RAFARS CONTEST CALENDAR - 2008/9                                                        Updated Mar 08

DATE                             CONTEST      SPONSOR           VENUE

Sun 20 Apr 08                 Spring VHF       RAFARS            N/A

Sat/Sun 7/8 Jun 08           NFD                     RSGB          Metheringham Visitors Centre, Lincs

Sat/Sun 6/7 Sep 08          SSB FD                RSGB          Metheringham Visitors Centre, Lincs

Thurs 4 Sep 08                Rolling 3 CW     RAFARS             N/A

Sun 7 Dec 08                  Christmas            RAFARS             N/A

Sun 11 Jan 09                 AFS CW                RSGB               Various

Sat 17 Jan 09                  AFS SSB               RSGB               Various

Christmas Contest 2007 – Results

Section A – HF All Band Single Operator:

Posn    Call                  Pts                   Posn    Call                  Pts

1*        G3LUW          121                  5=        G3RAF           54

2+        G4DDX          105                  5=        G4LYU           54

3          G2AFV           91                    7          G3TQX           18                   

4          G4BJQ            63

Section B – VHF Single Operator:

1*        G3JDY            42                    2+        G1TAG           30

Section C – Club/Multi Operator

1*        G0RAF/P        43

Section D – Overseas Operator:

1*        ON6WR          72

                                     RAFARS SPRING VHF CONTEST RULES

Date: Sunday 20th April 2008

Time: 1400 - 1700hrs (Local time).

Band: 2 metres only.

Modes: CW, SSB and FM.

Frequencies: SSB  144.190 - 144.220

                     CW   144.080MHz

                     FM   144.725MHz

NOTE: SSB operation is to be confined to the above frequencies and there is no specified calling channel.  On CW and FM these are suggested calling frequencies, please use them ONLY for calling and QSY to another frequency when contact has been made. The frequencies may, of course, be in use by other amateurs. In which case use other frequencies for calling, so that RAFARS does not cause any inconvenience to others.  Contacts via repeaters or satellites are NOT allowed in the contest.

Scoring: 6 points per contact (any mode). Total score = points multiplied by the number of different counties worked.

Exchange: Callsign, RS(T) and serial number sent (e.g. 59001) RAFARS number and county.

Log: Time of contact, callsign, RS(T) and serial number sent. RS(T) and serial number received, RAFARS number of station worked and his/her County, points claimed. Log extracts will be received in any reasonable form (not post cards or small pieces of paper). A signed declaration that: The station was operated strictly in accordance with the rules and spirit of the contest and within the conditions of my licence and the entry is a true copy of my log.

Entries should be sent, to arrive no later than 12th May 2008, to the RAFARS Contests Manager, G3ZDW. Address as per RAFARS Call Book, or email: contestsroger3@googlemail.com . Prefer the log as an attachment.

Adjudication: Points will be deducted for errors as follows: Errors in callsigns are penalised by loss of all points for the QSO. Errors in other data result in loss of one third QSO points per error.

Awards: Awards will be presented to the winner and runner up.

RAFARS ROLLING 3 CW CONTEST RULES

Date: Thursday 4th September 2008

Time: 1730 GMT (1830 local) - 2130 GMT (2230 local).

            Enter best scoring three consecutive hours, e.g. 1750 -2050 etc.

Call: CQ RAFARS

Bands:40M, 80M, 160M. Members can be contacted on different band and claim points.

Scoring: 3 pts per contact

Log: Time, Band, Call sign, RST sent, RST received, RAFARS number received and points claimed. Log extracts will be received in any reasonable form (not post cards or small pieces of paper). A signed declaration that: The station was operated strictly in accordance with the rules and spirit of the contest and within the conditions of my licence and the entry is a true copy of my log. Entries should be sent, to arrive no later than 20th September 2008, to the RAFARS Contests Manager. Address as per RAFARS Call Book, or email: contestsroger3@googlemail.com . Prefer the log as an attachment.

Adjudication:  Points will be deducted for errors as follows: Errors in callsigns are penalised by loss of all points for the QSO. Errors in other data result in loss of one third QSO points per error.

Awards: Awards will be presented to the winners and runners up, provided sufficient entries are received.

                                     RAFARS CHRISTMAS CONTEST RULES

Date: Sunday 7th December 2008

Time: 0000 - 2400 GMT for QSO's between stations in the UK and those in other countries. Overseas stations may claim for all eligible QSO's during this period. 1200 - 1700 GMT for QSO's where both stations are within the UK.

Bands: All bands. Except WARC

Modes: CW, AM, SSB and FM.

Sections: Members may only enter one section of the contest:

            a.   All HF Band Single Operator.

            b.   VHF Single Operator.

            c.   Club/Multi-operator.

            d.   Overseas Operator. (includes Eire).

            e.   SWL.

Members must make clear on their entry, which section they are entering.

Scoring:

a.   6 pts per QSO where both stations are in the same country.

b.   9 pts per HF QSO where stations are in different countries but the same continent.

c.   20 pts per HF QSO where stations are in different continents.

d.   6 pts per VHF QSO plus a multiplier for each county and country worked.

e.   Listening section, scoring is as above for any QSO heard between two RAFARS Members.

Note: For contest purposes, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW will be classed as one country.

Log:

Transmitting sections: Time, Band, Mode, Callsign, RS(T) and serial number sent, RS(T) and serial number received, RAFARS number of station worked, (county/country VHF entries only) and points claimed. Log extracts will be received in any reasonable form (not post cards or small pieces of paper). A signed declaration that: The station was operated strictly in accordance with the rules and spirit of the contest and within the conditions of my licence and the entry is a true copy of my log.

