The 2012 CQ World-Wide DX Contest
SSB: October 27 -
28
Starts 0:00:00 UTC
Saturday Ends 23:59:59 UTC Sunday
I. OBJECTIVE: For amateurs around the world to contact other amateurs in
as many zones and countries as possible.
II. BANDS: Six bands only: 1.8, 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz.
III. For all categories:
1. All entrants must operate within
the limits of their chosen category when performing any activity that could
impact their submitted score.
2. You must not exceed the total
output power limitation of your chosen category on any band. Total output power
on any band at any time is measured at the output of the active amplifier(s).
3. Operating location: All
transmitters and receivers used by the entrant must be located within a single
500-meter diameter circle or within the property limits of the station
licensee's address, whichever is greater.
4. All antennas used by the entrant
must be physically connected by wires to the transmitters and receivers used by
the entrant.
5. Only the entrant's call sign can
be used to aid the entrant's score.
6. A different call sign must be
used for each CQ WW entry.
7. An entrant's remote station is
determined by the physical location of the transmitters, receivers, and
antennas. A remote station must obey all station and category limitations of
Rule III.
8. A competitor who wishes to be
judged for a top score in their category must agree to a potential visitation
at any time during the contest by an observer appointed by the CQ WW Contest
Committee (CQ WW CC). Failure of the entrant to respond to our correspondence
or to allow a CQ WW CC observer full access to the contest QTH during the full
contest period may result in the competitor being removed from award
eligibility for 3 years.
9. Self-spotting or asking to be
spotted is not allowed.
10. Only one signal on a band is
allowed at any time.
11. Remote receivers outside the
limitations of Rule III.3 are not allowed. The only exception is public
remote skimmers which are allowed for the Multi-Operator, Assisted and Xtreme
categories.
12. 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; interlocking two or more transmitters on a
band with alternating CQs (soliciting contacts) is not allowed.
13. Post-contest correcting of call
signs by using any database, recordings or confirming QSO's is not allowed
(Rule XII.2 always applies).
14. All competitors are expected to
have read and to comply with the rules of the chosen category. The entrant
agrees that any violation of CQ WW contest rules makes the entrant subject to
either a red or yellow card (see rule XIII).
IV.TYPES OF COMPETITION
A. Single Operator (All-Band or
Single-Band): only one person (= the entrant) can
contribute to the final score during the official contest period. Call sign
alerting assistance of any kind places the entrant in one of the Single
Operator Assisted categories. For all single operator categories, all-band or
single-band, only one signal is allowed at any time; for the all-band category
the operator can change bands at any time.
1. Single Operator: QSO alerting assistance of any kind is not allowed.
a. Single Operator High Power (All-Band or Single-Band): Total
output power must not exceed 1500 watts on any band at any time (see III.2).
b. Single Operator Low Power (All-Band or Single-Band): Total
output power must not exceed 100 watts on any band at any time (see III.2).
c. Single Operator QRP (All-Band or Single-Band): Total output
power must not exceed 5 watts on any band at any time (see III.2).
2. Single Operator Assisted: Any public QSO alerting assistance is allowed for all
assisted categories. This includes, but is not limited to, DX Cluster-type
networks, local or remote Skimmer and/or Skimmer-like technology and reverse
beacon network. A local Skimmer is one obeying Rule III.3.
a. Single Operator High Power Assisted (All-Band or
Single-Band): Total output power must not exceed 1500 watts on any band at any
time (see III.2).
b. Single Operator Low Power Assisted (All-Band or
Single-Band): Total output power must not exceed 100 watts on any band at any
time (see III.2).
c. Single Operator QRP Assisted (All-Band or Single-Band):
Total output power must not exceed 5 watts on any band at any time (see III.2).
B. Multi-Operator Categories
(all-band operation only): Any
public QSO spotting help is allowed. Any number of operators is allowed. Total
output power must not exceed 1500 watts on any band at any time (see III.2).
1.
Single Transmitter (MS): Only one
transmitter and one band permitted during any 10-minute period (run
transmitter).Exception: One- and only one-other band may be used during any
10-minute period, if-and only if-, the station worked is a new multiplier
(multiplier transmitter). The run and multiplier transmitters are governed by
independent ten minute rules. Ten-minute periods are defined as starting with
the first logged QSO on a band (see Rule XII.2). The multiplier station cannot
call CQ (solicit contacts). Logs found in violation of the 10-minute rule may
be reclassified as M2. The log must indicate which transmitter (run or
multiplier) made each QSO.
