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2009 September VHF QSO Party Rules

General Rules

1. Object: To work as many amateur stations in as many different 2 degrees X 1 degree grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. Foreign stations work W/VE amateurs only.
2. Date and Contest Period: The second full weekend of September. Begins 1800 UTC Saturday and ends 0300 UTC Monday (September 12 - 14, 2009).
3. Entry Categories:
1. 3.1. Single Operator.
  1. 3.1.1. Low Power
  2. 3.1.2. High Power
  3. 3.2. Single Operator Portable.
2. 3.3. Rover. A rover is comprised of no more than two operators that moves among two or more grid squares during the course of a contest. An operator may perform any or all rover functions, but a driver's function shall be limited to driving the vehicle. Drivers may be switched out during the event. Any number of observers is also allowed, however observers may not perform any rover function at any time. Rover vehicles with only one occupant are allowed to perform all functions listed above.
  1. 3.3.1. A rover vehicle may transport only one station using a single call sign. An exception is provided for in "General Rules for All ARRL Contests" number 3.5 (Family Rule).
  2. 3.3.2. A rover may not operate with more than one call sign.
  3. 3.3.3. Rover vehicles must transport all the equipment, power supplies, and antennas used at each operating site.
  4. 3.3.4. Rovers MUST sign "rover" on Phone and /R on CW and digital modes after their call sign.
  5. 3.3.5. All Rovers are encouraged to adopt operating practices that allow as many stations as possible to contact them.
  6. 3.3.6. Rover operators may submit separate logs for single operator (fixed station) in addition to their rover entries. Rovers submitting a score for inclusion in a club competition must also include a secondary summary sheet indicating the portion of the score that counts for the club score if any of the QSOs submitted take place outside of their club's territory.
  7. 3.3.7. Rovers are permitted to use APRS. Rovers using APRS transmit only their call sign and position. Any multi-op station may access rover APRS data directly or via the Internet.
  8. 3.3.8. A rover may not make more than 100 QSOs with any other one rover.
3. 3.4. Limited Rover. Same as the “Rover” class above, but operation is permitted only on the 6 Meter, 2 Meter, 220 MHz and 432 MHz bands. Output power limits shall be the same as those defined for the Single Operator Low Power category.
4. 3.5 Unlimited Rover. Same as “Rover” class above, but Unlimited Rovers may use more than two operators and are exempt from rules 3.3.3 and 3.3.8.
  1. 3.5.1. Unlimited Rover scores may NOT be applied to a club score for Club Competition. Please see “General Rules For All ARRL Contests Above 30 MHz” for more information on the Rover categories.
5. 3.6. Multioperator:
  1. 3.6.1. Multioperator (Unlimited): Stations submit logs with more than four bands used.
  2. 3.6.2. Limited Multioperator: Stations submit logs with a maximum of four bands used. (Logs from additional bands used, if any, should be included as checklogs.)
4. Exchange: Grid-square locator (see April 1994 QST, p 86).
1. 4.1. Exchange of grid square is required. Exchange of signal report is optional.
5. Scoring:
1. 5.1. QSO points:
  1. 5.1.1. Count one point for each complete 50- or 144-MHz QSO.
  2. 5.1.2. Count two points for each 222- or 432-MHz QSO.
  3. 5.1.3. Count three points for each 902- or 1296-MHz QSO.
  4. 5.1.4. Count four points for each 2.3-GHz (or higher) QSO.
2. 5.2. Multiplier: The total number of different grid squares worked per band. Each 2 degrees X 1 degree grid square counts as one multiplier on each band it is worked.
3. 5.3. Final score: Multiply the total number of QSO points from all bands operated by the total number of multipliers for final score.
4. 5.4. Rovers only: The final score consists of the total number of QSO points from all bands times the sum of unique multipliers (grid squares) worked per band (regardless of which grid square they were made in) plus one additional multiplier for every grid square activated (made a contact from).
  1. 5.4.1. Rovers are listed in the contest score listings under the Division from which the most QSOs were made.
  2. 5.4.2. Rovers who submit scores for the club competition must submit a separate summary sheet and log indicating QSOs and score if they make any contacts from outside of the club territory. The summary sheet should be clearly marked “for club competition only” and must be emailed separately to contests@arrl.org
6. Miscellaneous:
1. 6.1. Stations may be worked for credit only once per band from any given grid square, regardless of mode. This does not prohibit working a station from more than one grid square with the same call sign (such as a Rover).
2. 6.2. Only one signal per band (6, 2, 1 1/4, etc) at any given time is permitted, regardless of mode.
3. 6.3. Multioperator stations may not include QSOs with their own operators except on frequencies higher than 2.3 GHz. Even then, a complete, different station (transmitter, receiver and antenna) must exist for each QSO made under these conditions.
7. Awards:
1. 7.1. Certificates will be awarded in the following categories.
  1. 7.1.1. Top Single Operator High and Single Operator Low power in each ARRL/RAC Section.
  2. 7.1.2. Top Single Operator High and Single Operator Low power on each band (50, 144, 222, 432, 902, 1296 and 2304-and-up categories) in each ARRL/RAC Section where significant effort or competition is evident. (Note: Since the highest score per band will be the award winner for that band, an entrant may win a certificate with additional single-band endorsements.) For example, if KA1RWY has the highest single-operator low-power all-band score in the CT Section and her 50- and 222-MHz scores are higher than any other CT single operator’s, she will earn a certificate for being the single-operator Section leader and endorsements for 50 and 222 MHz.
  3. 7.1.3. Top Single Operator Portable in each ARRL/RAC Section where significant effort or competition is evident. (Single Operator Portable entries are not eligible for single-band awards.)
  4. 7.1.4. Top rover in each ARRL Division and Canada where significant effort or competition is evident. (Rover entries are not eligible for single-band awards.)
  5. 7.1.5. Top multi-operator score in each ARRL/RAC Section where significant effort or competition is evident. (Multioperator entries are not eligible for single-band awards.)
  6. Top limited multi-operator in each ARRL/RAC Section where significant effort or competition is evident. (Limited multi-operator entries are not eligible for single-band awards.)
  7. 7.1.6. Top scoring club in each club competition category will be awarded a gavel.
  8. See “General Rules for all ARRL Contests” for club competition information.
8. Submission:
1. 8.1. All submissions must be emailed to SeptemberVHF@arrl.org or postmarked no later than 0300z Wednesday, October 14, 2009. Paper logs should be mailed to Sept VHF QSO Party, ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Logs mailed or emailed after the submission deadline may be designated as check logs.
2. 8.2. Stations that use computers to log must send the electronic log in the Cabrillo file format for entry into the results. Submitted electronic files must be in ASCII / text readable format. A paper printout of an electronically created log is not an acceptable substitute for the required log file.
3. 8.3. Electronically submitted entries are considered signed.
4. 8.4. Logs may be submitted via the special web applet at www.b4h.net/cabforms
5. 8.5. All paper entries must include a fully completed summary sheet and a complete log of the contacts made.
9. Other:
1. 9.1. See “General Rules for All ARRL Contests” and “General Rules for ARRL Contests on bands above 50 MHz (VHF)” November 2001 QST or at the Contest Branch Website at: http://www.arrl.org/contests
  1. 9.1.1 For queries contact contests@arrl.org or (860) 594-0295.
2. 9.2. Forms may be obtained by:
  1. 9.2.1. Downloading from the Internet at the Contest Branch Website: http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms.
  2. 9.2.2. Sending an SASE to September VHF Form Request, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.