logs submitted via the website or e-mail.  The category items that should be verified in the header with the valid selections to ensure proper scoring are:
CATEGORY-OPERATOR:  SINGLE-OP, EXPEDITION, MOBILE, CLUB, or CHECKLOG
CATEGORY-MODE:      CW, SSB or MIXED
CATEGORY-POWER:     LOW or QRP
ARRL-SECTION:       NC or (anything else)

General
All logs must be received by April 1, 2013 (Paper logs postmarked by this date). Electronic submission via the website is encouraged. Electronic logs submitted via the website or e-mail with proper Cabrillo header do not require summary sheet.  

Multiple mobile logs (if applicable) should be combined and submitted as one Cabrillo text (.LOG) file. 

Paper logs submitted via US Mail are required to include the completed NCQP Summary Sheet.  Paper logs are still accepted, please be aware these must be processed manually by a committee member.

Log Submission Methods
1) Web Page (Preferred):  Go to ncqsoparty.org/ncqp_logs.php and submit your log.

2) E-Mail:  Send as a Cabrillo text (.LOG) attachment to logs@ncqsoparty.org.  Include your call sign and award category name in the Subject field of the e-mail.

3) US Mail:  Send paper log together with the completed summary sheet to:  NC QSO Party. 1318 Alderman Circle, Raleigh, NC 27603.

Misc. Rules

All entrants competing for awards, in all categories, only one transmitted signal is permitted to be on the air at a time.

There are no band or mode change limits.

Use of spotting networks, nets, PacketCluster, Skimmer, and other assistance is allowed in all categories.

Use of remote radio equipment and antennas (via remote link) is permitted as long as the receive and transmit operation are located together in one location.

Final results will be posted on the NCQP web site. Plaques and certificates will be mailed to the recipients.

Members of the North Carolina QSO Party committee may participate but are not eligible for individual awards. A committee member's participation within a club category activation does not disqualify that club from award eligibility.

Bonus Club stations NI4BK aboard the battleship USS North Carolina and W4DW are not eligible for awards. Entrants in DAR (Dare county) and CHE (Cherokee county) are eligible for awards.

All licensed amateur radio operators may participate and submit their log for awards except as noted in these rules.

Each entrant submitting a log for an award agrees to be bound by the provisions, as well as the intent, of these rules, the requirements of his or her amateur license, and the decisions of the North Carolina QSO Party committee.


Updated 2/26/2013 - updated ARRL-SECTION designator.
Revised 12/12/2012