[CQ-Contest] The 2021 Unassisted Challenge

Mon Mar 15 21:52:25 EDT 2021

Hmmm. It appears that spotting assistance still isn’t allowed in the Classic overlay. Presumably Classic scores will also be included in the new sole SO (Assisted) category, which mixes apples and oranges even more than before, when Classic scores were included in the SO Unassisted category.

The Classic category has never made sense. It’s supposed to be “a boy and his radio”, but what does the 24-hour limit have to do with that? Nothing.

My guess is that if there was a poll, more people would ask for a 24-hour category than for a “boy and his radio” category. Seems to me that there are more people with occasional scheduling conflicts than people who are nostalgic for the way contesting was in the Stone Age. That’s certainly true for me: when I can’t put in a full effort, I’d sure like to compete for 24-hours with both radios. In other words, I’d much prefer a 24-hour SO overlay with no more restrictions than the regular SO category.

Yes, I’m suggesting that SO2R and spot assistance be allowed in a new 24-hour overlay in WPX (and let’s get rid of Classic.) Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a fan of SO Assisted operating in WPX or any other contest. In my 20 serious efforts in WPX, most of which were competitive, I tried it once, in 2017. I did OK, but it was really boring. I’d be happier if the Unassisted category hadn’t been removed from WPX, and I plan to participate in the 2021 Unassisted Challenge this year. My suggestion that Assisted be allowed in a new 24-hour overlay is simply for consistency with the new rules.

73, Dick WC1M

> On Mar 15, 2021, at 10:34 AM, Albert Crespo <f5vhj at orange.fr> wrote:
> 
> These are the 2021 categories- No seperate assisted or non assisted classes. Simple.
> 
> VI. ENTRY CATEGORIES:
> Use of QSO alerting assistance is permitted in all categories with the exception of the Single Operator Classic Overlay.
> A. Single Operator Categories:One person (the operator) performs all operating and logging functions. There is no limit on band changes. Only one transmitted signal is permitted at any time.
> 1. Single Operator High Power (All Band or Single Band):Total output power must not exceed 1500 watts.
> 2. Single Operator Low Power (All Band or Single Band):Total output power must not exceed 100 watts.
> 3. Single Operator QRP (All Band or Single Band): Total output power must not exceed 5 watts.
> B. Single Operator Overlay Categories: Any Single Operator entrant who meets the requirements may ALSO enter one of the categories shown below by adding the appropriate CATEGORY-OVERLAY line in the Cabrillo log file header. Overlay category entries will be listed separately in the results, scored as All Bands, and grouped by High Power and Low Power (includes QRP).
> 1. Tribander/Single Element (TB-WIRES): During the contest an entrant shall use only one (1) tribander (any type, with a single feed line from the transmitter to the antenna) for 10, 15, and 20 meters and single-element antennas on 40, 80, and 160 meters. Separate receiving antennas are not permitted in this category.
> 2. Rookie (ROOKIE): To enter this category the operator must have been licensed as a radio amateur three (3) years or less on the date of the contest. The date the operator was first licensed must be indicated in the SOAPBOX field. An operator who has won a plaque in any previously published CQ contest is not eligible for the Rookie category.
> 3. Classic Operator (CLASSIC): The entrant will use only one radio and may operate up to 24 of the 36 hours – off times are a minimum of 60 minutes during which no QSO is logged. If the log shows more than 24 hours of operation, only the first 24 hours will be counted for the overlay score. Use of QSO alerting assistance of any kind is prohibited (see rule IX.B) for the duration of contest. Receiving while transmitting is also prohibited.
> C. Multi-Operator Categories (All Band only): More than one person can contribute to the final score during the official contest period. Select category based on number of transmitted signals or number of locations
> 1. Single-Transmitter (MULTI-ONE): Only one transmitted signal is permitted at any time. A maximum of ten (10) band changes may be made in any clock hour (00 through 59 minutes). For example, a change from 20 meters to 40 meters and then back to 20 meters counts as two band changes. Use a single serial number sequence for the entire log.
> a. High Power. Total output power of each transmitted signal must not exceed 1500 watts.
> b. Low Power. Total output power of each transmitted signal must not exceed 100 watts.
> 2. Two-Transmitter (MULTI-TWO): A maximum of two transmitted signals is permitted at any time on two different bands. Both transmitters may work any station. A station may only be worked once per band regardless of which transmitter is used. The log must indicate which transmitter made each QSO (column 81 of CABRILLO QSO template for CQ contests). Each transmitter may make a maximum of eight (8) band changes in any clock hour (00 through 59 minutes). Use a separate serial number sequence for each band. Total output power of each transmitted signal must not exceed 1500 watts.
> 3. Multi-Transmitter (MULTI-UNLIMITED): A maximum of six transmitted signals, one per band, at any one time. Six bands may be activated simultaneously. Use a separate serial number sequence for each band. Total output power of each transmitted signal must not exceed 1500 watts.
> 4. Multi-Transmitter Distributed (MULTI-DISTRIBUTED): A maximum of six transmitted signals, one per band at any one time, from stations in different locations. All equipment (transmitters, receivers, amplifiers, antennas, etc.) must be located in same DXCC entity and CQ Zone, including remotely controlled equipment. Six bands may be activated simultaneously. Use a separate serial number sequence for each band. Total output power of each transmitted signal must not exceed 1500 watts. The Cabrillo log header must include the following lines: CATEGORY-OPERATOR: MULTI-OP, CATEGORY-STATION: DISTRIBUTED. Rules X.E, X.F and X.G do not apply to this category.
> D. Checklog: Entry submitted to assist with the log checking. The entry will not have a score in the results and the log will not be made public.
> VII. AWARDS:
> A single-band log will be eligible for a single-band award only. To be eligible for an award, a Single Operator station must show a minimum of 4 hours of operation. Multi-operator stations must operate a minimum of 8 hours.
> A. Plaques are awarded to recognize top performance in a number of categories. View the current list of plaques and sponsors at .
> Only one plaque will be awarded per entry. A station winning a World plaque will not be considered for a sub-area award. That award will be given to the runner-up for that area if the number of entries justifies the award.
> B. Certificates: Electronic certificates will be made available for download for everyone that submits an on-time entry.
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> Message of 03/13/21 21:27 > From: "dimitri" > To: "Alexander Avramov" > Copy to: "K7LXC via CQ -Contest "> Subject: *** SPAM *** Re: [CQ-Contest] The 2021 Unassisted Challenge >> Hi Alex, Where did you saw that you must operate assisted ... ??? Unassisted operators have often higher score than assisted ones so where is your problem? 73 by Dimitri F4DSK On March 13, 2021 at 20:56, at 20:56, Alexander Avramov  wrote:> This announcement made my day today! Axel and Dan, thank you! >>> The CQ WPX is not my favorite but I did enjoy it a lot and always have> put> a full effort into it. I won 6 times in the recent years and set the US> SOABHP record 4 times in a row. I wasn't thinking of stopping there but> the> recent elimination of the SOAB category made me scratch it off my list. > I> do not like operating assisted and see no point in doing something that> I> do not enjoy. Until today, the WPX was dead for me. >>> Axel and Dan, again, thank you for bringing the real WPX back to life! > Please, do let me know if I could help with anything. >>> Rest in peace CQ WPX, long live WPX challenge! >>> Alex, LZ4AX> _______________________________________________> CQ-Contest mailing list> CQ-Contest at contesting.com> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest _______________________________________________ CQ-Contest mailing list CQ-Contest @ contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest