FT4 contests announced

RSGB FT4 Contest Series

A series of three short duration events on 80m to allow entrants to experience the latest machine-generated contest mode

As this series is experimental, there are likely to be changes as we develop experience with this mode, so please check the rules prior to each event

1. Objective

To score as many points as possible based on the the distance between stations (subject to a maximum score per QSO)

2. Date & Time

(1) Monday 2nd September 2019 19:00 – 19:59 UTC

(2) Monday 7th October 2019 19:00 – 19:59 UTC

(3) Monday 4th November 2019 20:00 – 20:59 UTC

All contests in this series will have a ‘Le Mans’ start. This means that entrants must not transmit during the two minutes immediately before the contest start time or use any other method to reserve a frequency.

3. Mode & Frequency

(a) Mode: FT4 only as implemented in WSJT-X V2.1.0. The installation packages for this software are available here

(b) Frequency:
(i) The default FT4 base frequency on 80m as advised by the developers will be used [dial frequency of 3575 kHz (USB)]

(ii) Transmission on multiple frequencies within one audio pass band is not permitted

(iii) Entrants are permitted to operate as a HOUND in FOX & HOUND mode

(iv) Entrants are not permitted to operate as a FOX in FOX & HOUND mode

4. Entrants and Sections

1. 100W output power
2. 10W output power

(a) Entrants may be Single or Multi-operator

(b) UK&CD entrants must be RSGB members

(c) Multi-Operator entries by RSGB members may include non-member operators whose highest class of licence is Foundation or Intermediate

(d) All entries are classified as Assisted

(e) Operation must be from a single Station location where all transmitters, receivers and antennas are located within a circle of a radius of no greater than 500m. Remote receivers outside of the Station location are not permitted

(f) Remote operation of a station is allowed where the operator is situated within the same country on the DXCC list. Additionally, an operator’s home station, as shown in the licensee’s licence documents, may be remotely operated from a location in another country. A remotely operated station must obey all station licence, operator licence and category conditions. The callsign used must be one issued or permitted by the Regulatory Authority of the remote station location. The location of the Station must also comply with the requirements above.

(g) The address of the operator must be included in the ‘Address of Operator when operating Remote from Station Address’ box on the Station Information Page and the address of the remote station must be included in the Cabrillo header ‘ADDRESS:’ box. The RSGB HF Contest Committee may place remotely operated stations in a separate results table.

5. Exchange

(a) Report and 4-character Locator (e.g. IO91)

(b) Serial number is not required

6. Scoring

(a) One point per kilometre subject to a maximum score per QSO of 1250 points. Distance is calculated to the centre of the large Locator Square (e.g. IO84MM to IO91MM). A QSO between stations in the same large Locator Square will count for 50 points.

(b) A QSO with a station that does not send their four character locator will score the same as a QSO with a station in the same grid square ie 50 points

(c) Stations that do not send their four character locator as part of their contest exchange will score 50 points per QSO

(d) QSOs with G#6XX and G#3DR will count for 2500 points

(e) A UK&CD station is required to be at one or both ends of a contact for it to count for points

(f) Each station may work each other station once for points

(g) Stations operating outside the UK&CD are welcome to participate, and their scores will be listed with UK&CD stations in individual tables

(h) Scores will be normalised in each section for each contest and added to give a total score for the series per section

7. Log Submission and
Adjudication

(a) Submit your logfile in ADIF format as produced by WSJT-X or in Cabrillo format. Please submit your log here within 24 hours of the end of each event. Click on this link to view an example of the correct Cabrillo format for your logfile.

(b) If the log submission robot finds format errors, it will reject the log and ask for resubmission of a corrected logfile. (You can correct Cabrillo format errors using any text editor e.g. Notepad)

(c) If you have difficulties preparing or uploading your Cabrillo logfile, please contact the contest adjudicator to ask for assistance before the submission deadline

(d) Errors will incur penalties as outlined in the RSGB HF Adjudication Principles. This penalty will be the loss of an additional 50 QSO points.

(e) Adjudicated results will be online and will include online logfiles for all entrants

(f) The use of CAT control to log the correct frequency and mode is recommended

8. Results and Awards

(a) There will be separate tables of Results for each of the two sections

(b) A certificate may also be downloaded by all entrants showing their individual position

9. Supplementary Rules

(a)		Any infringement considered to be outside the spirit of the contest may result in an entry being reclassified as a Checklog or disqualified
(b)		Self-spotting or asking to be spotted is not permitted
(c)		Call signs logged must be the same as those exchanged over the air by the entrants during the QSO. Correction of logged call signs and exchanges after the contest, by use of any database, recordings, email or other methods, is not allowed.
(d)		All requests for contacts, responses to calls, and copying of call signs and contest exchanges must be accomplished during the contest period using the mode and frequencies of the contest

10. Declaration

By entering any RSGB HF Contest you declare that:

(a)		Your station was operated strictly in accordance with the rules and spirit of the contest, within the conditions of your licence, and that the power output from your transmitter was no greater than that permitted in the section of the contest that you are entering
(b)		You agree that decisions of the RSGB HF Contest Committee will be final in cases of dispute
(c)		By submitting a log entry, entrants give the RSGB permission to score, amend, publish, republish, print, and otherwise distribute that entry by any means