Nov 17 VHF Contact (QSO) Party

Posted in events; tagged with contests

Southwest BC & Northwest WA QSO Party

Many urban radio amateurs have no access to High Frequency (HF) radio equipment and are prevented from participating in the active world of Radio Sport, a popular and interesting dimension of amateur radio.

If you live in Metro Vancouver, Southwest BC from the Islands to Hope or Northwest Washington, we’ve got something for you!

The one, the only, the inaugural… SOUTHWEST BC + NORTHWEST WA VHF QSO PARTY

In keeping with VECTOR’s need to develop and expand on a high level of VHF voice communications capability in Vancouver and the local region, and our desire to reach out to the broader amateur radio community, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to launch a new contest opportunity, the Annual Southwest BC & Northwest WA VHF QSO Party for the Amateur Radio community on both sides of the Canada-US border. Join us on November 17th, the first Saturday after Remembrance Day, for the launch of what will become an annual tradition in Southwest British Columbia and Northwest Washington State.

  • When: Saturday November 17th 2018, from 10:00-14:00 PST
  • Rules: Use a simplex frequency between 146.415 and 147.570 MHz, with PL 67.0 Hz to make as many contacts as possible. The reason for the PL, is to give operators a reason to use VFO mode and to become more comfortable with perhaps unfamiliar features of their radio (Generic instructions provided below).
  • Who may participate: Contest is open to all certified amateurs located along either side of the Canada-USA border. Each QSO must have one station within Metro Vancouver, Vancouver and Gulf Islands, Southwest BC (Grids CN89 and CN99)or Northwest WA (only Grid Squares along the Canada-USA border: CN78, CN88, CN98) in order to be considered for points.
  • Output Power: Radios will be classified by power as: QRP (10w or less), LOW (11-49w), HIGH (>50w)
  • Scoring: Points will be given for the correct exchange of Callsign, Power class, Municipality.
  • Fixed and Mobile: Stations may be MOBILE (calling from multiple Municipalities), or FIXED (one Municipality).
  • Accumulating Scores: Each station worked is worth one point. A Fixed station may be worked only once, while a Mobile station may be worked more than once if it has moved to a different Municipality. 10 bonus points for each municipality that you work. 10 bonus points for each municipality you transmit from. (Shhhhh, your first contact is worth 21 points (10+10+1 points)).

Operating

  1. Switch radio into VFO mode (V/M button on many radios),
  2. Change frequency to a frequency listed below,
  3. Turn on the Tone mode (not CTCSS)
  4. In the radio’s menu system, set the PL tone to 67.0 Hz.

Valid operating frequencies include 146.415, 146.430, 146.445, 146.460, 146.475, 146.490, 146.505, 146.535, 146.550, 146.565, 146.580, 146.595, 147.420, 147.450, 147.480, 147.510, 147.540, 147.570 MHz (ref: https://wp.rac.ca/144-mhz-2m-page/)

Electronic log files to be submitted in spreadsheet format format to [email protected] by November 30 to be included in the scoring. No prizes will be awarded, but you’ll receive lots of admiration from your peers and a commemorative graphic you can print out yourself.

For further information, contact [email protected].