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

Mon Mar 16 13:11:35 PDT 2009

Hi, Milt.

I don't see any such distinction in the actual rules.  The FAQ specifies 
12 hours off time, but the rules do not.  The rules merely say that a 
single op cannot be active more than 36 hours in the contest and that 
any off times must be at least 60 minutes each.  I think the FAQ 
inadvertently generated whatever confusion that might now exist.

73,
Dave   AB7E

Milt, N5IA wrote:
> Terry,
>
> I don't see anything in Randy's comment that has anything to do with the 
> subject at hand.  He is talking about a different aspect of taking shorter 
> "OFF" times during the contest and then just making up the difference at the 
> end by not claiming time you DID operate but in the end was slow and you 
> want to lop it off.
>
> Your original question revolves around the actual STARTING time for you in a 
> contest and the actual ENDING time for you in a contest, IF you allocated 
> time for operating is totally used WITHOUT operating at the beginning and 
> end of the contest.
>
> OFF time denotes exactly that; that you are OFF; that your portion of the 
> contest is still running and that you will RETURN to OPERATING.  It has 
> nothing to do with your personal STARTING and ENDING times in the contest.
>
> If you have not started the contest, then whatever time has elapsed is LOST 
> time, nothing else.  The contest has not yet started for YOU!  Whether it is 
> 10 minutes, 59 minutes or 5 hours that has elapsed from the offical starting 
> time of the contest until YOU make your first contact, that is LOST time and 
> nothing else.
>
> By the same token, if you have completed your total hour allotment in the 
> contest, your time is up and you cannot get credit for any more contacts. 
> For YOU the contest is COMPLETE and ENDED even though the official end time 
> of the contest has not yet arrived!  The balance of the time that the 
> contest may run whether it is 10 minutes, 59 minutes or 5 hours is LOST 
> time, not "off" time because you are NOT going to return to operating.
>
> Mis dos centavos.
>
> Milt, N5IA
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Zivney, Terry L." <00tlzivney at bsu.edu>
> To: "Milt, N5IA" <n5ia at zia-connection.com>
> Cc: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 11:47 AM
> Subject: RE: [CQ-Contest] WPX FAQ - Single op off times
>
>
> See the thoughts of K5ZD in an earlier discussion about off-times and 
> chopping extra minutes
> off the end of the log and fairness:
> -------------
> Re: [CQ-Contest] NAQP Off Times
> from [Randy Thompson] [Permanent Link][Original]
> To:  <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Subject:  Re: [CQ-Contest] NAQP Off Times
> From:  "Randy Thompson" <k5zd at charter.net>
> Date:  Wed, 13 Jul 2005 05:20:55 -0000
> List-post:  <mailto:cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Sorry John, but the rules require you to take a 30 or more minute off time.
> Not a 29 or 28 or 27 minute off time.  If they allowed you to take shorter
> off times and then chop the extra minutes off the end of your log, it
> wouldn't be fair to the guys who follow the rules.  (You might be gaining
> QSOs at a time when the rate is good and then giving away minutes at the end
> of the contest when rates are low.)
> It would be useful to know the algorithm the log checking program uses for
> NAQP. Tree has a very specific way he handles off times for the Sweepstakes
> and once you know what it is, there should never be a problem with taking
> enough time.  (See the accuracy sidebar in the online SS CW results for an
> explanation).
> Claiming a mistake in the heat of battle doesn't cut it with me.  You are on
> an off time so should not yet be joined!
> Randy, K5ZD
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________
> From: Milt, N5IA [n5ia at zia-connection.com]
> Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 2:34 PM
> To: Zivney, Terry L.
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] WPX FAQ - Single op off times
>
> Terry,
>
> I believe you have a misconception that time at the beginning of the contest
> and at the end of the contest have to comply with the 60 minute rule.  IMHO
> and my understanding of the rules, the following is correct.
>
> When you say "you start the contest at 0059z that you cannot count the first
> 59 minutes as off time", this is incorrect.  The reality is that the CONTEST
> HAS NOT STARTED FOR YOU.  Therefore those first 59 minutes are just "lost"
> time, not "off" time.
>
> You also state "you make your last QSO at 2301z you cannot count the last 59
> minutes as off time".  This is also incorrect, because for YOU THE CONTEST
> IS OVER AND DONE!  Those last 59 minutes again are just "lost" time, not
> "off" time.
>
> Mis dos centavos,
>
> Milt, N5IA
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Zivney, Terry L." <00tlzivney at bsu.edu>
> To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 9:39 AM
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] WPX FAQ - Single op off times
>
>
>   
>> >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
>> _______________________________________________
>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>>     
>
>
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