Sponsor: WSJT Group  groups.yahoo.com/group/wsjtgroup/

Please read the rules carefully as major changes have been made for the 2007 Spring Rally. This is a Random Contacts Only event. The 2007 Winter Rally during the Geminids Shower will be assisted and unassisted.

Rally period
1300 UTC May 5 to 1500 UTC May 7, 2007. This a weekend rally, chosen to coincide with the eta-Aquarids meteor shower. More information on this shower can be found here. The usual Saturday random hour periods are cancelled during rally weekend.

QSO Procedure
This is a digital-mode-only event for meteor scatter QSOs using FSK441 or JT6M. It is recommended that WSJT 6 be configured with `grids' for report. Instructions on how to do this can be found here. Users of older versions of WSJT should enter their grid in the `Report' box. Exchange is both callsigns, 4 character maidenhead grid squares, and final `Rogers'. All operators are reminded that exchanging information without the use of meteor scatter during a QSO attempt invalidates the contact. No scheduling is permitted during the rally. In particular, operators cannot use the Pingjockey website to observe activity or self-spot.

Bands: 50, 144, 222, and 432 MHz.

Calling Frequencies
Primary 144.140 and 50.260 MHz
Secondary 144.125 and 50.275 MHz
No calling frequencies for 222 and 432 MHz
For information on the call frequencies click here.

Calling CQ
All contacts are to be random/unscheduled except as noted below. All stations calling CQ must use the Primary or Secondary calling frequencies following the offset method. Contacts completed on either of the calling frequencies are not valid.

Schedules
1. Stations separated by 1200 miles or more can schedule prior to the start of the rally. Operators are encouraged to push the distance envelope and attempt extreme-DX contacts.
2. If a station is decoded during the rally that is known to be 1200+ miles distant, scheduling of an attempt during the rally is permitted, e.g. by email.
3. Schedules are permitted before and during the rally for 222 and 432 MHz bands at any distance.

Scoring
50 MHz: 1 point per QSO
144 MHz: 2 points per QSO
222 MHz: 4 points per QSO
432 MHz: 8 point per QSO

Score is QSO points times number of unique grid squares worked per band

Rovers: QSO points x (Unique grid squares worked per band + Number of grids from which at least 1 QSO was completed). This is the standard rover scoring formula for VHF contests.

Categories
Categories are single band, multi-band, and rover. Each of these categories competes against stations in their time zone. (Rovers may turn in two logs if additional contacts are completed from their home QTH)

The 12 competition categories are summarized as follows:
Multi-Band, EDT; Multi-Band, CDT; Multi-Band, MDT; Multi-Band, PDT
Single-Band, EDT; Single-Band CDT; Single-Band, MDT; Single-Band, PDT
Rover, EDT; Rover, CDT; Rover, MDT; Rover, PDT

Awards: Certificates will be awarded to stations with high score in each of the competition categories.

Log submission: Participants should submit: 1) A summary and 2) A rally log.

1) The summary should include: i) Your call, ii) Your time zone, iii) Single or Multi-band, iv) QSOs per band, and v) Final claimed score. Please show the arithmetic you use to obtain your final score, ie. QSO points x Multipliers = Final Score.

2) For each QSO, the log must show: i) Date, ii) Time (UTC), iii) Callsign of station worked, iv) Grid, v) Band (50, 144, etc), and vi) QSO points.

Submission of the log as an Excel spreadsheet (arrange the columns as shown above) by email is strongly encouraged, although any convenient log submission format is acceptable. Email logs to wa5ufh@ykc.com To verify that your log has been received click here. Please allow 4--5 days for logs to be processed. Logs due by June 9th.

Operating Guidelines
Operators are encouraged to listen for tail-enders and to QSY contacts to another band. Tailending and QSY procedures can be found here. Short Hand messages are permitted but stations should consider the use of random hour messages if there is high activity. Operators should review the procedures for requesting `missing information' as described here.

Operators are encouraged to take advantage of scheduling where permitted. Rally participants should refrain from using Internet loggers. All operators are encouraged to submit a log.

Rally coordinators: Tip (WA5UFH); John (N6ENU); Mike (WB2FKO); Joe (K1JT)

Advisory committee: W0IOH, N5SIX, WB9IIV, KE7NR, K4YMQ, K9SQL, W5UWB, W4FRA, W9SE, N9EGT