Check out the results for the 2013 ARRL April Rookie Roundup.
 

Thanks to Bruce Horn, WA7BNM and his auto-magic programming skills, the RR results will now be posted much more quickly and certificates will be emailed in a much more timely manner.
 

Start planning now for the RTTY Rookie Roundup on August 18!

Fire up the PCs and get those soundcard interfaces working; RTTY returns to the Rookie Roundup!

This will be the second year for RTTY in the 'RR. One of the big differences in this year's RTTY RR, by popular request,  is the introduction of the Multioperator class as well as Team competition. A Multioperator entry is where several operators all participate from the same station, using the same call and same exchange (no matter who is operating). This is a perfect venue for clubs to help get their newly-licensed members on the air and enjoying amateur radio.

Team competition is where up to five Rookies all enter in the Single Operator category from their own station and submit a collective score in addition to their individual score. Team members can be anywhere in the world. Non-rookies and Multioperator entrants are not permitted to be on a team. Pre-registration of teams is required; go here to register your team. You can register a week before the RR starts; registration of teams or changes to existing teams can occur up to 15 minutes before the start of the RR.

With Cycle 24 in high gear, the high bands should provide some interesting propagation. Be sure to check 15 and 10 meters for activity!

There are some changes to the Rookie Roundup, effective with the April SSB RR.

We've received a lot of feedback, and one of the most common requests is to add a Multi-operator category. Beginning in April 2012, this is a reality! Any number of Rookie operators may now band together at a single QTH and take turns operating using a single call and submitting a single score. Note that Multi-operator teams are allowed only a single rig.

The second big addition is the creation of Team Competition Up to five Rookie Single-Operator entrants can operate the RR from separate stations and combine their scores for a cumulative team score. Team members can be located anywhere. Note that Multioperator entrants and non-rookies are not eligible to be part of a Team, only Rookie Single-Operators. You are also limited to being on only one team for each RR. Team registration will begin one week before each RR starts.

This is a PERFECT activity for your Club. Now you can have several of your newly-licensed members over to the Club station or a club member's shack and enter using a single call. If you have Rookie club members that have their own stations, help them form a team and compete with other teams!

We hope that these additions to the RR will help make the event more club-friendly for all. As always, Non-Rookies are encouraged to help the Rookies through on-site Elmering during the RR, and working Rookies in the event itself.

If you have any questions, drop me a line ; I'd be happy to help. I hope to hear you and your club members on the air for the Rookie Roundup this April!

73,

Sean Kutzko KX9X

Mission: To encourage newly-licensed operators (“Rookies”) in North America (including territories and possessions) to operate on the HF bands and experience competitive Amateur Radio operating. Experienced operators (“Non-Rookies”) are strongly encouraged to participate and help new operators – either on the air or in person.

Objective: Rookies exchange information with as many other stations as possible on the 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter HF bands.  Rookie entrants are encouraged to read “HF Contesting – Good Practices, Interpretations and Suggestions.”

The third Sunday of April, August and December from 1800 UTC through 2359 UTC.

 2013: 21 April (SSB), 18 August (RTTY), 22 December (CW) Note: December 22 is the 4th Sunday in 2013

April - SSB, August - RTTY, December - CW.

All score summaries (no logs are required or accepted) must be submitted within 72 hours of the end of the event.
 

The deadline for the April 2013 SSB Rookie Roundup is 23:59:59 UTC Wednesday, April 24, 2013.
 

No late submissions will be accepted.

All official entries must report their score using the WA7BNM Rookie Roundup Score Summary Form.

Submit your score

Electronic certificates will be emailed to the top five scoring Rookies in each US call area, Canadian province, Mexican call area and DX.  No national winners will be recognized. A commemorative participation certificate will be available for download to every Rookie operator submitting a log. Non-rookies submitting a check log will be recognized by call in the final results.

Rookie Roundup Rules [PDF]

1.      Mission and Objective

1.1. Mission: To encourage newly-licensed operators (“Rookies”) in North America (including territories and possessions) to operate on the HF bands and experience competitive Amateur Radio operating. Experienced operators (“Non-Rookies”) are strongly encouraged to participate and help new operators – either on the air or in person.

