1.

Purpose: 1) To provide a spirited competition during “dead band conditions” 2) To rekindle interest in SSB Meteor
Scatter contacts 3) Provide activity periods for new stations to learn and demonstrate proficiency using High Speed
Meteor Scatter. i.e. WSJT modes FSK441A & JT6M

00:00 UTC Feb 4 - Feb 6 03:00
00:00 UTC Feb 11 - Feb 13 03:00
00:00 UTC Feb 18 - Feb 20 03:00
00:00 UTC Feb 25 - Feb 27 03:00

This contest is designed for week-ends during February and operators should easily find some time to invest in this event.

Exchange

Exchange is both callsigns, 4 character maidenhead grid squares, and final `Rogers'.

Propagation Modes

SSB, FSK441A and JT6M modes provided they are entirely by meteor scatter

Band

Six Meters

Categories

Category	Single Operator
Low Power	Newbie
Low Power	Expert
High Power	Newbie
High Power	Expert

Low power: Less than 200 watts
Newbie: less than 10 prior WSJT contacts

Standard Operating Procedures

The Standard Operating Procedures for SSB and WSJT modes should be strictly adhered to for all schedules.
The Standard Random Hour Messages should be used for Random Hour Sessions on Saturdays and random contacts.

Random Hour
(Each Saturday)

Random Hour for SSB starts at 11:00 – 12:00 UTC. The calling frequency is 50.125 or if qrm 50.130 or 50.135 MHz as alternate frequencies.
Random Hour for WSJT Meteor Scatter contacts starts at 12:00 – 14:00 UTC using 50.260 MHz mode FSK441A.

Random QSO Award: The WSJTGROUP offers an award for working 15 unique station during Random Hour. The certificate rules can be read here.

General Rules

Fixed stations may be worked once for FSK441A, JT6M and SSB. Rovers may be worked 3 times for each grid square activiated using FSK441, JT6M and SSB.(Meteor Scatter must be the propagation mode for all claimed contacts.)
Meteor Scatter Schedules can be made at any time during the contest via any method. (Prearranged schedules, loggers, phone, email etc.)
Outside of “Random Hour Times” stations calling on 50.260 should use the “Offset Method" of calling on 50.260MHz. (Random contacts are allowed any time during the contest)
NO digital signals below 50.240MHz. WSJT schedules should be run between 50.240 – 50.280MHz for WSJT modes and 50.130 - 50.200 for SSB. Schedules should not be run on the calling frequency of 50.260MHz, 50.125 MHz or 50.290MHz.
Stations should use either WWV or preferable a internet program similar to Dimension 4 for keeping the correct time.
Contacts via tropo scattering count as meteor scatter contacts.

Note: If there are band openings during the contest times, enjoy the openings but for the “contest log” only meteor scatter contacts count for credit.

Multipliers

Each Random contact counts as 1 multiplier.(If no random contacts are made, the default multiplier is "one".

QSO Points…

Contact	QSO Points
Random SSB	5
Assisted SSB	3
Random WSJT	3
Assisted WSJT	1

Note: A random contact is one started by calling a CQ, answering a CQ or tail-ending a contact in progress. Schedules are prearranged attempts generally made in real time on an internet logger. A station worked on a schedule but latter worked as a "random" contact can be counted as a random contact for the higher points and the first contact is then discarded.

Scoring

QSO points (calculated as above) x Multipliers

Note For Rovers: QSO points x (No. of random meteor scatter contacts completed + Number of grids from which at least 1 QSO was completed). Rovers compete with fixed stations. Rovers who also operate from the "Home QTH" plus "Rover Locations" should total two log sheets and total score is equal to the sum of both logs.

Post

Fill out the Score Submission Form here.
Complete logs should be avaliable upon request.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Users Research Information:
Because High Speed Meteor Scatter with WSJT is relatively new to most of the Six Club Members and SSB meteor
scatter contacts are seldom being attempted the following information is provided to assist station with preparation for the ___________________________________________________________________

SSB METEOR SCATTER PROCEDURES FOR REGION 2:
SSB exchange requirements and procedures are the same as HSMS procedures, with the following changes:
1. The period is normally 15 seconds, with the Western station again calling first at the start of each minute.
2. Random MS operation does not necessarily follow an exact sequence. Break-in is commonly used.
3. Information exchange (report) is usually the burst-length "S" report (S1 through S5) on schedules, Grid Squares on
random contacts. For random contacts, yet other exchanges are sometimes heard.
4. Phonetics must be used for random operation; they should not be used for schedules.
5. For CQs, the usual SSB calling frequencies are usually used during periods of low activity. However, during the peaks
of major showers, they quickly become overcrowded. Frequencies every 5 kHz above and below the calling frequencies
are then commonly used.
6. On SSB, attempts are usually made to complete the entire QSO on a single long burst. Thus, break-in procedures
should be used whenever possible.

