[RTTY] RTTY Roundup Off Time

[Tim Gennett]

I think some of the confusion associated with Roundup stems from the
different ways the ARRL specifies off times in different contests.

The Sweepstakes rules, for instance, explicitly include, "2.5: Off periods
may not be less than 30 minutes in length."  There is nothing like this in
the Roundup rules, so even though you understand you have to take 6 hours
off in a maximum of 2 blocks, you may not be quite sure what constitutes an
off time.

However, 3.15 of the General Rules for All ARRL Contests says: "Unless
otherwise specified, in any ARRL Contest where off time is required, the
minimum block of off time must be at least 30 minutes."

I don't see anything in the RTTY Roundup rules that contradicts this.  So,
it would be my understanding that you can take short rest periods or
breathers of 29 minutes or less during the contest and these would not
count as one of the two allowed time blocks or count against the 6 hours of
required off time.  These short rest periods are operating time and will
wreck havoc on your rates, but don't get you into trouble with the off time
or break period requirements.  If you do take a 29 minute rest period, you
need to by golly be sure you make another QSO ASAP when you sit back down
so that your rest period does not turn into an off period.

It seems like the Roundup rules would be more clear if they would include a
rule similar to 2.5 from Sweepstakes.  Redundant, perhaps, but helpful.
And not a change to the way the Roundup is run or scored, just a way to
help the casual reader or operator understand what the boundaries are.

If you read the discussion at http://www.ewarg.org/ws7i/ru_strategy.pdf you
see a mention of one operator taking a 5.75 hour break and then a .25 hour
or 15 minute break at the end of the contest.  I don't see how that works
in Roundup in light of rule 3.15 from the General Rules.

Tim K9WX

On Sat, Dec 31, 2016 at 2:03 AM, Robert Chudek - K0RC <k0rc at citlink.net>
wrote:

> Some years ago the ARRL Contest Committee asked for opinions regarding
> rewording that rule. Unfortunately, I see the confusion still exists with
> whatever language they settled upon.
>
> Here is the background regarding the intent of the "off time" rule, from
> the originators of the contests, WS7I and WA7EGA (K7IRA):
>
> http://www.ewarg.org/ws7i/ru_strategy.pdf
>
> 73 de Bob - KØRC in MN
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> On 12/30/2016 5:11 AM, Shelby Summerville wrote:
>
>> Jeff  WK6I wrote: "For the casual participant, it probably does not matter
>> that much"
>>
>> I consider myself a "casual" participant, and had the same question
>> concerning  "The six hours of off time must be taken in no more than two
>> blocks" portion of the rules. I posed the question to the only person that
>> their opinion counts, W9JJ at ARRL. I failed to keep his answer, and for
>> fear of misquoting, I won't try to!
>> I suggest that questions regarding rules be posed to the contest sponsors,
>> and not rely on the varying opinions of the reflector subscribers.
>>
>> 73, HNY
>>
>> Shelby, K4WW
>>
>> *As I don't have an iPad nor iPhone, sent from my PC*
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>>
> --
>
> 73 de Bob - KØRC in MN
>
>
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