1.2. Objective: Rookies exchange information with as many other stations as possible on the 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter HF bands.  Rookie entrants are encouraged to read “HF Contesting – Good Practices, Interpretations and Suggestions.”

2.   Time Period, Modes, Frequencies and Power:

2.1. Time period: The third Sunday of April, August and December from 1800 UTC through 2359 UTC. [Note: For 2013 only, the December RR is the 4th Sunday]

2.2. Modes: April = SSB, August = RTTY, December = CW.

2.3. Frequencies: To find contest activity, tune near these frequencies:

      2.3.1. Phone: 3.850, 7.225, 14.240, 21.325, and 28.400 MHz.

      2.3.2. CW: 3.550, 7.050, 14,050, 21.050, and 28.050 MHz.

      2.3.3. RTTY: 3.580, 7.080, 14.080, 21.080, and 28.080 MHz

2.4. Power: All categories are limited to 100 watts transmitter power output.

3.   Entry Categories:

3.1. Single-Operator, Rookie

3.1.1. Rookie entries are limited to operators who received their first amateur license during the current year or preceding two calendar years. (See rule 4.1)

3.1.2. The use of information from a spotting network (“spotting assistance”) is permitted. Spotting yourself on a spotting network (“self-spotting”) or asking others to spot you is not allowed. See “HF Contesting – Good Practices, Interpretations and Suggestions” for clarification. (See 1.2 above)

3.1.3. Rookie stations may contact Rookie or non-Rookie stations. (Also see 3.4)

3.1.4. Rookie stations are encouraged to identify themselves as a Rookie station by calling “CQ RR” on CW or RTTY and “CQ Rookie Roundup” on SSB. 

3.2. Multioperator, Rookie

3.2.1. Any number of Rookie operators may participate as a multioperator entry from a single station. (Also see 6.6)

3.2.2. Multioperator stations may transmit only one signal at a time using a single transmitter during the contest.

3.2.4. Multioperator stations are not eligible to participate in team entries. 

3.3. Team

3.3.1. Team entries may be submitted containing up to five (5) different single-operator entries.  The single-operator entries will be listed separately in the results.  A single-operator entry may be a member of only one team.

3.3.2. Team entries must be registered with the ARRL Contest Branch prior to the contest using the on-line form on the Rookie Roundup web page (www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup). See the Rookie Roundup web page for registration deadlines.

3.4 Non-Rookie

There is no Non-Rookie entry category but experienced operators are encouraged to participate and report their contact totals using the online score reporting form on the Rookie Roundup web page (www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup). Non-Rookies may call CQ but may only work Rookie stations in the contest. Non-Rookie stations should call “CQ Rookie” on SSB and “CQ R” on RTTY or CW.

4.   Exchange: Call sign of station worked, your call sign, your first name, two-digit number of the year first licensed (“check”) and state, Canadian province, Mexican call area, or “DX”.

Examples:
NØAX from KB1QAW, Carol, 08, Connecticut
KX9X DE VE7XYZ DAVE 07 BC
KD2ABC DE XE1KK RAMON 96 XE1
KG6PQR from JH4NMT Toshi 75 DX

4.1. Rookies must have a check from the current year or any of the preceding two calendar years.  For example, in the 2013 Rookie Roundup events, Rookies must have a check of 13, 12, or 11.

5.   Scoring:

5.1. Points: 2 points for completed QSO between Rookie stations, 1 point for a completed QSO between a Rookie and a Non-Rookie station.  Contacts between Non-Rookie stations are not valid contacts in this event.

5.2. Multipliers:

5.2.1. Each US state and the District of Columbia (51 total) – use US postal codes as abbreviations. Be careful – many states have similar spellings and abbreviations! i.e. Missouri is MO, Minnesota is MN, Michigan is MI, Mississippi is MS, Maine is ME, Massachusetts is MA, etc.See the complete list of abbreviations at the end of these rules.

