ARRL has clarified its contest rules to clearly prohibit the practice of interleaved CQs — also known as “dueling CQs” — on two or more frequencies in the same band. The clarification is an extension of existing rules that permit only “one transmitted signal,” and it formalizes what had been a “gentleman’s agreement.”
“ARRL reviewed it, concurred that this is technically occupying two channels, and in consultation with several members of the Board of Directors — who had been contacted by concerned parties — and the Programs and Services Committee, it was concluded we needed to ‘clarify’ our existing rules,” ARRL Contest Branch Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, said.
An explanatory paragraph points out, “The intent of the rules has always been that a participant would use/occupy only a single channel in a given band, changing frequency in band from time to time leaving a CQ frequency to work a multiplier or to change the CQing frequency as band occupancy or changing propagation dictated, and this rules clarification will now give the needed added clarity to that intent.”
The issue arose when a multioperator station successfully employed in-band interleaved CQs in the last ARRL International DX SSB event, substantially boosting their score.
The topic subsequently occupied a lot of bandwidth on the CQ-Contest reflector, where elite contester Frank Donovan, W3LPL, observed, “That doesn’t make it right for [a contest station] to follow this practice that is generally understood to be unacceptable behavior by all of the rest of us.” At the time of the event, however, ARRL rules did not explicitly prohibit the practice, and as another top contester, Steve London, N2IC, asked, “Falls under the ‘what is not specifically prohibited is allowed’ rule?”
Responding to a poster who said dueling CQs on the same band was simply “innovation,” Hans Brakob, K0HB, opined, “By any reasonable measure, running interleaved CQs on two [frequencies] in the same band consumes two operating channels on that band. In the existing period of limited propagation, many would consider such double-occupancy of a finite resource to be selfish, not innovative.”
The update brings ARRL’s contest rules in line with those of CQ-sponsored contests, which already prohibit the practice of in-band, interleaved CQs. The IARU HF Championship Contest bans the practice for multioperator entries.
The ARRL Contest Advisory Committee (CAC) was not directly involved in revising the rule. The rule clarification does not prohibit the practice of alternating CQs on different bands, also called 2BSIQ — two-band synchronized interleaved QSOs.
Source:ARRL
Antenna
Welcome to the 400th Ask Dave video! Ken, VE7ZY, is having trouble with an 80m dipole mounted very closely to the roof flashing. He is seeking other alternatives. We look at hamsticks, loops, and screwdrivers as alternatives for such low fr... Read more
Equipment
Ailunce HS2 HF VHF UHF SDR Transceiver
Ailunce HS2 is an ultra-portable full-frequency full-mode SDR radio. The HAM-BOX mobile app we developed allows the mobile phone to easily control and... Read more
Elecraft KX3 GoBox
As I was contacted by a few HAMs where to get “my” box I would like to give you a little parts-overview. Unfortunately I`m not able to manufacture thi... Read more
RF SHARK SHORTWAVE RECEIVER KIT
The receiver works according to the double superhet principle and is designed for the frequency range from 40 kHz to 30 MHz. It is characterized by an... Read more
DRM Monitoring Receiver RF-SE
RF-SE is a professional DRM30/AM/SSB monitoring and measurement receiver, which is available in different models depending on the desired application.... Read more
R&S®EM100XT Digital Compact Receiver
EM100XT Digital Compact Receiver Compact radiomonitoring from 9 kHz to 7.5 GHz. Weather proof IP67 Key Facts Same functionality as R&S®EM100 IP 67... Read more
MFJ-269C HF/VHF/220MHZ/UHF,.530-230,415-470MHZ,SWR ANALYZER
MFJ-269C Covers 530 KHz-230 MHz and 415-470 MHz . . . SWR . . . Complex RFImpedance: Resistance(R) and Reactance(X) or Magnitude(Z) and Phase(degrees)... Read more
MFJ-1936T GROUND ROD, W/CLAMP,+342T+WIRE BUNDLE
The MFJ-1936 is a HOT new product from MFJ for those who wish to be QUICK with their antenna set-ups! For those hams on-the-go to their next adventur... Read more
KAT500 High-Power Auto-Tuner & Smart Antenna Switch
The KAT500 is a high power autotuner that can be used with both the K3/KPA500 and all other HF amplifiers and transceivers. The KAT500 uses the same... Read more
VHF
GMRS-50X1 – 50 Watt GMRS Mobile Radio from BTECH is Released
“A High Power 50 Watt GMRS Mobile Radio from BTECH is Released BTECH announced today the North American release of the BTECH GMRS-50X1. The GMRS... Read more
WRC-19: request to support 50MHz
As the run-up to WRC-19 gathers pace, the UK Six Metre Group has also written to Ofcom in support of a positive approach to Agenda Item 1.1 concerning... Read more
HYS TC-MAUV11 Dual Band with DTMF
HYS TC-MAUV11 Product Detail Basic Info Model NO.: TC-MAUV11 Type: Vehicle Mouted Function: Mobile Radio Place of Origin: Fujian, China (Mainland) Bra... Read more
Student from Saint Paul’s School Rajkot receives ISS SSTV
14-year-old Snehal Vagadia VU3WHO successfully received his first Slow Scan TV image from the International Space Station on Sunday, February 10. It w... Read more
VHF /UHF / SHF Distance Records
DX Records VHF /UHF / SHF Distance Records Claimed North American Distance Records as of June 4, 2014. List maintained by Al Ward, W5LUA. Send... Read more
50MHZ PREAMPLIFIER WITH FM NOTCH FILTER
A 50 – 54 MHz ( 6 meter ) HF preamplifier with innovative design. Input notch filter for FM frequency 88- 108 MHz. Noise figure of 0,5db. Perfec... Read more
How To Do a VHF SOTA Activation by K0NR
The Summits On The Air (SOTA) program has really taken off in North America. SOTA originated in the UK in 2002, so it took a little while for i... Read more
G-Series P25 – VHF UHF and 700-800 MHz
VIDEO http://www.unicationusa.com/ Read more