Above copied from: http://www.qsl.net/w8wn/hscw/papers/hscw-sop.html

Random Hour Message Copied from: http://www.ykc.com/wa5ufh/WSJTGROUP/randomhour.htm

The message formats described in this manual are for “Random Hour” and recommended for all other times when
calling cq on the call frequency .This discussion should not be confused with the Standard Operating
Procedures used for Meteor Scatter Schedules. i.e Skeds made on Ping Jockey.
Note: Standard SH messages are better not used on the Call Frequencies. The following messages
only cause confusion when used on shared frequencies.
RRR
R26 or R27
73
Note: If you are using a call frequency and the person you are in contact with starts sending Sh messages,
don't change to match him! Keep using the Modified Random Hour messages and he will probably swap to
the correct format. (be a good elmer, email him the correct procdure)

Modified Messages:
WA5UFH who is Working W5SNX on a designated call frequency:

Message 1: W5SNX DE WA5UFH <
Message 2: W5SNX 27 WA5UFH 2727 <
Message 3 SNX R27 <
Message 4: SNX RRR <
Message 5: SNX 73 <

Note Message 1: The WSJTGROUP recommends adding the “DE” between both calls on six meters.
(the DE is optional for two meters because of almost always shorter ping widths) The use of "DE" helps
others who receive Both Calls to determine who the transmitting station is. Message #2, no change is
necessary. Messages 3, 4 & 5 are appended with the suffix of the station you are working by inserting
that suffix ahead of the text. All messages are appended “On The Fly” as the contact progresses.
Note: To append the message text click in front of the Sh message using the mouse and insert the
text to be added. Separate with a single space the text added and the Sh Message text.
Examples:
AA9MY … MY R26
K1SIX … SIX RRR
W1AW … AW 73
AF40 … AF R27

1. CQ U7 W1AW (Up 7KHz from calling frequency) W1AW will listen on 50.267 MHz and swap their Tx Frequency from
50.260 MHz to 50.267 MHz after receiving a call.

2. CQ D7 W1AW (Down 7KHz from calling frequency) W1AW will listen on 50.253 and swap their Tx Frequency
from 50.260 MHz to 50.253 MHz upon receiving a call)

3. CQ F W1AW (Up 6 KHz from calling frequency) W1AW will listen on 50.266 and swap
their Tx Frequency from 50.260 MHz to 50.266 MHz upon receiving a call)

4. CQ 267 W1AW (Listening on 50.277) W1AW will switch from 50.260 MHz to 50.267MHz after receiving a call.

Note: For method #3 above, the letter indicates the number of kHz higher than the CQ frequency the calling station is listening.
CQC - Up 3 kHz
CQE - Up 5 kHz
CQZ - Up 26 kHz
CQAA - Up 27 kHz. Etc

Assuming W1AW is calling using the OffSet Method during Random Hour on 144.140MHz

1. CQ U7 W1AW (Up 7KHz from calling frequency) W1AW will listen on 144.147 MHz and swap their Tx Frequency from
144.140 MHz to 144.147 MHz after receiving a call.

2. CQ D10 W1AW (Down10KHz from calling frequency) W1AW will listen on 144.130 and swap their Tx Frequency
from 144.140 MHz to 144.130 MHz upon receiving a call)

3. CQ F W1AW (Up 6 KHz from calling frequency) W1AW will listen on 144.146 and swap
their Tx Frequency from 144.140 MHz to 5144.146 MHz upon receiving a call)

4. CQ 147 W1AW (Listening on 144.147MHz) W1AW will switch from 144.140 MHz to 144.147 MHz after receiving a call.

Dimension 4: This application sets your computer to the correct time. This is absolutely necessary for all WSJT modes.
This might seem like a strange place to start your WSJT Experience, just trust us. (Get this working first them proceed)

Note: An alternative to Dimension 4 is NMEATime. You might consider this if you plan to use a GPS i.e. portable. (Most
stations are using D4)

            Settings:
                        Server: tick.usno.navy.mil
                        Check: Load Dimension 4 at startup
                                    Once loaded, wait until online
                                    Every 10 minutes
                                    Maximum correction     1 hours
                                    Start minimized
                                    Display icon in tray
            Advanced:        Check if online, every 5 seconds
                                    Timeout after 5 seconds
                                    On error, retry after 2 seconds
                                    Check Display errors
                                    Check Display synchronization

How to test if Dimension 4 is working properly:
Note: Dimension 4 requires an internet connection in order to work. If you’re not “on-line” then connect before
making the following test.