5.2.2. Canadian Provinces (13 total) : See the complete list of abbreviations at the end of these rules.5.2.3. Mexican call areas (5 total): XE1, XE2, XE3, XF1, and XF4

5.2.4. One generic DX multiplier, which includes contacts with US possessions (such as Puerto Rico KP4 and Guam KH2) and all other entities not listed in 5.2.1, 5.2.2 or 5.2.3.

5.2.5. The total number of possible multipliers is 70.

6. Miscellaneous:

6.1. Stations may be worked once per band. Multiplier credit is only given once, regardless of band.

6.2. Cross-band and cross-mode QSOs are not permitted. i.e. – Both stations must be on the same band and using the same mode.

6.3. During any single contest, entrants must make all QSOs from the same
state, province, call area, or DX entity. i.e. - Your exchange must contain
the same location information for all contacts.

6.4. QSOs made through repeaters or digipeaters are not permitted.

6.5. QSOs with aeronautical mobile stations do not count.

6.6. Non-rookie operators are encouraged to assist Rookie operators in person with
operating technique and instruction, including acting as the control operator to allow Technician class licensees to transmit with General or Extra class privileges.  Non-rookie operators may not, however, make any transmissions from the station or log any contacts.

7. Awards: Electronic certificates will be available for download by the top five scoring stations in each US call area, Canadian province, Mexican call area and DX stations.  No national winners will be recognized. A commemorative participation certificate will be available for download to every Rookie operator submitting a score.

8. Submission: All scores must be submitted via the Rookie Roundup online score report form within 72 hours of the contest’s conclusion.

9. Other information.

9.1. See “General Rules for All ARRL Contests” and “General Rules for ARRL Contests on Bands Below 30 MHz (HF)."

9.2. All contest queries should be directed to contests@arrl.org or by telephone to 860-594-0232.

APPENDIX

US State Postal Abbreviations [txt]

Canadian Provinces

For Rookie Roundup results, visit our Contest Results Articles.

US State Postal Abbreviations [txt]

Canadian Provinces

• Rookie Roundup Log Sheet [PDF]
  
• Rookie Roundup Score Summary Sheet [PDF]

Up to Five Single-Operator Rookie entrants may submit their scores as a Team. Teams must be registered in advance. Multioperator entrants are not allowed to participate as a member of a Team. Non-rookies are not permitted to be on a team.

Team registration will be available beginning one week before each Rookie Roundup and wiil be closed 15 minutes before the event starts.
 

Register Your Team

In the Rookie Roundup, a Rookie is defined has having been first licensed in the current calendar year or the previous two calendar years, regardless of license class.

No. A Rookie is defined by when they received their first license, regardless of country.

While we welcome participation by all hams, only those licensed three years or less may officially enter as a Rookie. Your participation to work Rookies on the air or assist a Rookie's operation is one of the main points of the event, so please get on the air and work some Rookies!

No. You must have received your first amateur license no more than three years ago to qualify as a Rookie.

Non-Rookies using a club call that was issued less than three years ago and entering as a Rookie is against the spirit of the Rookie Roundup.  A Rookie is defined by when the operator received a license, not when a particular call sign was issued.

The easiest thing you can do to help a Rookie is to get on the air and work Rookies. However, helping your club get Rookies on the air is also very helpful. Your non-Rookie club members can open their shacks and allow a Rookie to operate, provide in-the-shack coaching to a Rookie, or act as control operator to allow a Technician class licensee to operate in the General or Extra portion of the band (depending on your own license class). Information on being a control operator is found in FCC Part 97.105.

If you act as control operator for a Rookie, be sure to observe the Third-Party Traffic regulations; It is not legal for unlicensed (or under-licensed) third parties to communicate on the air with amateurs or with other unlicensed third parties at amateur stations without a third-party traffic agreement in place. In general, most European countries do not have third-party traffic agreements with the US, but many South American and some African and Caribbean nations do.  Information on third-party traffic regulations may be found here.

Yes. You can have several Single Operator entries, or host several Rookies as a Multioperator entry.