RULES FOR THE 2011 OCEANIA DX CONTES

RULES FOR THE 2011 OCEANIA DX CONTEST

1. SPECIAL NOTES for the 2011 Contest
 There are some changes to the awarding of certificates in Rule 12, as follows:
- The requirement to make at least 10 QSOs to receive an award has been abolished.
- A participation certificate is now being awarded to every station that makes at least one valid QSO.
- All certificates will be made available on the contest web site at www.oceaniadxcontest.com for entrants to download and print at their convenience.
- Certificates can be posted but only on request to the Contest Committee at info@oceaniadxcontest.com and only to those entrants who won a category in their country and made at least 10 QSOs.
 Only one entry may be submitted by each operator or team of operators (Rule 6).
 All email logs are processed by an email robot. The robot sends an automated email acknowledgement indicating either acceptance or rejection of the log. If you do not receive this acknowledgment, or are encountering difficulty in having the log accepted, then please contact the Contest Committee at info@oceaniadxcontest.com
 Electronic logs are to be in Cabrillo format which is now generated by all popular contest logging software programs. Alternatively entrants can use the forms at http://www.b4h.net/cabforms/ to manually create and submit a Cabrillo file.
 Portable prefixes can now be inserted either front of or behind the home callsign, e.g., W1XXX operating in ZL could sign as ZL/W1XXX or W1XXX/ZL.
 If the station worked does not provide a serial number, then log the received number as 001. See Rule 8. This new provision allows credit for contacts with stations that are not in the Oceania DX Contest.
 A reminder that Single-Op Single Band logs must record ALL contacts made by the station - both on the band chosen for the entry and on any other bands.

2. CONTEST PERIODS
PHONE Contest: 08:00 UTC Saturday 1 October to 08:00 UTC Sunday 2 October 2011 CW Contest: 08:00 UTC Saturday 8 October to 08:00 UTC Sunday 9 October 2011

3. THE AIM
of the contest is to promote HF contacts with stations in the Oceania region (VK, ZL, Pacific Islands and other locations within the IARU "Worked All Continents" Oceania boundary).

4. THE OBJECT
is for:
 Oceania transmitting stations to contact as many stations as possible both inside and outside the Oceania region.
 Non-Oceania transmitting stations to contact as many stations as possible inside the Oceania region. There is no penalty for working non-Oceania stations but contacts between non-Oceania stations will score no points or multiplier credits.
 Oceania receiving (SWL) stations to copy as many contest stations as possible both inside and outside the Oceania region.
 Non-Oceania receiving (SWL) stations to copy as many contest stations as possible inside the Oceania region.

5. THE BANDS that can be used are 160M, 80M, 40M, 20M, 15M and 10M (no WARC bands).

6. TERMS OF COMPETITION FOR ALL CATEGORIES
 Only one entry is allowed for each operator or team of operators.
 A different call sign must be used for each entry.
 High power entrants must not exceed 1500 watts total output power, or the maximum permitted output power in their country, whichever is less, on any band.
 QSO alerting assistance (e.g., packet spots) is allowed in all entry categories, but self-spotting, asking other stations to spot you, or any other form of soliciting QSOs is not allowed.
 All of an entrant's transmitters and receivers must be located within a 500-metre diameter circle or within the property limits of the station licensee, whichever is greater. All antennas must be physically connected by wires to the transmitters and receivers used by the entrant.
 Remote operation is permitted. The entry location of a remote station is determined by the physical location of the transmitters, receivers, and antennas. A remote station must obey all station and category limitations.

7. ENTRY CATEGORIES
 Single Operator Low Power (SINGLE-OP LP): Either All Band or Single Band. One person performs all of the operating and logging functions. Total output power must not exceed 100 watts. Only one transmitted signal is permitted at any time.
 Single Operator High Power (SINGLE-OP HP): Either All Band or Single Band. One person performs all of the operating and logging functions. Only one transmitted signal is permitted at any time.
 Multiple Operators and Single Transmitter (MULTI-ONE): More than one person can contribute to the final score during the contest period. 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 metres to 40 metres and then back to 20 metres counts as two band changes. Use a single serial number sequence for the entire log.
 Multiple Operators and Two Transmitters (MULTI-TWO): More than one person can contribute to the final score during the contest period. A maximum of two transmitted signals is permitted at any time on different bands. Either transmitter may work any and all stations. 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 eight (8) band changes in any clock hour (00 through 59 minutes). For example, a change from 20 metres to 40 metres and then back to 20 metres counts as two band changes. Use a separate serial number sequence for each band.
 Multiple Operators and Multiple Transmitters (MULTI-MULTI): More than one person can contribute to the final score during the contest period. No limit to transmitters, but only one transmitted signal (and running station) allowed per band at any time. Use a separate serial number sequence for each band.
 SWL: Short Wave Listener (Receive Only), All Band.

