2007 Arkansas QSO Party set for second weekend of Sept.
Move up to allow recovery time for October events
by Bill Smith, K1ARK

Click for pdf version of article and rules.

**County abbreviations are at the bottom of this page.

The 2007 edition of the Arkansas QSO Party is set for the second weekend of September. The majority of the event rules, time frames and reporting requirements as last year are in effect this year.

The contest runs on Saturday, Sept. 8 (1400z on Sept. 8 to 0600z Sept. 9) then continues on Sunday, Sept. 9 (1500z Sept. 9 to 2400z). This is a slight change from previous years, taking out the late afternoon/evening slot from the second day.

The weekend moves up slightly to allow less congestion for hams also participating in simulated emergency test exercises and Jamboree of the Air events in October. However, the comments of most participants was to keep the event in the fall, and before the time change.

In addition to formalizing the youth categories that were added midstream last year, a new club aggregate award will be added. This will go to the Arkansas club and the non-Arkansas club with the best combined score of its individual members.

SHORT FORM:

Arkansas QSO Party: CW/SSB/PSK31 sponsored by K1ARK; from 1400z Sept. 8 to 0600z Sept. 9; 1500z Sept. 9 to 2400z. [Weekend of Sept. 8-9; CST].
Frequencies: CW--3.550, 7.050, 14.050, 21.050, 28.050; PHONE--3.980, 7.260, 14.260, 21.360, 28.360, 145-147; PSK--3580, 7070; 14.070; 21.080; 28.120.
Categories: SO, MS, Mobile, HP, LP, QRP, S/P/C, PSK.
Exchange: RST, state or province, DX stations send "DX." (Arkansas stations exchange county.)
QSO Points: PSK--3 pts, CW--2 pts, SSB--1 pt.
Score: QSO points × AR counties (AR station count states, provinces, AR counties and DX). Mobile stations may be counted more than once per band if station has relocated into another county.
Bonus stations: TBA based on highest AR club score (25 pts per band/mode), AR ARRL affiliated club station (10 pts). For more information--http://www.arkan.us.

Logs due 30 days after the contest to k1ark@arrl.net or to Bill Smith, K1ARK, 3032 Strawberry Drive, Fayetteville, AR, 72703.

2007 Arkansas QSO Party

1. Object: For amateurs to exchange QSO information with as many Arkansas stations as possible on 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, and 2 meter bands. Arkansas stations work everyone else.

1.1 Suggested CW frequencies
1.1.1 3.550, 7.050, 14.050, 21.050, 28.050

1.2 Suggested PHONE frequencies
1.2.1 3.980, 7.260, 14.260, 21.360, 28.360, 145-147

1.3 Suggested PSK frequencies
1.3.1 3580, 7070; 14.070; 21.080; 28.120

1.4 It is recommended that no contesting occur on national calling or guard frequencies.

2. Date and Contest Period: The Arkansas QSO Party operating times are from 1400z Sept. 8 to 0600z Sept. 9 and from 1500z Sept. 9 to 2400z.

2.1 All stations may operate the entire contest period.

3. Entry Categories: (Non-Arkansas and Arkansas)
Non-Arkansas stations compete only against non-Arkansas stations.
Arkansas stations compete only against Arkansas stations.

3.1 Single Operator: (9 categories)

3.1.1 QRP. (Up to 5 watts output power)
3.1.1.1 Mixed Mode (Phone, CW, digital).
3.1.1.2 Phone only.
3.1.1.3 CW only.

3.1.2 Low Power. (Up to 150 watts output power)
3.1.2.1 Mixed Mode (Phone, CW, digital).
3.1.2.2 Phone only.
3.1.2.3 CW only.

3.1.3 High Power. (More than 150 watts output power)
3.1.3.1 Mixed Mode (Phone, CW, digital).
3.1.3.2 Phone only.
3.1.3.3 CW only.

3.1.4 Mobile. (Mixed mode, up to 150 watts output power)

3.1.5 PSK.
3.1.5.1 QRP (5 watts or less)
3.1.5.2 Regular Power.

3.2 Multi-operator, Single Transmitter, mixed mode only. (3 categories)
For the intent of the Arkansas QSO party, Single Transmitter means only
one signal may be transmitted on the air at a given time.

