San Bernardino Microwave Society '2GHz and Up' Contest for 2006

In the spirit of stimulating more activity in the microwave bands, the San Bernardino Microwave Society (SBMS) members came up with the '2GHz and Up' Contest.

The 2006 contest period is April 29 to April 30, and runs for 24 hours.

This contest should encourage activity and level some of the microwave contest playing field. The contest would involve activity from 2GHz and up, and center around club activity. Members tally up their scores and add them up with other members’ scores to make up a Club Score. The final score is then submitted in one of three categories based on club size.

For the purposes of this contest, you can make up a club of two and call yourselves whatever you like. (However, we don’t encourage names that may not appear in print). This is not meant to break up a large club into 25 small clubs, for example, but rather to give isolated stations, roving groups and others a chance to win in a special category.

For instance, several SBMS members have extensive roving stations on multiple bands. Should they enter as a separate club or should they be a part of SBMS? We felt that
ordinarily if you are a member of an established club you should enter under that club name. However, if you are not a current member of a club, either join one or start your own. Minimum club size is two members/operators with separate stations. The contest rules appear below. This is still a very new event and we look forward to your comments to improve it.

Go to the SBMS Web site for more details:
http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms/club_contest/2GHz_Up_test_2006.pdf

2006 2GHz and Up World Wide Club Contest Sponsored by the San Bernardino Microwave Society

1. Object
Worldwide club groups of amateurs work as many amateur stations in as many different locations as possible in the world on bands from 2GHz through Light.

2. Date and Contest Period
The 2006 dates for the 2GHz and Up Contest are April 29 to April 30,. Operations take place for 24 hours total on the contest weekend. The weekend begins at 6AM local Saturday
though 12 Midnight local Sunday. Listening times count as operating time. Times off must be clearly indicated in the log.

3. Club Entry Categories
Clubs will be divided into three categories by number of active members:
Small = 2-10
Medium = 11-50
Large = 51 and more

4. Exchange
Six-character Maidenhead Locator (see April 1994 QST, p 86 or www.arrl/org/locate/gridinfo.html). Signal report is optional.

5. Miscellaneous
Scheduling contacts is both permissible and encouraged. Stations are encouraged to operate from more than a single location. For purposes of the contest, a change of location is
defined as a move of at least 16 km (10 miles). A station may be worked again on each band for additional credit by either end of the contact after moving to a new location.

Contacts may not be duplicated on the second day (that is at least one end of the QSO must be from a different location). Contacts must be made over a minimum distance of 1 km.

A transmitter used to contact one or more stations may not be used subsequently under any other call during the contest period. The intent of this rule is to prohibit “manufactured” contacts.

6. Scoring
Distance points: The distance in km between stations for each successfully completed QSO. One point per kilometer (eg., 10km is 10 points).

QSO points: Count 100 QSO points for each unique call sign worked per band. Portable indicators added to a call sign are not considered as making the call sign unique.

In making the distance calculations, a string (or ruler) and map may be used. However, calculations by computer program are preferred. Several such programs are available,
including a BASIC program listing in The ARRL World Grid Locator Atlas. For purposes of making calculations, stations are defined as being located in the center of the
six-character locator sub-square (most computer programs make this assumption).

7. Multipliers are based on power output
• 1mW to 500mW: 3x
• 501mW to 5W: 2x
• 5.1W and up: 1x
Once you designate your power class, you cannot change it to get larger multipliers. For example, if you start the contest with a 5W rig, and the amplifier breaks, making your
power output 2mW, you must calculate your score with a 1x multiplier, not a 3x multiplier.

You can have a different power level for each band.
Log page example from K6ODV: K6ODV is part of a club called The SC6MS, which consists of K6ODV and N6RMJ. At the end of the event, K6ODV and N6RMJ send in both logs with a summary sheet, simply combining the total score from both operators to enter their club score.

K6ODV Log – SBMS 2GHz and Up Contest
Call Grid Square REC Grid Square
SENT Unique Call/Band 100pts ea Band GHz Distance Points
(km) Power Multiplier QSO Points
N6XQ DM04MS DM05DR 1 2 126 1 126
N6XQ DM04MS DM05DR 1 3 126 2 252
N6XQ DM04MS DM05DR 1 5 126 1 126
WA6CGR DM05FO DM05DR 1 2 21 1 21
Totals 400 525

Total score is 400 + 525 = 925

Explanation:
K6ODV uses 20W to work N6XQ on 2GHz, 126km distance (20W = x1) = 126 points
K6ODV uses 5W to work N6XQ on 3GHz, 126km distance (5W = x2) = 252 points
K6ODV uses 5.1W to work N6XQ on 5GHz, 126km distance (5W = x1) = 126 points

K6ODV’s 2GHz amplifier blows up, and the rig puts out 2mW, but he makes a QSO with WA6CGR anyway, at a distance of 21km. Note the multiplier still reflects the use of high power – the 2GHz category he chose to enter at the beginning of the contest (20W x1) = 21 points.

There are a total of 4 unique calls, at 100 points each for a total of 400 points Total Unique Calls per band (400) + Total QSO Points (525) = 925 total score for K6ODV.

Add all club members’ total scores to come up with the Total Club Score. All scores are to be submitted to the SBMS Contest Committee as a club total. No individual scores will
be accepted for this competition.

Send entries no later than 30 days after the contest to be considered.

Send contest logs via snail-mail to SBMS Contest Committee, Pat Coker, N6RMJ, 40916 179th Street, Lancaster CA 93535, USA

Scores will be posted on the SBMS web page at http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms/

Winners in each of the club categories (Small, Medium, Large) will receive a certificate, suitable for framing.

Source: Radio Amateurs of Canada

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