8. EXCHANGE:
RS(T) report plus a progressive contact serial number starting at 001 and incrementing by one for each contact. MULTI-TWO and MULTI-MULTI entries must use a separate serial number starting at 001 for each band. If the station worked does not send a serial number, then the received number is to be logged as 001.

9. MULTIPLIER:
The multiplier is the number of different valid prefixes worked. Note that the same prefix may be counted once on each band for multiplier credit.
The prefix is the letter/numeral combination which forms the first part of the amateur call.
Examples of valid prefixes are 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 country 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 interim license class identifiers do not count as prefixes.
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.

10. CONTACT POINTS:
Each QSO is credited twenty points on 160M; ten points on 80M; five points on 40M; one point on 20M; two points on 15M; and three points on 10M. Note that the same station may only be counted once on each band for contact points.

11. THE FINAL SCORE
is the sum of the Contact Points multiplied by the Multiplier (the total number of prefixes worked on all bands, noting that the same prefix can be counted once on each band).

12. AWARDS
The trophies and plaques in the following table will be awarded.
Award
Recipient
Sponsor
OCEANIA Ron Wills ZL2TT Memorial Trophy
Top entrant from Oceania in PHONE Single Operator ALL Band category
ZL2GI, ZL2AL, Wellington Amateur Radio Club, NZART
OCEANIA Single-Op ALL Band CW Plaque
Top entrant from Oceania in CW Single Operator ALL Band category
VK3QB
OCEANIA CW Single-Op LOW Power ALL Band Plaque
Top entrant from Oceania in CW Single Operator LOW Power ALL Band category
Pacific DXers
AUSTRALIA PHONE Single-Op ALL Band Plaque
Top entrant from Australia in PHONE Single Operator ALL Band category
VK3VTH
AUSTRALIA Frank Hine VK2QL Memorial Trophy
Top entrant from Australia in CW Single Operator ALL Band category
WIA Federal
AUSTRALIA Club Plaque
Local club from Australia with the greatest number of member stations participating in the Contest
VK Contest Club
ASIA PHONE Single-Op ALL Band Plaque
Top Entrant from Asia in PHONE Single Operator ALL Band category
VK8PDX (ex-VK5HRT)
ASIA CW Single-Op ALL Band Plaque
Top Entrant from Asia in CW Single Operator ALL Band category
W3SE / ZL3TE
NORTH AMERICA PHONE Single-Op ALL Band Plaque
Top Entrant from North America in PHONE Single Operator ALL Band category
N6RO
NORTH AMERICA CW Single-Op ALL Band Plaque
Top Entrant from North America in CW Single Operator ALL Band category
Oceania Amateur Radio DX Group Inc
EUROPE PHONE Single-Op ALL Band Plaque
Top Entrant from Europe in PHONE Single Operator ALL Band category
Oceania Amateur Radio DX Group Inc
EUROPE Frank Vander Drift VK3COF Memorial Plaque
Top Entrant from Europe in CW Single Operator ALL Band category
VK6DXI
ocdxc-2011-rules[2].docx Page 4 of 5
Note: Both Low Power and High Power entries are eligible for the Single Operator ALL Band awards in the above table.
Certificates will be awarded to the top scoring station in each category listed under Section 7 for each IARU WAC continent and each country. A participation certificate will also be awarded to every station that makes at least one valid QSO.
The certificates will be made available on the contest web site at www.oceaniadxcontest.com for entrants to download and print at their convenience. Certificates can be posted but only on request to the Contest Committee at info@oceaniadxcontest.com and only to those entrants who won a category in their country and made at least 10 QSOs.
Awards may be withdrawn or added at any time, and at the discretion of the Contest Committee. Refer to the Oceania DX Contest web site at www.oceaniadxcontest.com for the latest information about contest awards.

