[CQ-Contest] WPX FAQ - Single op off times

Zivney, Terry L. 00tlzivney at bsu.edu
Mon Mar 16 09:39:37 PDT 2009


>From the CQ WPX FAW site:

Single operators must take 12 hours off during the contest.  How are off times calculated?

Single operator entries are permitted a maximum operating time of 36 hours. Off times must be a minimum of 60 minutes. The 60 minute period is defined the same as the 10-minute rule described above. If your last QSO before an off time is at 09:27, you may not make another QSO until 10:27.

Off times can be of any length. For example, you can have breaks of 1 hour, 4 hours, and 7 hours. Or you can take all of your off time in one 12 hour break. If you take a break that is less than 60 minutes, this time will count as operating time.

Any QSOs in your log after 36 hours of operating time will be removed without penalty during the log checking.  The rules no longer require you to submit the list of off time periods in your log. The log checking software will do the off time calculations.

_________________________

This means that if you start the contest at 0059z that you cannot count the first 59 minutes as off time.
Similarly, if you make your last QSO at 2301z you cannot  count the last 59 minutes as off time.
You need to remember this when taking your off times in the middle of the contest.

However, the last section from the FAQ above seems to suggest the following counter examples:

example 1:
operate from 0000-2359z - 24 hours operating time
off time from 0000-1130z - 11:30 off time
operate from 1131-2359z - more than 12 hours operating time  so last 29 minutes QSOs removed
with no penalty to bring down to 36 hours total operating time.  

example 2: 
operate from 0000-2359z - 24 hours operating time
off time from 0000-1130z - 11:30 off time
operate from 1131-2330z - Finish 36 hours allowed operating time.
But now  the last 29 minutes are too short to be an off time - see second section in FAQ - 
minimum 60 minutes off time.

Terry Zivney, N4TZ/9  aka KS9K


More information about the CQ-Contest mailing list