[SD-User] IOTA Contest - 2012

[Paul O'Kane]

The IOTA Contest takes place from 12:00 UTC Saturday 28th
to 11:59 UTC Sunday 29th July, with CW, SSB and mixed-mode
categories on the 5 contest bands from 80m to 10m.

Rules at http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2012/riota.shtml

SD V15.62 is the only version of SD that scores correctly
(new rules for 2012).

    Select the "IOTA Contest" template.

Work everyone.  Exchange Serial.  Island stations add
their IOTA reference.  If you too are on an island, they
are worth 3 times as many points as non-island stations,
otherwise they're with 7.5 times as much - 15 points
rather than 2.

Mults are IOTA references, by band and by mode.

IOTA12.LST, at www.ei5di.com/sd/iota12.lst, lists
Callsigns and IOTA references for announced island
operations.  When you use the LOAD command to load
IOTA12, or add the contents to your preferred .LST file,
SD pre-fills IOTA references on a callsign match.

IOTA operating tips: -

If you want to win, you need to work island stations,
they're worth many times more points as the others.

In the IOTA Reference field, SD pre-fills the continent
prefix.  To log EU005, all you have to do is type 5 -
the reference is expanded when logged, and compressed
when editing.  If no reference is given, simply press
Enter to log the QSO - there's no need to clear the
continent.

As you type prefixes, SD identifies the country, and
area when appropriate, and displays all possible IOTA
references together with their worked/wanted status.

As you type callsigns, SD compares them, character by
character, with callsigns already logged.  On a match,
two thing happen.  The corresponding QSO total appears
to the right of the callsign - so you can thank the
other station for 5 QSOs, or whatever.  Secondly, a
band/mode analysis appears beneath the callsign.  If
it's an island station (with a known reference from
the previous QSO), all band/mode multiplier slots
needed are highlighted in blue.  Otherwise, they
appear in white (can't be mults).  In either case,
band/mode slots worked (including the current one)
are black - so you see instantly if it's worth trying
to move the station to another band or mode.

To see your multiplier status for any island, type
the reference in the callsign field - you don't need
leading zeros.  EU1 displays your band/mult slots for
EU001, add a 2 to see the slots for EU12 etc.  Those
needed are highlighted in blue - use Esc to clear the
field.

If you're operating CW, don't forget to update your
keyer memories (Shift-F2 etc) with your IOTA reference
before starting.

Use SDCHECK to create your Cabrillo .LOG file, and send
it to iota.logs at rsgbhfcc.org.  You will get an email
within 24 hours directing you to a website where you
can validadte your entry.

Please mention SD in your soapbox comments, as this
encourages others to try it.  Here are some examples -
www.ei5di.com/soap2011.html

And here are the stats for contest loggers used in
IOTA for the past 6 years - www.ei5di.com/iotastat.html

Reminder - when a single call is displayed in the Check
Partial window, use Down Arrow to transfer it, in full,
to the logging line.  This is often faster than typing
the call in full - especially if it's as long as
SV8/SV1CDY.

73,
Paul EI5DI