80 metres Counties Contest

The Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS) 80 metres Counties Contest takes place on Thursday 1st January 2009.

Rules for this contest were published in the October-November 2008 issue of Echo Ireland - they are also available for download at www.irts.ie/rules

In previous years, during this contest there has been a lot of contest activity around 3.680 MHz, a popular frequency for those chasing Worked All Ireland squares. This frequency is however outside the contest-preferred parts of the 80 metres band. To encourage all participants in the Counties Contest to adhere to the Band Plan, we have amended the contest rules to make it a requirement that the IARU Region 1 Band Plan should be observed. We have also provided that CW contacts in this contest should only be made in the recognised CW end of the band.

While 3.775 MHz to 3.800 MHz is within the SSB contest-preferred segment of the band, the Band Plan also indicates that priority should be given to intercontinental operation in this segment. Given that the Counties Contest is largely a local contest, we have indicated therefore that no operation should take place above 3.775 MHz.

In summary, the frequencies available to contesters in the 80 metres Counties Contest are: CW 3.510-3.560 MHz;
SSB 3.600-3.650 and 3.700-3.775 MHz.

IRTS