[CQ-Contest] Trans Tasman Low Bands Challenge 16th July 2016

[Trent Sampson]

The Trans Tasman contest has undergone a metamorphosis into a faster more interesting low bands challenge. With three modes catered for in SSB CW and Digital (RTTY/PSK) the contest is now divided into three two hour segments for reworking and 160 80 40 is on the same evening. 
This is in the prime time for Low Frequencies (LF) the month of  July. VK6 was long felt left out of the action and the inclusion of 40M will help them be part of the contest as well as a new Open power category means that those have trouble making the trip over the ditch are now able to do it easier. QRP Medium and High power categories as well as single op and multi op round out the offering.Trans Tasman Low Bands Challenge Prepared by VK4TS and VK4SNLast amendment 9th May 20161. Contest IntroductionThis contest is to encourage Low Band Activity in Australia and New Zealand – The applicable bands are 160, 80 and 40M. The modes are SSB CW and Digital (RTTY and PSK only) 2. ObjectiveAmateurs in VK and ZL will endeavour to contact other amateurs in VK and ZL.* VK and ZL, means any station operating within Australia or New Zealand and their external territories.* Points are only awarded for valid contacts between VK and ZL stations.The contest is made up of 3 individual two hour blocks – you are able to work another station once per band and mode in every block. Every different Prefix used by VK or ZL stations is a valid multiplier and credit can be claimed once per band per block.3. Contest Date & TimeThe contest is held on the Saturday night of the third full weekend of July  Start Time is 08:00 UTC and finish time is 14:00 UTC 16th July 20164. CategoriesA. Single Operator – High Power All Modes All BandsB. Single Operator – Low Power (100 watts)C. Single Operator – QRPE. Multi-Operator – Single TransmitterF. Multi-Operator – Multi Transmitter (One per band)* QRP stations are limited to 5 Watts average (CW/RTTY/PSK) or PEP (SSB) at the transmitter output.Each category will have High Scores for SSB, CW and Digital awards.Any station in Single or Multi Op may win the Single Mode awards – BUT Multi ops will not be eligible for single op categories.NOTE: The Mode scores are purely on the highest score and may be from a partial log. You do not enter SSB only – rather the log is determined as having the highest SSB score.5. Permitted BandsContacts may be made on 160M 80M 40M in SSB, CW and Digital (PSK and RTTY Modes)NB. PSK and RTTY are the only allowed digital modes and are combined, not counted separately.6. Multi-operator StationsA. Multi-operator single transmitter stations are only allowed one transmitted signal on air at any time.If you are using three transceivers to scan the bands, simultaneous transmission will reclassify you asMulti Transmitter(Category F.) – your responsibility to stop multiple transmitters operating.B. Multi-operator Multi Transmitter stationsa. Are only allowed maximum one transmitted signal per band,b. Simultaneous transmissions on different bands are permitted.* Multi-operator stations are mixed mode only.7. ContactsA. Suggested Call: “CQ TT”, “CQ Contest”, or “CQ Test”B. Exchange: A valid exchange consists of RS(T) followed by a three figure serial number starting at 001 for each band.C. No cross band contacts are allowed.D. Exchange of contact information via satellites, telephones, repeaters, Echolink, IRLP, or the internet is not in the spirit of the contest and is banned.8. ScoringAll contacts are worth one point – Add the number of contacts made in the two hours and multiply by the different prefixes worked on each band in that two hours.NB external territories count as one prefix – eg VK0 counts as VK0 and not the separate DXCC same as for VK9e.g. 160 80 40 total contacts 50 X 35 prefixes (total of each band added) = 1750 points per hour.Final Score is the addition of the scores from the three two hour blocks starting at 08:00; 10:00 & 12:00 UTC9. LogsLogs are due in within one week of closure of the contest.Submit logs to http://www.b4h.net/vkcc/transtasman/ 


TrentVK4TS PO Box 275 Mooloolaba 4557 0408497550