2011 PENNSYLVANIA FM SPRINT CONTEST

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• To promote FM Simplex operation.
  
• As a learning experience
  In an emergency, without a repeater, how far does your signal reach?
  
• To provide a fun, fast contest with equipment most hams already have.
  

Rules

• Base
  
• Club
  
• Rover
  
• Portable - Limited to 10W, with transceiver mounted antenna
  

Scoring:

1 point per contact (non-club station)

2 points for each club station contact

Multiplier is the number of unique ZIP's contacted
For Rovers/Portables, multiplier is the number of unique ZIP's contacted plus the number of ZIP's activated.
Final score = multiplier times contact points.

Log:

Heading: Your name, address, call sign, contest class, & operating region (EPA, WPA, Out of State).
Listing of contacts to include;

Your contact number; their call sign, zip, contact number; band, an indication if you contacted a club station.

For rovers and portables, your zip at time of contact.

Logs may be submitted in any format that you choose. Spreadsheets are nice, hand written lists are just as acceptable.

Awards:

Certificates will be issued for first, second, and third place, in all classes, in each sectional breakdown.
Results will be posted at www.harcnet.org.

• FCC and Industry Canada rules and regulations must be followed at all times.
  
• Base and club stations can only be worked once per band. Rovers and portables can be worked again when they have moved to a different ZIP.
  
• Rovers and portables cannot straddle ZIP code lines, only one ZIP may be given during each contact.
  
• To be eligible for Rover class, a minimum of two (2) ZIP codes must be activated.
  A ZIP code is considered activated when a successful contest contact is made from it.
• "Club Stations" must use a call that has been assigned as a "Club Call" by the FCC or Industry Canada to be eligible to use this class.
  
• Base, Rover, Portable stations can operate only one transmitter at any one time.
  Clubs may operate one transmitter per band at the same time. All club transmitters must be at the same location.
  Clubs may only use one call sign for the entire contest.
  
• No contacts on calling frequencies.
  52.525, 146.52, 223.5, 446.00 - please stay on FM simplex frequencies
  
• Only mode allowed is FM phone simplex.
  
• No repeater contacts, satellite, SSB, digital, CW or EME.
  
• No crossband, no split frequencies contacts.
  
• Pre-arranging contacts by use of repeaters, telephones, eMail, or other methods is not allowed, nor in the spirit of the contest.
  
• Requesting a move to another band during a contact is permitted.
  

• In the past participants have generally worked on the frequencies just above the calling ones. Look around: 146.535, 146.550, 146.565, 446.020; on 222 look down, 223.480
  
• Obviously, these are not the only frequencies available. Please be aware there are regular groups that use simplex and have their favorite meeting places. Be considerate, there is plenty of space for everyone.
  

Some additional considerations

• Rover and portable operations need some discretion. Sitting in a parked car talking on the radio invites suspicion. Walking around with a HT even more so. We suggest these participants be team efforts. Having a copy of your license might be helpful.
  
• Rovers, unless you have a partner in the vehicle, please don't work the contest unless you are parked. Trying to log stations while you are driving is a bad idea. Be aware of local cell phone laws as they apply to amateur radio.
  

© Copyright 2010 HARC
Design by: Mad Elf Productions
Updated 6/21/10