January 9th - Ohio ARES VHF Contest

For additional information visit https://ohsimplex.org/

The purpose of our annual simplex activity is to improve our station and antenna capabilities, and to test our coverage areas on simplex frequencies.  These may be very important in times of emergency, when repeaters have failed and simplex is the only method of emergency communication.  We are NOT giving any consideration for backup power- this exercise is aimed at testing antennas and determining coverage areas.

Bands

 All bands from 50 MHz up

We recommend the following frequencies:

                50 MHz – Standard simplex calling frequencies  Your QSO Points X 10 for six meters!!

                146.49 (alternate 146. 46) for VHF

                UHF and above -  Standard simplex calling frequencies

Modes

                ALL MODES are acceptable-  it’s your choice

                Digital- using any mode generally accepted by NBEMS/ARES in fldigi.  (Default = Mt63 2K)

Entry Categories

FIXED: Any fixed station can operate. Single or Multiple Operators, no restrictions.

FIXED EOC:  Any station using equipment and antennas permanently installed at an EOC. An EOC is recognized under the same provisions as a Field Day category “F”. 

PORTABLE:  Any station established under portable conditions in a temporary location.

ROVER:  Any mobile operator may join as a “Rover”.   A rover vehicle may transport only one station using a single call sign.  It may be in motion or stopped.

 Rover vehicles must transport all the equipment, power supplies, and antennas used at each operating site. Rovers MUST sign "rover" on Phone and /R on CW and digital modes after their call sign.

Exchange

The exchange will include your station callsign and your county.  In the case of stations outside Ohio, please include your state.  

If you are operating from an EOC, please include that in your exchange. ( +5 for them)

If you are an ARES official (AEC and above) Identify yourself as such. ( +5 for them)

You are encouraged to announce your station details if you wish, so that other stations can judge the performance of their equipment. This is NOT a part of the required exchange.

Scoring

No duplicate contacts per band / mode.  Rover/mobiles can be contacted one time in each county.

QSO Points

                Each contact is worth 1 point.  

                Each contact with an EOC station is an additional 5 points per QSO. That would score as 6 points.

                Each contact with an AEC or above is +5 points. That would score as 6 points.

                Each 6 meter contact = 10 points!

Multipliers

                Multiply your QSO points (calculated above) by the total number of counties you’ve reached.

                Make sure you include your own county.

                Rover/mobile station DOUBLE the number of counties you’ve contacted.

                Rover/mobile add 25 to your final score.  

                EOC stations add 50 to your final score.

Portable stations add 100 points to your final score.

All entrants, regardless of category, are permitted to use spotting assistance or nets including but not limited to DX-alerting nets, internet chat rooms, APRS and other packet, reverse beacon networks and repeaters to identify stations available for contacts and to announce (self-spot) their availability for contacts. Announcements shall be limited to call sign, location, band or frequency. These methods of spotting assistance may also be used to coordinate antenna peaking prior to initiation of the contact and to explain contest rules, such as the exchange required, for those who need clarification.

Scores should be emailed to contest@k8es.org  before February 15.

Ohio ARES Simplex VHF contest, January 9, 2018.

My station call _______________         My County ______________________

Number of hours operated __________    Number of operators ___________

QSO Points (Include all bands, all +5 points)                                          __________

Number of counties worked (include your own! Rover X2)             __________

Multiply QSO points above by total counties worked                        __________

Rover/Mobile add 25 points                                                                       __________

EOC Operation: Add 50 points                                                                    __________

Portable Operation:  Add 100 points                                                        __________

TOTAL SCORE     QSO pts X Counties =   (+50 +100)                             __________

Submitted by: ____________________________________