63rd ARRL November Sweepstakes

Contest Forms · Awards · PINS · Coffee Mug · Rules Page author: webmaster@arrl.org Page last revised 2:32 PM ET 10/31/96

Contest Period UTC EST CST MST PST Starts 2100 4 PM 3 PM 2 PM 1 PM CW: Saturday, November 2 Phone: Saturday, November 16 Ends 0300 10 PM 9 PM 8 PM 7 PM CW: Monday, November 4 (local times are Sunday, November 3) Phone: Monday, November 18 (local times are Sunday, November 17)

Do you want to work that last state for your Worked All States Award; improve your CW speed or phone operating procedures; easily earn a nice shiny participation pin; participate in an event where everyone not only wants to work you, but goes out of their way to contact you? Then Sweepstakes is definitely the contest for you.

Sweepstakes is the event that all HF operators in the United States and Canada (including territories and possessions) are raving about. It is the best darn domestic contest the bands have to offer. Actually, there are two separate operating events -- one for CW fanatics and another one for those who love to operate phone.

Suggested Frequencies (kHz) CW Novice and Slow Speed CW Phone Novice Phone 1800-1810 1855-1865 3530-3600 3665-3705 3850-3950 7030-7080 7090-7130 7200-7250 14,030-14,060 14,250-14,300 21,050-21,080 21,090-21,130 21,300-21,400 28,050-28,080 28,090-28,130 28,550-28,650 28,350-28,400

CW operators, dust off and polish up your key. You're in for one fast-paced fantastic time. The CW event of the year starts at 2100 UTC on Saturday, November 2, and runs until 0300 UTC on Monday, November 4 (see the time conversion table for your local times). If your CW is a little rusty, don't fret. We've set aside special frequencies for Novice and slow-speed CW operators (see the "Suggested Frequencies" box for details). This is a perfect time to build up your code speed for that license upgrade you've been thinking about. You'd be surprised at all the folks who use contest operating for the practice they needed to upgrade.

SSB lovers, this is just about the finest operating event you're going to find. The phone contest starts at 2100 UTC Saturday, November 16, and runs until 0300 UTC on Monday, November 18 (see the time conversion table for local times in your area). Check out the suggested frequencies and get ready for the time of your life!

Whichever mode you choose (or, if you"re a diehard operator, you may enter both events) you won"t have to kill yourself. You're limited to only 24 out of the 30 hours of operating time (on each mode). This leaves six hours of "off time" to be scheduled for your own preference. You can take all six hours at once (to get some sleep, go to church, play taxi driver for the kids, or whatever) or take shorter breaks (at least a half-hour each) -- whatever fits your plans. You don't even have to operate the entire 24 hours (but I bet you will, once you get hooked).

How To Do It All you have to do is get on-the-air and look for people calling "CQ SS," give them a call, and exchange information. The "Explanation of Exchange" box details the information that is needed for the contest exchange, and the "Contest Period" box points out the dates and times of the event. Valid SS bands are 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. Don't worry if you"re slow or rusty, or only have a limited time to participate in Sweepstakes. These people are looking for you. They want to work as many people as they can. So your presence on the bands is a great help to them. If you stick around long enough to work 100 different stations, you qualify for a participation pin. Check out the awards that are offered in Sweepstakes. There are plenty of them! Maybe you will qualify for various awards. At the same time, you could be picking up states for your Worked All States. This is an event that you don"t want to miss!

Not only are there two events, but there are four entry categories to choose from: single operator -high power, -low power, -QRP (5 W PEP or less); and multioperator. Don"t forget that using the PacketCluster or any other spotting net places you in the multi-operator category. One operator may not use more than one call sign from any given location during the contest period, and the use of two or more transmitters simultaneously is not allowed.

The exchange is fun and unusual. You really have to copy something and get it right. It's not an automatic fill-in like a lot of contests. You exchange a serial number (starting with 1), precedence (A for low power, B for high power, and Q for QRP), your call sign, check (the last two digits of the year you were first licensed) and your ARRL/RAC section.

You can work stations only once per mode, regardless of frequency band. That means you can work a station only once per contest (once on CW and once on phone). You can change bands, trying to work as many people as possible, but once you work them, that"s it for the contest. Valid Sweepstakes bands are 10, 15, 20, 40, 80 and 160 meters.

Multipliers are the 78 ARRL/RAC sections. You only count multipliers once per contest (CW or phone).