Entries should be sent, to arrive no later than 31st January 2009, to the RAFARS Contests Manager, G3ZDW. Address as per RAFARS Call Book, or email: contestsroger3@googlemail.com . Prefer the log as an attachment.

Receiving Section: Time, Band, Mode, Callsign, RS(T) and serial number and RAFARS number given by each station, (county/country for VHF QSO's only), and points claimed.

Notes: 

a. Only one QSO between members will count for points, and where more than one QSO has taken place, the most beneficial score should be claimed.

b.  QSO's via repeaters or satellites are NOT allowed.

c. Club stations operating two callsigns are to add both scores together and submit only one entry.

Adjudication:  Points will be deducted for errors as follows: Errors in callsigns are penalised by loss of all points for the QSO. Errors in other data result in loss of one third QSO points per error.

Awards: Awards will be presented to the winners and runners up of each section provided sufficient entries are received.

FIELD DAYS

During the year the Society takes part in 2 Field Days.  The first is National Field Day (NFD), which takes place over the first weekend in June.  This is a CW event and RAFARS are always looking for more members to take part, especially if they are proficient CW operators.  The SSB Field Day is held during the first weekend in September and again more members are required to operate.  Both Field Days are presently taking place at the Metheringham Visitors Centre near Metheringham, Lincs.  Map Ref TF 1000 5959.  RAFARS mobile QRG 144.725 is normally monitored during the day but not guaranteed, depending on workload.

We are also looking for any members who might not wish to operate, for what ever reason, but who would like to assist in the general running of the station, such as setting up and dismantling, or even domestic support, it’s all essential.  Members are also encouraged to come along just to see the Society’s Field Day Station in action and have a cup of tea/coffee under field day conditions! Follow this up by having a look around the Visitors Centre, which shows the history of 106 Sqn during the war, which is set up in the old Ration Store.  Also look at the following web sites, www.airops.freeserve.co.uk/mavc and www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/s74.html .  For more information on Field Days contact me at: contestsroger3@googlemail.com

AFFILIATED SOCIETIES CONTESTS (AFS)

The Society takes part in 2 RSGB HF AFS contests, the first being the CW section on the 2^nd Sunday in January and the SSB section the following Saturday. We have an established group of members operating in the RAF Waddington and RAF Cosford areas and there is scope for other members to form a group providing they are within a 50 mile radius of each other.  There is no requirement for the group to be centred on an RAF Station.  Anyone wishing to form a new group or join an existing one is requested to contact me at: contestsroger3@googlemail.com The full rules for AFS are available at www.contesting.co.uk/hfcc/rules/rafs.shtml .

RAFARS HOME CONSTRUCTORS CUP RULES - 2008

 The RAFARS Home Constructors Cup competition is held at the Society's AGM. The Cup will be awarded to the member or group of members judged as submitting the best "home brew" project for examination by the judges.

VENUE: The RAFARS Home Constructors Cup competition will be held at the AGM at 1030 hours.

STANDARDS: The competition will be judged on all points of construction, including mechanical detail and finish, wiring, soldering and ingenuity. Account will be taken of the commercial content (modules, such as tuner heads etc). Kit projects may be submitted, but only if built from start to finish by the entrant or group of members. Modified commercial equipment may be entered providing a detailed report is attached detailing what exactly has been modified.

JUDGES: The decision of the judges will be final.

NOTICE OF ENTRY: Notice of entry is highly desirable, but not essential unless a member unable to attend the AGM wishes to enter the competition by sending the entry in the hands of a deputy, in which case written notice shall be given to the Contests Manager, G3ZDW, to arrive no later than one week before the AGM. Address as per RAFARS Call Book, or email: contestsroger3@googlemail.com.

ENTRIES: Entries must have been constructed by the competitor personally or group of members and shall be of electronic or electro-mechanical construction, with a function directly related to an aspect of amateur radio. There are no limits to the number of entries per member or group of members. Any entry that fails to win may be re-submitted in subsequent years. Unfinished projects may be submitted.

DESCRIPTION OF ENTRY: Entries shall be accompanied by a card or paper describing their function, together with identification (callsign, RAFARS number and name) of the competitor.  Also indicate whether an individual or a group constructed the entry.

QUERIES: Any queries regarding this competition should be addressed to the Contest Manager, G3ZDW. Address as per RAFARS Call Book, or email: contestsroger3@googlemail.com .

                            AFFILIATED CLUBS ANNUAL CONTEST RULES

            This contest is designed to encourage activity between RAFARS Affiliated Clubs and other RAFARS members.

            The Contest will take place on an annual basis, from 1 January to 31 December each year, and is open to all RAFARS Affiliated Clubs. The contest winner will be the Affiliated Club deemed to have contacted the most other RAFARS members over the period.

            Contacts with RAFARS members, Club Stations and RAFARS sponsored Special Event Stations will be valid in the contest. SWL reports received from RAFARS members may also be counted as valid contacts.

            Where an Affiliated Club Station has more than one callsign, e.g. G8FC/G8RAF, both may be claimed. Only one contact per member station or Special Event may count for the contest. Contacts with G3RAF may also be claimed, once for each separate holder of the callsign. Contacts via repeaters are NOT to be claimed.

            Contest entries in the form of a log extract containing date, time, band, callsign, RST sent, RST received and RAFARS number, should be sent to the Contests Manager, address as per RAFARS Call Book, or email: contestsroger3@googlemail.com to arrive not later than 31 January. Prefer the log as an attachment. An official of the Club, stating that it is a true record of contacts made must sign each entry. Club logs and SWL reports must be made available if requested.