The 2014 CQ World-Wide WPX Contest Rules

The 2014 CQ World-Wide WPX Contest

SSB: March 29-30, 2014  CW: May 24-25, 2014

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.
II. 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 assigned 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.

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 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.

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 watt.

b.    Low Power.  Total output power of each transmitted signal must not exceed 100 watts.

 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 will be awarded to the highest scoring station in each category listed under Section VI:

1. In every participating country.

2. In each call area of the United States, Canada, Russia and Japan.

3. At the discretion of the contest director second- and third-place awards may be made.

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. Participation is limited to members residing in or operating from a local geographic area (except for DXpeditions conducted by members living within the defined club geographic area). Club contributions from DXpedition scores are a percentage of the number of club members on the DXpedition.

C. 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. A minimum of four logs must be received for a club to be listed in the results.  Checklog entries are not counted for the club score.

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 alerting assistance:  The use of any technology or other source that provides call sign or multiplier identification along with frequency information to the operator. It includes, but is not limited to, use of DX cluster, packet, 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.

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.
XI. LOG INSTRUCTIONS: Electronic submission of logs is required for all entrants who use a computer to log the contest or prepare contest logs.
A. The log MUST show the following for each contact: correct date and time in UTC, frequency (or band), call sign of the station worked, exchange sent, and exchange received. A log without all required information may be reclassified to Checklog. Contacts should be logged immediately as they are completed. Stations competing for World and Continent awards should provide accurate frequencies for all contacts in the log.
B. Single band entrants are required to include all contacts made during the contest period, even if on other bands. Only contacts made on the band specified in the Cabrillo header or summary sheet will be considered for scoring purposes. Logs with contacts only on one band will be classified as single band entries.
C. The CABRILLO file format is the standard for logs. See www.cqwpx.com/lcabrillo.htm for detailed instructions on filling out the CABRILLO file header. Failure to fill out the header correctly may result in the entry being placed in the wrong category or reclassified as a Checklog. Note: U.S. stations must indicate the station location in the CABRILLO header (e.g., LOCATION: OH).
D. E-mail or Web upload is the expected method of log submission. SSB logs in CABRILLO format should be sent to <ssb@cqwpx.com>.  CW logs in CABRILLO format should be sent to <cw@cqwpx.com>.     Include only the entry call sign in the “Subject:” line of the e-mail. Web upload of logs is available at <www.cqwpx.com/logcheck/>. All logs received will be confirmed via e-mail. A listing of logs received can be found at www.cqwpx.com.
E. Instructions for NON-CABRILLO electronic logs: If you are not able to submit a CABRILLO format log, please contact the Contest Director for assistance with submitting another format.
F. Instructions for paper logs: Paper logs may be mailed to CQ WPX Contest, P.O. Box 481, New Carlisle, OH 45344, USA. Each paper log entry must be accompanied by a Summary Sheet listing all scoring information, the category of competition, and the entrant’s name and mailing address in BLOCK LETTERS.
XII. LOG DEADLINE:
A. All entries must be emailed or postmaked WITHIN FIVE (5) DAYS after the end of the contest: SSB logs no later than 2359 UTC 4 April 2014, CW logs no later than 2359 UTC 30 May 2014  Resubmitting an entry after the deadline will result in it being considered as a late log.
B. An extension may be requested by e-mail to <director@cqwpx.com>. The request must state a legitimate reason and must be received before the log deadline. Extensions are granted only upon confirmation by the Contest Director.
C. Logs submitted or postmarked after the deadline may be listed in the results, but are not eligible for awards.
XIII. JUDGING: The CQ WPX Contest Committee is responsible for checking and adjudicating the contest entries. Entrants are expected to follow the rules and best amateur radio practices. Violation of the rules of the contest or unsportsmanlike conduct may lead to disciplinary action by the Committee.
A. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Examples of unsportsmanlike conduct include, but are not limited to:

1. ARRANGING or CONFIRMING any contacts during the contest by use of ANY non-amateur radio means such as telephones, Internet, instant messaging, chat rooms, VoIP, social media or web sites.

2. Transmissions by the entrant on frequencies outside of license limitations.

3. Changing times in the log to meet band change or off time rules.

4. Taking credit for excessive unverifiable QSOs or unverifiable multipliers.

5. Signals with excessive bandwidth (e.g., splatter, clicks) or harmonics on other bands.

6. Running stations making more than 3 contacts without sending their callsign.

B. Observer Program: The Committee may request of any entrant to accept a visit by an observer during the contest. Failure to allow a Committee appointed observer full access to the station during the contest period may result in the entry being disqualified.
C. Disciplinary Actions: In the event of a violation, the entrant is subject to disqualification at the discretion of the Committee.

1. DISQUALIFICATION: Entry will be listed at the end of the published results and is not eligible for an award.

2. Notification of Committee actions will be sent by email to the address provided with the log submission. The entrant has five days to appeal the decision to the Contest Director. After that time the decision is final.

3. An entrant may withdraw the submitted log for any reason within 30 days of the log deadline. Contact the Contest Director for instructions.

4. The Committee reserves the right to change the category of any entry based on its examination of the log or other information.

D. Log Checking: All logs are checked using custom software and human judgment.

1. Duplicate contacts are removed with no additional penalty.

2. Contacts with an incorrectly received exchange are removed with no additional penalty.

3. Call sign errors or call signs not found in the other log are removed and receive a penalty of two times the QSO point value for that contact.

4. Contacts that do not meet the band change rules for multi-operator entries are removed with no additional penalty.

 XIV. DECLARATION:  By submitting a CQ WPX Contest log, and in consideration of the efforts of the CQ WPX Contest Committee to review and evaluate that log, an entrant unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that he/she has: 1) read and understood the rules of the contest and agrees to be bound by them, 2) operated according to all rules and regulations that pertain to amateur radio for the station location, 3) agreed the log entry may be made open to the public, and 4) accepted that the issuing of disqualifications and other decisions of the Committee are official and final. If an entrant is unwilling or unable to agree to all of the foregoing, the entrant should not submit the entry or submit the entry as a Checklog only.
Questions pertaining to the CQ WPX Contest may be emailed to the CQ WPX Contest Director director@cqwpx.com.