13. GENERAL LOG REQUIREMENTS:
Transmitting entries are to submit a log showing the following details for each contact - band or frequency, mode, date, time in UTC, callsign of station worked, RS(T) and serial number sent, RS(T) and serial number received. SINGLE-OP Single Band logs are to record ALL contacts made by the station - both on the band chosen for the entry and on any other bands. All logs must be submitted in date/time order.
SWL entries are to submit a log showing the following details for each contact - band or frequency, mode, date, time in UTC, callsign of 'station heard', callsign of 'station being worked', RS(T) and serial number sent by the heard station. The same callsign may appear only once in any group of 3 consecutive entries in the 'station being worked' column. Note that in the case of non-Oceania SWL entries, only Oceania callsigns should appear in the 'station heard' column.
All duplicate contacts must be shown - DO NOT delete duplicate contacts. No penalty will be applied for showing duplicate contacts.

14. ELECTRONIC LOGS
are preferred and are compulsory for stations logging more than 50 contacts.
Electronic logs are to be submitted in Cabrillo format. The Cabrillo log file must include an accurately completed header (containing the summary information) and the QSO log data. All of the fields in the Cabrillo header must be completed except for the ARRL Section, Category Overlay and Soapbox lines. Failure to fill out the header correctly can result in the entry being placed in the wrong category or reclassified as a check log. See www.oceaniadxcontest.com for the latest information on the Cabrillo log format requirements.
The log file name is to be in the form callsign.log, for example, if ZL2WB submits a log file - then it should be named zl2wb.log.
Send the log file as an e-mail attachment to ph@oceaniadxcontest.com (for PHONE entries) or cw@oceaniadxcontest.com (for CW entries). Please insert only your callsign in the Subject field of the e-mail used to send your Cabrillo log. The log file must be sent as an attachment, not as text or other content within the e-mail message. Do not zip the log file and only include one log in each email submission.
All incoming email log messages are processed by an email robot. The robot sends an automated email acknowledgement indicating either acceptance or rejection of the log. If you do not receive this acknowledgment, or are encountering difficulty in having the log accepted, then please contact the Contest Committee at info@oceaniadxcontest.com .
Note: SWL files cannot be processed by the robot so please forward all electronic SWL files to info@oceaniadxcontest.com .
Entrants using paper logging, or logging software that does not produce a Cabrillo file, are encouraged to use the on-line forms at http://www.b4h.net/cabforms/ to manually create and submit a Cabrillo file.

15. PAPER LOGS:
Electronic Logs are preferred (see Rule 14 above) but if this is not possible then paper logs in the Oceania DX Contest format may be submitted, provided they contain less than 50 contacts. Each paper log is to be accompanied by a summary sheet that clearly states:
The station's callsign Operator callsign/s Entrant's name and mailing address (for receipt of awards) Mode and Category entered Contact points claimed on each band Number of multiplier prefixes claimed on each band Total claimed score
Official log sheets and summary can be downloaded from the Oceania DX Contest web site at www.oceaniadxcontest.com. If you do not have access to the official forms then you may make your own in accordance with the general requirements outlined above and in Section 13.
Paper logs are to be are to be posted to: Oceania DX Contest, c/o PO Box 21088, Little Lonsdale Street, Victoria 8011, Australia. Only one entry is to be included in each submission. Airmail is preferred if you are submitting a log from outside VK or ZL.

16. DEADLINE
All logs must be emailed or postmarked NO LATER than 7 November 2011. The reception of logs will be acknowledged by the email robot (for electronic submissions) and a listing of all logs received by the robot will be posted on the Oceania DX Contest web site at www.oceaniadxcontest.com.

17. DISQUALIFICATION
Violation of amateur radio regulations in the country of the contestant or the rules of the contest; unsportsmanlike conduct; or taking credit for excessive unverifiable QSOs or multipliers will be deemed sufficient cause for disqualification. Incorrectly logged calls will be counted as unverifiable contacts. ANY entrant that uses means, other than contacts on the permitted bands and modes, to SOLICIT, ARRANGE, or CONFIRM any contacts during the contest is unsportsmanlike and the entry will be subject to disqualification.

18. DECLARATION
Although no signed declaration is required, by submitting a log you are deemed to have agreed that: 1) you have read and understood the rules of the contest and agree to be bound by them, as well as all rules and regulations of your country which pertain to amateur radio, 2) your log entry may be made open to the public, and 3) all actions and decisions of the Oceania DX Contest Committee are official and final.

19. FURTHER INFORMATION
The latest information about the contest will be published on the Oceania DX Contest web site at www.oceaniadxcontest.com. Any questions can be emailed to info@oceaniadxcontest.com or posted to Oceania DX Contest Committee, c/o PO Box 21088, Little Lonsdale Street, Victoria 8011, Australia.