The rules for the 2009 CQ WPX Contest are now available. See http://www.cqwpx.com/rules.htm
There are changes throughout the rules so participants are encouraged to read the complete rules carefully. Many of the changes were to align with similar rules in the CQ WW Contest or to clarify administrative details. There is no change to the scoring.
Highlights of the changes include:
- Revised Terms of Competition specify maximum power limits, prohibition against self spotting, and entry location of remote stations.
- Operator categories have been edited to match CQ WW format. There have been no change in the actual categories, only in the text description of each. Use of skimmer places an entrant in the assisted or multi-operator category.
- Overlay categories (tribander/wires and rookie) have been clarified to apply only to single operator high and low power entrants.
- The text of the club competition rule is now in alignment with the CQ WW Contest.
- Log submission instructions now state
- how multi-single and multi-two stations should specify which transmitter made each QSO
- single band entrants are requested to include all contacts made on other bands
- US stations should include the LOCATION: field in the Cabrillo header of their log
- Disqualification criteria is now same as CQ WW Contest.
- The entry declaration permits the submitted log to be made public.
Most of the changes are administrative and should have little impact on the competitive and fun aspects of the contest. We look forward to more sunspots and another record year of participation in the 2009 WPX contests.
Look for CQ WPX 2008 Contest results in the January (SSB) and March (CW) issues of CQ Magazine.