hi Pierre - I'll explain, even though it looks complicated, it really
isn't. But the short answer is the W6SX Prime Directive: Have Fun! Operate
when you want and can, and don't worry about it.
The long answer...
The basic rule says you can operate a maximum of 24 hours in the contest as
a single op.
The other thing to be aware of is that the “General Rules for All ARRL
Contests” and “General Rules for ARRL Contests on bands below 30 MHz (HF)"
also apply, as noted at the bottom of the Roundup rules.
Rule 3.15 of the "General Rules for All ARRL Contests" says:
"3.15. Unless otherwise specified, in any ARRL Contest where off time is
required, the minimum block of off time must be at least 30 minutes."
So, the minimum time between contacts to be considered a break is 30
minutes. You get two breaks of 30 minutes or more during the contest. Once
you do your two breaks, any time you are not operating counts against your
24 hour limit.
Now, what is not clear from the rules is that the time between 1800 UTC
Saturday and your first contact is not considered one of those breaks. So,
if you start late, you can still take the two breaks.
Also what is not clear is that the time between your last contact and 2400
UTC Sunday is not considered one of those breaks. So, if for some reason
you haven't yet taken two breaks that add up to 6 hours, just stop early.
The 30 minute minimum does NOT apply to late starts or early finishes.
I hope you are still with me...
It can be much simpler that this. Let's have fun instead:
1. Make sure the family has enough delicious home made leftovers they can
microwave all weekend.
2. Go operate the contest from the start at 1800 UTC Sat. - when the rates
are high - and go to sleep when it slows down or you are tired.
3. Wake up 5 hours later refreshed and ready to start operating.
4. Take one more 30-60 minute break if and when you need it.
5. Operate until 2400 UTC Sunday, or whenever you hit the 24 hour mark.
Your contest logger should keep track of that for you.
What happens if you go past 24 hours of operating? Despite what the rules
say: Nothing, other than any Qs you make after 24 hours will not count for
your score. But if you are having fun why not keep going and let the log
checking sort it out for you?
Remember: Have Fun! 73 jeff wk6i
On Thu, Dec 29, 2016 at 10:17 AM, Pierre Fogal <pierre.fogal@gmail.com>
wrote:
> Hi Jeff,
>
> I'm looking at participating in the RTTY Roundup for the first time.
>
> I'm a bit perplexed by rule 2.2. Does this mean that once I have stopped
> operating twice that I'm done for the contest if I stop again?
>
> Say for example that I start the contest, and operate for 4 hours, and then
> go off and make dinner for the family. I might then be free to come back
> after 2 hours and continue operating. I then operate for another 6 hours
> or so and then head to bed, getting up 6 hours later and then rejoin. I've
> now had two blocks of off time. If I were then to stop after some amount
> of operating time, would I be able to rejoin the contest or am I done?
>
> What happens if I start the contest some hours late? Is that considered
> one of the off periods?
>
> And, what would be the minimum time between contacts to count as off-time?
>
> As I said ... I ain't done this one before ...
>
> Thanks, 73
>
> Pierre VE3KTB
>
>
> Message: 5
> >
> > Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2016 12:18:30 -0800
> >
> > From: Jeff Stai <wk6i.jeff@gmail.com>
> >
> > To: REFL-RTTY <RTTY@contesting.com>, "cq-contest@contesting.com"
> >
> > <cq-contest@contesting.com>, Writelog Reflector
> >
> > <writelog@contesting.com>, "N1MM+" <
> >> n1mmloggerplus@yahoogroups.com>,
> >
> > "Jahnke, Bart, W9JJ" <w9jj@arrl.org>, contest-update@arrl.org
> >
> > Subject: [CQ-Contest] RTTY Roundup is coming up soon!
> >
> > Message-ID:
> >
> > <CAH0gZcb=
> >> CoSX73wpMoVk4bf3bTW8Cp-2HkudagGUggJF0CoexQ@mail.gmail.com>
> >
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> >
> >
> >> Please share this post with your local contest club.
> >
> >
> >> The RTTY Roundup is a week and a half away, on January 7-8, 2017.
> >
> > Everything you need to know is right here:
> >
> >
> >> http://www.arrl.org/rtty-roundup
> >
> >
> >> I write the RTTY Roundup results article for QST. The quality of the
> >
> > article is only as good as the input I get from you, the enthusiastic
> >
> > participants. So please do think about writing down your experiences in
> the
> >
> > RU, and send them to me or post them on 3830scores.com or put them in
> your
> >
> > soapbox with your log. (I'll find them!)
> >
> >
> >> Also, QST loves good photos, and those are what get into the magazine.
> So
> >
> > be sure to take some high quality RTTY operating photos, or photos of you
> >
> > safely doing station tasks, tower climbing, etc. Photos with people in
> them
> >
> > are definitely preferred.
> >
> >
> >> Last year we had a great response to our call for plaque sponsors. Last
> >
> > year's list of sponsors and recipients can be found at the end of last
> >
> > years results article here:
> >
> >
> >>
> >> http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ContestResults/2016/2016%20RT
> TY%20Roundup%20-%20Full%20Results%20-%20Version%201_32a.pdf
> >
> >
> >> If you would like to sponsor this year - note that any Division plaque
> is
> >
> > fair game, or maybe even make up your own category - please contact Bart
> >
> > W9JJ at w9jj@arrl.org for details.
> >
> >
> >> Have fun in the Roundup! 73 jeff wk6i
> >
> >
> >> --
> >
> > Jeff Stai ~ wk6i.jeff@gmail.com
> >
> > Twisted Oak Winery ~ http://www.twistedoak.com/
> >
> > Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/twistedoak
> >
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>
--
Jeff Stai ~ wk6i.jeff@gmail.com
Twisted Oak Winery ~ http://www.twistedoak.com/
Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/twistedoak
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