Rules

2020 CQ World-Wide WPX Contest

SSB: March 28-29, 2020 CW: May 30-31, 2020

Starts: 0000 UTC Saturday Ends: 2359 UTC Sunday

I. Objective:

For amateurs world wide to contact as many amateurs and prefixes as possible during the contest period.

I. Period of Operation:

48 hours. Single Operator stations may operate 36 of the 48 hours – off times must be a minimum of 60 minutes during which no QSO is logged. Multi-operator stations may operate the full 48 hours.

III. Bands:

Only the 1.8, 3.5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 MHz bands may be used. Observance of established band plans is strongly encouraged.

IV. EXCHANGE:

RS(T) report plus a progressive contact serial number starting with 001 for the first contact. Note: Multi-Two and Multi-Unlimited entrants use separate serial number sequences on each band.

V. SCORING:

A. Score: The final score is the result of the total QSO points multiplied by the number of different prefixes worked.

B. QSO Points: A station may be worked once on each band for QSO point credit:

1. Contacts between stations on different continents are worth three (3) points on 28, 21, and 14 MHz and six (6) points on 7, 3.5, and 1.8 MHz.

2. Contacts between stations on the same continent, but different countries, are worth one (1) point on 28, 21, and 14 MHz and two (2) points on 7, 3.5, and 1.8 MHz. Exception: For North American stations only—contacts between stations within the North American boundaries (both stations must be located in North America) are worth two (2) points on 28, 21, and 14 MHz and four (4) points on 7, 3.5, and 1.8 MHz.

3. Contacts between stations in the same country are worth 1 point regardless of band.

C. Prefix Multipliers: The prefix multiplier is the number of valid prefixes worked. Each PREFIX is counted only once regardless of the band or number of times the same prefix is worked.

1. A PREFIX is the letter/numeral combination which forms the first part of the amateur call. Examples: N8, W8, WD8, HG1, HG19, KC2, OE2, OE25, LY1000, etc. Any difference in the numbering, lettering, or order of same shall count as a separate prefix. A station operating from a DXCC entity different from that indicated by its call sign is required to sign portable. The portable prefix must be an authorized prefix of the country/call area of operation. In cases of portable operation, the portable designator will then become the prefix. Example: N8BJQ operating from Wake Island would sign N8BJQ/KH9 or N8BJQ/NH9. KH6XXX operating from Ohio must use an authorized prefix for the U.S. 8th district (/W8, /AD8, etc.). Portable designators without numbers will be assigned a zero (Ø) after the second letter of the portable designator to form the prefix. Example: PA/N8BJQ would become PAØ. All calls without numbers will be assigned a zero (Ø) after the first two letters to form the prefix. Example: XEFTJW would count as XEØ. Maritime mobile, mobile, /A, /E, /J, /P, or other license class identifiers do not count as prefixes.

2. Special event, commemorative, and other unique prefix stations are encouraged to participate. Prefixes must be issued or permitted by the licensing authority of the country of operation.

VI. ENTRY CATEGORIES:

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: QSO alerting assistance of any kind is prohibited (see rule IX.2).

a. High Power (All Band or Single Band):Total output power must not exceed 1500 watts.

b. Low Power (All Band or Single Band): Total output power must not exceed 100 watts.

c. QRP (All Band or Single Band): Total output power must not exceed 5 watts.

2. Single Operator Assisted: Entrants in this category may use QSO alerting assistance (see rule IX.2).

a. High Power Assisted (All Band or Single Band): Total output power must not exceed 1500 watts.

b. Low Power Assisted (All Band or Single Band): Total output power must not exceed 100 watts.

c. QRP Assisted (All Band or Single Band): Total output power must not exceed 5 watts.

B. Single Operator Overlay Categories: Single Operator entrants may also submit their log for one of the categories shown below by adding an additional line in the Cabrillo log file header called CATEGORY-OVERLAY. All Overlay entries are grouped into high power and low power in the results.

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, no QSO finding assistance, and the one radio must not be able to receive while transmitting. Operator Assisted entries are not eligible for this category.

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.

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.

c. CLASSIC Overlay: The MULTI-ONE category station can choose to add the CLASSIC overly if only one radio is used and the radio is not able to receive during transmitting. All other Multi-One rules apply.

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.

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 <www.cqwpx.com/plaques.htm >.

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.

VIII. CLUB COMPETITION:

A plaque will be awarded each year to the club that has the highest aggregate score from logs submitted by its members. To be listed in the results, a minimum of four logs must be received from a club.

A. The club must be a local group and not a national organization (e.g., ARRL or DARC).

B. USA Clubs: Participation is limited to club members residing and operating within a 250 mile radius circle from the center of club area (except for expeditions organized specifically for the contest conducted by members who reside within the club circle).

C. DX Clubs: Participation is limited to club members residing and operating within EITHER the DXCC country where the club is located OR within a 400 km radius circle from the center of club area (except for expeditions organized specifically for the contest conducted by members who reside within the club area).

D. Single-operator entries can only contribute to one club. Multi-operator scores may be allocated to multiple clubs as a percentage of the number of club members participating in the operation. Checklog entries are not counted for the club score. The log entry must spell out the full club name (and club allocations if multi-op). Club contributions from DXpedition scores are a percentage of the number of club members on the DXpedition.

IX. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS:

1. Station location: The area in which all the transmitters, receivers and antennas are located. All transmitters and receivers must be within a single 500-meter diameter circle. Antennas must be physically connected by RF transmission lines to the transmitters and receivers.

2. QSO finding assistance: The use of any technology or other source that provides call sign or multiplier identification of a signal to the operator. This includes, but is not limited to, use of a CW decoder, DX cluster, DX spotting web sites (e.g., DX Summit), local or remote call sign and frequency decoding technology (e.g., CW Skimmer or Reverse Beacon Network), or operating arrangements involving other individuals.

X. GENERAL RULES FOR ALL ENTRANTS:

A. Entrants must operate within the limits of their chosen category when performing any activity that could affect their submitted score.

B. A different callsign must be used for each entry. Only the entrant’s callsign may be used to aid the entrant’s score.

C. Do not exceed the total output power limitation of the chosen category on any band. Total output power on any band at any time is measured at the final output of the active amplifier(s).

D. Self-spotting or asking to be spotted is not permitted.

E. All operation must take place from one station location. Remote operation is permitted if the physical location of all transmitters, receivers, and antennas are at one station location. A remotely operated station must obey all station license, operator license, and category limitations. The call sign used must be one issued or permitted by the Regulatory Authority of the station location.

F. Remote receivers outside the station location are not permitted.

G. Only one signal on a band is allowed at any time. When two or more transmitters are present on the same band, a hardware device MUST be used to prevent more than one signal at any one time. Alternating CQs on two or more frequencies on a band is not permitted.

H. All requests for contacts, responses to calls, and copying of call signs and contest exchanges must be accomplished during the contest period using the mode and frequencies of the contest.

I. Correction of logged call signs and exchanges after the contest by using any database, recordings, email or other methods of confirming QSOs is not allowed.

J. Call signs logged must be the same as those exchanged over the air by the entrants during the QSO.