It is with great pleasure that we announce the first ever QRP-L 20M Summer
Fox Hunt! If you are among the hundreds of Foxes and Hounds who suffer
from withdrawal at the end of the winter hunt, relief is at hand!

Starting Thursday (local) July 6th, the Summer Fox Hunts will take place
ever Thursday evening and Sunday afternoon. We're taking a time trip back
to the very first fox hunts, with very experienced and capable foxes,
fewer rules, regular posting of results, and PRIZES for the top Fox and
Hunter (and perhaps more). And of course the exercise will be effective
as a propagation study, so please do participate even if you aren't
"competing."

A 20 Meter hunt presents some great opportunities for DX, so if you are
one of our DX members and friends you will finally have an opportunity to
participate in one of the grand traditions of QRP. Note-- this is a QRP-L
operating event but you do NOT have to be a QRP-L member to participate or
for your Fox contacts to "count."!

Because NA propagation can be iffy, each Fox will have two bites of the
cherry-- one on a Thursday evening and the other on Sunday afternoon. The
times for the Sunday event may be shifted a bit with a view to
facilitating DX, or "different DX." To add a bit of spice to what will
undoubtedly be a big finish, there will be TWO foxes on air SIMULTANEOUSLY
For the last two hunts (Aug 31 and Sept 3).

Side events (e.g. a Teams Competition) are encouraged, but it's up to you
to organize them.

The rules are appended to this message, the web site is in work (rules are
available already at http://www.cqc.org/sfox, and the list of foxes will
be posted soon.

Good luck, have fun, and may the Fox be with you....
72/73 DE Marshall, N1FN,
for the Summer Fox Committee
N1TP, K0EVZ, K1MG, N1FN
------------------------------------------------------------------
QRPL SUMMER 20 Meter FOXHUNT

In the tradition of the 40 Meter Winter Foxhunt, the Summer 20 Meter Hunt
is a series of two hour events during which QRP stations (Hounds) attempt
to work a single QRP station designated as The Fox. There will be two
hunts each week through July and August, on Thursday evening and Sunday
afternoon.

All Hounds will be in competition with each other, as will all Foxes. At
the end of the hunt, prizes and certificates will be awarded to the Hound
who has worked the most Foxes, and to the Fox who has worked the most
hounds. Special awards and recognition may be given in other categories.
The Foxes may also participate as Hunters.

DEFINITIONS
QRP = 5 watts or less RF output from the transmitter.
QRO = Any power greater than 5 watts.
QTH = State, Canadian Province (or Country if outside US/Can.)
FOX = The station the Hounds try to work.
Hound = Each station trying to work the fox.

RULES:

GENERAL

The hunts will take place each Thursday and Sunday from July 6th
through September 4th, 2000. Each hunt will start in the vicinity of
14.060 and will continue for two hours. The starting times are:

Thursdays (local), 0100Z (Friday)

Sundays 2000Z

One or more of the Sunday hunts may be shifted to 1600Z with a view to
encouraging DX participation.

On the last Thursday and Sunday of the hunt, there will be TWO Foxes
operating simultaneously.

GUIDELINES

1.1 The Fox tries to complete as many CW QRP QSOs as possible during
the 2
hour hunt.

1.2 Each Fox will have two sessions during the hunt, a Thursday and a
Sunday session.

1.3 No later than 5PM EST on the day before Hunt, the Fox will post a
notice on QRPL providing useful details such as his location, equipment,
antenna(s), planned starting frequency, etc. Because many Hunters read
the QRPL daily digest, changes after that time will be avoided as far as
possible.

1.4 The Fox will operate within +/ 10Khz of 14.060 MHz.

1.5 The Fox will call "CQ FOX DE [callsign]," "QRZ FOX?," or
otherwise
identify himself as the Fox during the progress of the hunt.

1.6 The Fox may QSY to avoid QRM.

1.7 The Hounds should avoid transmitting on the Fox's transmitting
frequency if their equipment permits. Splits (separate transmit/receive
capability or XIT/RIT) of up to 5Khz may be used by the Fox but he will
not ordinarily indicate where he is listening and can be expected to
change his listening frequency often, depending on the number of stations
calling and the frequency spread.

1.8 A valid QSO is defined as the exchange of

Callsign
Signal Report
QTH
Operator's Name, and
QRPL number (or power if the Hound does not have a QRPL number)

The Fox's information may in some cases be "deemed" to be exchanged. That
is, the Hunter need not acknowledge the Fox's information, and the Fox may
work a list. For example, the Fox may call several stations and
acknowledge their information one by one, while sending his own
information only once for the list.

Foxes may work QRO stations and nonQRPL members for credit. This is
different from the winter fox hunts because of the circumstances,
particularly the possibility of multiple DX contacts with stations not
participating competitively as Hounds.

Hounds must be operating QRP in order for the contact to count.

Foxes who are also competing as Hounds may claim one point for their own
sessions as the Fox..

1.9. The Fox will post a preliminary log to QRPL as soon as practical
after the completion of each hunt, ideally within 24 hours of completion
of the HUNT.
After allowing a suitable period for correction of genuine mistakes in
the
transcription of the log, the Fox will post a Final Log to QRPL.

2.0 Hounds will ANSWER a CQ or QRZ? call by the FOX. Hounds do not call
CQ, nor do they work each other in proximity to the hunt.

2.1 In his notice to QRPL, the Fox may include suggestions as to
preferred operating procedure, but in the absence of any other
instructions the Hound should send his callsign only once after a call by
the Fox or the conclusion of a QSO.

2.2 "Subcontests" such as a "teams competition" are encouraged, but
are
the sole responsibility of the person who decides to organize them.

For The QRPL Summer Foxhunt Committee,
N1TP, K0EVZ, K1MG, N1FN


Link:  Summer Fox Hunt Rules Page