3.2.1 QRP. (Up to 5 watts output power)
3.2.2 Low Power. (Up to 150 watts output power)
3.2.3 High Power. (More than 150 watts output power)

3.3 Youth. This is open to any licensed operator under the age of 18. Age to be
determined by the opening day of the Arkansas QSO Party.

3.4 Club Divisions: (4 categories)

3.4.1 Arkansas Club Stations (single or multi, utilizing the single club callsign)
3.4.2 Non-Arkansas Club Stations (single or multi, utilizing the single club callsign)
3.4.3 Arkansas Club Aggregate (individual combined scores of club members)
3.4.4 Non-Arkansas Club Aggregate (individual combined scores of club members)

4. Contest Exchange:
4.1 Non-Arkansas stations send:
Call, RST, and US state/Canadian province/Maritime region/or 'DX'.

4.2 Arkansas stations send:
Call, RST, and county.

5. Scoring:
5.1 QSO points:
5.1.1 Count one points for each complete two-way phone QSO.
5.1.2 Count two points for each two-way CW QSO.
5.1.3 Count three points for each two-way digital (PSK31 or RTTY) QSO.

5.2 Multipliers: (Count per band)
5.2.1 Non-Arkansas stations: Arkansas counties (75 possible per band)
5.2.2 Arkansas stations: US states/Canadian provinces (50 US/13 CAN possible per band)
5.2.3 Arkansas stations: DX countries (maximum 30 per band)

5.3 Bonus Stations: (Count per band)
5.3.1 Winning station to be determined for high bonus by Arkansas club entires -- 25 points
5.3.2 Any Arkansas section ARRL affiliated club station -- 10 points

6. Miscellaneous:
6.1 Single operator, mixed-mode and multi-operator stations may work stations once on CW, once on SSB and once on PSK31/RTTY on each band.

6.2 All entrants may transmit only one signal on the air at any given time.

6.3 No repeater contacts allowed

6.4 Mobile stations operating from Arkansas may be counted more than once per band or mode if the mobile station has relocated to another county. The intent is to activate as many counties, and this is a bonus to the mobiles who operate within the state boundaries.

7. Awards: Certificates will be awarded to:
7.1 The highest-scoring single-operator station in each category

7.2 Top multi-operator entries in each category

7.3 Top operator from each state

7.4 Additional certificates will be awarded as participation warrants.

7.5 The Amateur Radio Klub of the Arkansas Northwest (ARKAN) sponsors the Worked All Arkansas award.

8. Log submission:
8.1 All logs that are generated using a computer must submit an ASCII text file of the log information in ARRL file format. Paper logs in lieu of the electronic file are not acceptable substitutes. Hand written paper logs are still acceptable.

8.2 All entries for this contest must be e-mailed or postmarked by November 15, 2006.

8.3 E-mail entries only to: bismith@uark.edu. Submissions require a summary sheet with all required information (including exchange sent, category entered, power, and US state/Canadian province) and log file in ARRL file format sent as attachments to the email (see General Rules for specific file format).

8.4 Electronic files or paper logs not in acceptable ARRL format may be designated as checklogs.

8.5 Paper entries should be mailed to Bill Smith, K1ARK, 3032 Strawberry Drive, Fayetteville, AR, 72703.

8.6 Paper entries must be submitted on current ARRL entry forms or on a reasonable facsimile.

8.7 See "General Rules for All ARRL Contests" and "General Rules for ARRL Contests on bands below 30 MHz (HF)" in the November 2000 issue of QST. Where a conflict occurs between the Arkansas QSO Party Rules and the ARRL rules, the Arkansas QSO Party Rules shall take precedence.

8.8 General queries should be directed to the Arkansas QSO Party at bismith@uark.edu, or via US mail to the Bill Smith, K1ARK, 3032 Strawberry Drive, Fayetteville, AR, 72703.

Arkansas County QSO Abbreviations