K5ZD announcements, rules

2009 WPX Contest Rules now Available

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.

K5ZD announcements

Plaque sponsors wanted

How would you feel to win world high in a major contest and not get a plaque for your wall?

I am putting the finishing touches on the CQ WPX CW results (to appear in March 2009 CQ Magazine). I notice there are a number of high profile categories that do not have plaques sponsored. If you are interested and can make arrangements with Doug, K1DG, by December 15, I can still include your plaque in the magazine results (and you can make some worthy contester very happy). Cost of donating a plaque is $50 and can be paid by Paypal. Contact Doug by email to k1dg@cqwpx.com.

Some of the categories available include:

  • World QRP
  • World 21 MHz
  • World 7 MHz
  • World 1.8 MHz
  • High SOAB score in Africa
  • High SOAB score in North America
  • USA 7 MHz
  • USA 3.5 MHz
  • Multi-single USA
  • Multi-single Europe
  • Multi-two Europe
  • Multi-multi Europe

Full list at http://www.cqwpx.com/plaques.htm#CW

K5ZD announcements

All Time Assisted Records now Available

Thanks to the efforts of Jim Monahan, K1PX, the all time records for the Assisted category have been collected and are now posted on the web site.

Visit http://www.cqwpx.com/records_assisted.htm

It is interesting to note that the assisted category scores are below the unassisted category in most cases. I suspect this is because there are so many multipliers available in WPX that adding a few extra via packet spots is not as helpful. Even so, it is a category under the rules and deserved to have records maintained.

Thanks to Jim for doing the hard work of collecting them.   If you think there is an error or omission, please contact me at k5zd@cqwpx.com.