80 Metres Counties Contest

The Irish Radio Transmitters Society's 80 Metres Counties Contest takes place on New Year's Day, Tuesday the 1st of January 2008, from 14:00 to 17:00 UTC. Note the later start and finish times this year - the change has been made to facilitate more participation from overseas stations.

This is an SSB and CW contest, with sections for SSB only as well as SSB/CW mixed. There are also separate sections for portable stations, and an SWL section. The total score is calculated by multiplying the total number of points achieved by the number of EI or GI counties worked, so stations in the rarer counties should be in great demand. The full rules are on the IRTS web site.

This is a great opportunity to work those rare counties, and anyone who is working towards the special Jubilee Year WEIC Award should note that the 1st of January 2008 is the last day on which contacts can be made for this award.

Note again that the contest runs from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm, later start and finish times than in previous years. Also note that the phone contest preferred segments of the 80 metres band are 3.600 MHz to 3.650 MHz and 3.700 MHz to 3.800 MHz, so contest QSOs should not take place in the segment 3.650 MHz to 3.700 MHz.

Given that this is mainly a local contest, it is suggested that the segment from 3.775 MHz upwards be avoided, as there is priority for intercontinental operation in this segment.
For CW QSOs, the contest preferred segment is 3.510 MHz to 3.560 MHz.