Winter is fast closing in, and that means low band action! Coming up next week is the Top Band Sprint. Please remember that the contest runs from 0000Z to 0600Z on 30 November 2006, but this is the evening of Wednesday 29 November 2006 throughout North America.

73/72 es GL!
Jeff - VA3JFF
QRP-ARCI Contest Manager

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2006 ARCI Top Band Sprint

Date/Time:

0000Z to 0600Z on 30 November 2006

Mode:

SSB, CW or mixed modes. Work stations once regardless of mode.

Exchange:

Members send: RS(T), State/Province/Country, ARCI member number
Non-Members send: RS(T), State/Province/Country, Power Out

QSO Points:

Member = 5 points
Non-Member, Different Continent = 4 points
Non-Member, Same Continent = 2 points

Multiplier:

SPC (State/Province/Country) total for all bands. The same station may be worked on multiple bands for QSO points and SPC credit.

Power Multiplier: Use the smaller multiplier if operating mixed mode.

For SSB QSOs:

>10 Watts = x1
>2 - 10 Watts = x7
>500mW - 2 Watts = x10
>100mW - 500mW = x15
100mW or less = x20

For CW QSOs:

>5 Watts = x1
>1 - 5 Watts = x7
>250 mW - 1 Watt = x10
>55 mW - 250 mW = x15
55mW or less = x20

Suggested Frequencies:

CW: around 1810 kHz
SSB: around 1910 kHz
*Please remember that 1830 to 1835 kHz should be used for intercontinental QSO's only

BONUS POINTS:

None available for this contest.

Score:

Final Score = Points (total for all bands) x SPCs (total for all bands) x Power Multiplier

Categories:

Entry may be SSB, CW or Mixed Mode

How to Participate:

Get on top band and hang out near the QRP frequencies listed above. Work as many stations calling CQ QRP or CQ TEST as possible, or call CQ QRP or CQ TEST yourself! You can work a station for credit once on each band.

Email Log Submission:

Submit Logs in plain text format along with a summary stating your Callsign, Entry Category, Actual Power and Station Description along with score calculation to contest@qrparci.org on or before 31 December 2006.

Snail mail Log Submission:

Submit Logs along with a summary stating your Callsign, Entry Category, Actual Power and Station Description along with score calculation to:

ARCI Top Band Sprint
c/o Jeff Hetherington, VA3JFF
139 Elizabeth St. W.
Welland, Ontario
Canada L3C 4M3

Entries must be postmarked on or before 31 December 2006.

Results:

Will be published in QRP Quarterly and shown on the QRP-ARCI website.

Certificates:

Will be awarded to the top scoring entrant in each category. Certificates may be awarded for 2nd and 3rd place if entries are sufficient in a category.