Comfortable Code Speeds Have you been reluctant to enter a CW contest because "the code speeds are too high"? Now there is a solution for folks to whom 35 wpm is another word for impossible. Specific band segments have been set aside for slow-speed code up to 10 or 13 wpm (see the "Suggested Frequencies" box). US Amateur Radio operators should note that operation in the Novice portions of these segments on 80, 40 and 15 meters is restricted to 200 W output. Stations, however, should continue to use the same power designator (A, B or Q) throughout the contest. Now you can participate at code speeds you find comfortable. CQ SS!

For your final score, you count 2 QSO points per contact and multiply the total QSO points by the number of different ARRL/RAC sections you worked.

Within 30 days after each contest (CW and phone), send your entries to ARRL November Sweepstakes, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; upload your ASCII entry files, following the ARRL Suggested File Format, to the ARRL BBS (860-594-0306); send them via Internet (contest@arrl.org); or anonymous FTP them (ftp.arrl.org), again following the ARRL Suggested Standard File Format.

Complete contest rules can be found below and in ASCII format. The November Sweepstakes entry form is available in Adobe PDF format and as an ASCII file. Official entry forms and complete November Sweepstakes rules are available in The 1996 ARRL Contest Yearbook. This new book is a great reference manual for contest rules and score records, and has everything you need to participate and enter any ARRL-sponsored contest, plus more. Everyone should have a copy at hand.

ARRL affiliated clubs compete for gavels in three categories: local, medium, and unlimited. So if you belong to an ARRL affiliated club, check to see if it is competing. If so, you may be eligible to contribute your score toward your club"s aggregate score.

Awards

If you like awards, this is the contest! After completing just 100 contacts, you are eligible for a participation pin. If you work stations in all 78 ARRL/RAC sections, you are eligible for a prestigious "clean sweep cup." These coffee mugs are offered in a different color each year, and are marked with the year. This year they are black with a gold and white design.

Certificates are plentiful. They are awarded to the highest scoring station in each section in the four entry categories on both modes -- CW and phone. Also there are plaques that are donated by individuals, clubs, and businesses for awarding to the overall contest winners and division leaders.

PINS -- Participation in November Sweepstakes

Explanation of Exchange Number Precedence Call Sign Check Section Consecutive serial number Sample: Power output less than 150 W PEP Your station call sign Last two digits of year first licensed Your ARRL Section NR 178 A WJ1U 89 CT

Wouldn't it be nice to know that you've qualified for an award during the contest? Would you like to be sure that you"ll receive an award when you send your November Sweepstakes logs to HQ? Here's an award you can earn, whether you're a first-timer or a weathered veteran of the sport. The ARRL is offering a handsome SS participation pin to qualified participants in the ARRL November Sweepstakes. Anyone who makes at least 100 contacts during the 1996 ARRL November Sweepstakes, CW or phone, will qualify for an achievement pin. Separate pins for CW and phone will be available. Also all the individual operators of a multioperator station (that qualify) are eligible for their own pins. These handsome pins are marked with the year and mode, making them possible collector"s items.

To order, include with your log entry of 100 or more QSOs: (1) A mailing label (preferably a self-adhesive label). (2) Make sure to indicate which pin, CW or phone, with your order. (3) A check or money order for $5, payable to the ARRL (includes the price of the pin, plus shipping and handling). Your pin will be shipped after your contacts have been verified and the results printed in QST.

Coffee Mug -- Clean Sweep Award

By popular demand, we are, again this year, offering a beautiful black coffee mug with a gold and white design commemorating the prestigious "clean sweep" for those who manage to work all 78 sections on either CW or phone during the 1996 November Sweepstakes. These coffee mugs will look terrific in your shack"full of steaming hot coffee, holding pencils or as a trophy. They"re sure to become the talk of the airwaves and quickly become a most sought-after collector's item.

To order, include with your log entry indicating a "clean sweep": (1) A mailing label (preferably a self-adhesive label). (3) A check or money order for $10, payable to the ARRL (includes the price of the coffee cup, plus postage and handling). Your coffee mug will be shipped after your clean sweep has been verified and the results printed in QST.

This is a great opportunity to operate in Sweepstakes for fun and excitement. At the same time, you will probably qualify for some kind of award. The level of award depends on the amount of time and effort you put into Sweepstakes. Give it your best. Go for the gold!