2.
Two Transmitters (M2): A maximum
of two transmitted signals 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. Each transmitter may make a maximum of 8 band changes in any clock hour.
3.
Multi-Transmitter (MM): A maximum
of six transmitted signals, one per band, at any one time. Six bands may be
activated simultaneously.
C. Xtreme Contesting: To encourage the development of new technologies in
contesting. The rules for the Xtreme category are different from the rules
presented here. For the full Xtreme rules, go to <http://www.cqww.com>
and click on rules for the Xtreme category.
D. Team Contesting: A team consists of any five radio amateurs operating in any
single operator category. A person may be on only one team per mode. Competing
on a team will not prevent any team member from submitting his/her personal
score for a radio club. A team score will be the sum of all the team members
submitting scores. SSB and CW teams are totally separate. A member of an SSB
team may be on a totally different CW team. A list of a team's members must be
received at CQ Headquarters by the time the contest begins. E-mail to
<teams@cqww.com>, or mail or fax the list to CQ, Attn: Team Contest, 25
Newbridge Road, Hicksville, NY 11801 U.S.A.; fax 516-681-2926. Awards will be
given to the top teams on each mode.
V. NUMBER EXCHANGE: Phone: RS report plus zone (e.g., 5905). CW: RST report
plus zone (e.g., 59905).
VI. MULTIPLIER: Two types of multiplier will be used.
1. A multiplier of one (1) for each
different zone contacted on each band.
2. A multiplier of one (1) for each
different country contacted on each band. Stations are permitted to contact
their own country and zone for multiplier credit. The Worked All Zones written
rules, DXCC entity list, Worked All Europe (WAE) multiplier list and IG9/IH9,
and WAC boundaries are standards. Maritime mobile stations count only for a
zone multiplier.
VII. POINTS:
1. Contacts between stations on
different continents are worth three (3) points.
2. Contacts between stations on the
same continent but different countries, one (1) point. Exception: For
North American stations only, contacts between stations within the North
American boundaries count two (2) points.
3. Contacts between stations in the
same country are permitted for zone or country multiplier credit but have zero
(0) point value.
VIII. SCORING: All stations: the final score is the result of the total
QSO points multiplied by the sum of your zone and country multipliers. Example:
1000 QSO points × 100 multiplier (30 Zones + 70 Countries) = 100,000 (final
score).
IX. AWARDS: First-place certificates will be awarded in each category
listed under Sec.IV in every participating country and in each call area of the
United States, Canada and Japan. All scores will be published. To be eligible
for an award, a Single-operator station must show a minimum of 12 hours of
operation. Multi-operator stations must operate a minimum of 24 hours. A
single-band log is eligible for a single-band award only. If a log contains
more than one band it will be judged as an all-band entry, unless specified
otherwise. In countries or call areas where the returns justify, 2nd and 3rd
place awards will be made. All certificates/plaques will be issued to the
licensee of the station used.
X. TROPHIES AND PLAQUES: Plaques and trophies are awarded for top performance in a
number of categories. They are sponsored by individuals and organizations. For
a current list of plaques and sponsors, or to learn how to become a sponsor,
see the CQ WW DX website www.cqww.com or the CQ website: <http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/cq_contests/cq_ww_dx_contest/index_cq_ww_dx_contest.html>.
A station winning a World trophy will not be considered for a sub-area award;
the trophy will be awarded to the runner-up in that area.
XI. CLUB COMPETITION:
1. The club must be a local group
and not a national organization.
2. Participation is limited to club
members living within a local geographic area defined as within a 275 km radius
from the center of club 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.
3. To be listed, a minimum of three
logs (combined phone and CW) must be received from a club, and an officer of
the club must submit a list of eligible members for each contest.
XII. LOG INSTRUCTIONS:
1. All times must be in UTC.
2. All sent and received exchanges
are to be logged. In addition to the number exchange, the call sign sent by an
entrant during a completed exchange, must be logged as sent by the entrant.
All QSO exchanges must be logged upon QSO completion.
3. If submitting a paper log, you
must indicate zone and country multipliers the FIRST TIME worked on each band.
This is not required for electronic Cabrillo log submissions.
4. Electronic log submission is
strongly encouraged. The Committee requires an electronic log for any
possible high-scoring log.
By submitting a log to the CQ WW
Contest, the entrant agrees to have the log open to the public. If possible, we
would appreciate complete frequencies in the log (rule III.14 applies). E-mail
Required Content: Please submit your log in the Cabrillo file format created
by all major logging programs.