ARRL November Sweepstakes Rules

1) Object: For stations in the United States and Canada
   (including territories and possessions) to exchange QSO
   information, as detailed in Rule 4, with as many other US
   and Canadian stations as possible on 160 through 10 meters,
   excluding 30, 17 and 12 meters.

2) Contest Period:
   (A) CW_First full weekend in November (November 2-4, 1996).
   (B) Phone_Third full weekend in November (November 16-18,
       1996).
   (C) Time_Begins 2100 UTC Saturday and ends 0300
       UTC Monday. Operate no more than 24 of the 30 hours.
       Off periods may not be less than 30 minutes in length.
       Times off and on must be clearly noted in your log,
       and listening time counts as operating time.

3) Categories:
   (A) Single operator: One person performs all transmitting,
       receiving, spotting and logging functions.
   (B) Multioperator, single transmitter only: Those obtaining
       any form of assistance such as relief operators, loggers
       or use of spotting nets, including Packet Clusters.
   (C) QRP, single operator: QRP is defined as 5 watts output
       or less.

4) Exchange: A consecutive serial number, precedence
   ("A" if you run 150-W output or less, "B" if more than 150
   W, or "Q" if 5-W output or less), your call sign, check
   (last two digits of the year you were first licensed) and
   your ARRL Section. For example, WJ1U answers W1AW's call by
   sending W1AW NR178 A WJ1U 89 CT for QSO number 178, less
   than 150 W, first licensed in 1989 and Connecticut Section.

5) Scoring:
   (A) QSO points: Count two points for each complete two-way
       QSO. No cross-mode contacts. Work each station only
       once, regardless of the frequency band.
   (B) Multiplier: Each ARRL Section and RAC Section plus
       VE8/VY1_maximum of 78. KP4 is the Puerto Rico Section,
       KV4/KP2 and KG4 stations are in the Virgin Islands
       Section, and KH6 and other US possessions in the Pacific
       count as the Pacific Section.
   (C) Final score: Multiply QSO points (two per QSO) by the
       number of ARRL/RAC sections (plus VE8/VY1).

6) Miscellaneous:
   (A) A transmitter used to contact one or more stations may
       not be subsequently be used under any other call during
       the contest period (with the exception of family
       stations).
   (B) One operator may not use more than one call sign from
       any given location during the contest period.
   (C) The use of two or more transmitters simultaneously is
       not allowed.
   (D) The use of non-Amateur Radio means of communication
       (eg, telephone) for the purpose of soliciting a contact
       (or contacts) during the contest period is inconsistent
       with the spirit and intent of this announcement.

7) Reporting:
   (A) Entries must be postmarked no later than 30 days after
       the end of each contest (mode). No late entries can be
       accepted. Entries with more than 200 QSOs must include
       cross-check sheets (dupe sheets). Use ARRL November
       Sweepstakes forms, a reasonable facsimile, submit entry
       on diskette, upload your entry to the ARRL BBS, or send
       your entry to ARRL HQ via Internet.
       (1) Official entry forms are available from HQ in the
           Contest Yearbook ($5).
       (2) You may submit your contest entry on diskette in
           lieu of paper logs. The floppy diskette must be IBM
           compatible, MS-DOS formatted, either 3.5 or 5.25 inch
           (40 or 80 track). The log information must be in an
           ASCII file, following the ARRL Suggested Standard File
           Format, and contain all log exchange information (band,
           date, time in UTC, call of station worked, complete
           exchange sent, complete exchange received, multipliers
           [marked the first time worked] and QSO points). One
           entry per diskette. An official summary sheet or
           reasonable facsimile with signed contest participation
           disclaimer is required with all entries.
       (3) You may submit your contest entry via the ARRL BBS
           (860-594-0306), via Internet to contest@arrl.org, or
           anonymous FTP to ftp.arrl.org. Send your summary sheet
           file (Make sure it includes all the pertinent
           information outlined in the official ARRL summary
           sheet.) and your log file following the ARRL Suggested
           Standard File Format.

8) Club Competition: ARRL-affiliated clubs for club gavels and
   awards in the local, medium and unlimited categories.

9) Awards: Certificates to the top single operator CW and phone
   scores in "A", "B" and "Q" categories in each ARRL/RAC Section,
   and the top multioperator entry in each ARRL Division and
   Canada.

10) Condition of Entry: Each entrant agrees to be bound by the
   provisions as well as the intent of this announcement, the
   regulations of his licensing authority and the decisions of
   the ARRL Awards Committee.

11) Disqualification: See the Contest Disqualification Criteria.