Be sure to put the STATION CALL SIGN
in the "Subject:" line of each message. Your e-mail log will
automatically be acknowledged by the server. You will also receive a personal
access code from the server at a later time (usually in late spring).
Electronic submission implies a signed declaration that all contest rules and
regulations for amateur radio in the country of operation have been observed.
Submit your CQ WW SSB log to < ssb@cqww.com > and your CQ WW CW log to < cw@cqww.com >.
5. Paper log submission: Use a
separate log sheet for each band.
Each paper log entry MUST be
accompanied by a summary sheet showing all scoring information, category of
competition, and contestant's name and address in BLOCK LETTERS. Sample log and
summary sheets and zone maps are available from CQ. A large, self-addressed
envelope with sufficient postage or IRCs must accompany your request. If
official forms are not available, make up your own, 80 contacts to the page on
8 1/2" × 11" paper or European A4. All paper log entrants are
required to submit cross-check sheets (an alphabetical list of calls
worked) for each band on which 200 or more QSOs were made. Send paper logs to
Paper Logs, Box 481, New Carlisle, Ohio 45344, USA. Please mark SSB or CW on
the envelope.
6. QRP and Low Power stations must
indicate their category on their summary sheets and state the actual maximum
power output used in the comment section of their Cabrillo submission.
XIII. ACTIONS OF THE CQ WW CC
Violation of a contest rule makes
the entrant subject to a red, a yellow card, a warning letter or log rejection
at the discretion of the CQ WW CC (rule III.14 always applies).
a.
YELLOW card: One Yellow card: entrant not eligible for an award in the entered
contest. An entrant or operator issued a yellow card will be listed at the end
of the published results. Two Yellow cards: An entrant receiving two
yellow cards in three consecutive CQ WW DX contests is equal to a Red Card.
b.
RED card: One Red card: entrant not eligible for an award in the entered
contest. Entrants receiving a red card will be listed at the end of the
published results. An entrant or operator receiving a Red card will be
ineligible for any CQ-sponsored contest award for a period of one year
beginning with the publication of the violation in CQ magazine. Two
Red cards: An entry or operator receiving two Red cards within five
consecutive CQ WW DX contests will be ineligible for any CQ-sponsored contest
award for a period of two years beginning the month of publication of the
second violation in CQ magazine. If the entrant receiving a Red card is
in a multi-operator category, all listed operators are so affected.
c.
Further CQ WW CC actions:
1.
The entrant agrees that the CQ WW CC reserves the right to reject any entry.
2.
Bad QSO: The bad QSO is removed and a penalty of three more equivalent QSOs is
applied to the points only.
3.
Unsportsmanlike conduct can be grounds for action by the CQ WW CC. Examples of
unsportsmanlike conduct includes but is not limited to: violation of the
CQ WW rules; ANY use by an entrant of any non-amateur means during the contest
including, but not limited to, telephones, Internet, instant messaging, chat
rooms, VoIP, or the use of any DX cluster/reflector to ARRANGE, or CONFIRM any
contacts during the contest; repetitive frequency transmissions outside
oflicense limitations by the entrant; post-contest modification of a log by
using data sources to correct call sign/exchange errors and "rubber clocking"
by the entrant.
4. Taking credit for excessive unverifiable QSOs or
unverifiable multipliers may result in a Yellow or Red card at the discretion
of the CQ WW CC.
5. An entrant is free to withdraw his/her submitted log for any
reason prior to receiving an official letter from the CQ WW CC.
6. By submitting a CQ WW DX Contest log, an entrant agrees that
the issuing of Red cards, Yellow cards, and other decisions of the CQ WW CC are
official and final.
7. Disqualification actions taken by the EUHFC, the SCC RTTY
Championship and the JIDXC will honored by the CQ family of contests as if a
red card had been issued.
8. Questions concerning these rules should be e-mailed to: <questions@cqww.com>.
XIV. DEADLINE:
1. All entries must be sent WITHIN
FIVE (5) DAYS after the end of the contest. November 2, 2012 for the SSB
section.
2.
An extension may be given if requested by e-mail (questions@cqww.com).
The granted extension must be confirmed by the Contest Director, must state a
legitimate reason, and the request must be received before the log mailing
deadline. Logs dated after the extension deadline may be listed in the results
but will be declared ineligible for an award.
Full Information : http://www.cqww.com/rules.htm
