| RSGB Eclipse QSO Party 2015 -- How to participate | ||||||
The RSGB Contest Committee announces an "Eclipse QSO Party" in cooperation with the Propagation Studies Committee during the partial eclipse on the 20th March. Information about the experiments being carried out and links to other relevant sites are here This is not a contest, but some of the RSGB Contest Committee software and web facilities will be used to collect and display activity reports. The D layer of the ionosphere may not be as strong due to the eclipse, and stations on the lower bands – 1.8 MHz, 3.5 MHz and perhaps 7 MHz may be heard that would otherwise be inaudible during the day. All available radio amateurs are invited to participate -- this is an opportunity to contribute to our knowledge of propagation and the ionosphere. Those who wish to participate but cannot operate on the day of the eclipse may contribute if they have automatic skimmer / wideband RX (e.g. SDR) facilities. Please record the QSO Party and contact the Contest Committee to submit your recording. |
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| (a) Participation | This is not a contest, rather it is an experiment to see and report on the effects of a partial eclipse on daytime propagation in the 160m, 80m and 40m bands. Everyone is invited to take part, whether RSGB members or not, and within the UK or outside. | |||||
| (b) When? | Date: | 20 March 2015 | Time: | 08:00 - 11:30 UTC | ||
| Duplicate QSOs and skeds may be made in this QSO Party. It is suggested that a gap of 20 minutes or more is left between duplicate QSOs on the same band and mode, but this could be reduced if conditions appear to be changing rapidly. | ||||||
| (c) Modes | CW and PSK-63. | |||||
| (d) Frequencies | Participants with antennas for 1.8MHz are requested to use that band as first choice. Otherwise please use 3.5MHz if possible, or 7MHz if not. It would also be helpful for participants with appropriate antennas to make QSOs on all three bands in succession to compare signals. | |||||
| Please do not operate within 1kHz of these WSPR frequencies, which will be used and monitored during the experiment: 1.8366MHz, 3.5926MHz and 7.0386MHz | ||||||
| 1.8MHz: | CW: 1810 - 1835 kHz | PSK-63: 1838 - 1840 kHz | ||||
| 3.5MHz: | CW: 3525 - 3550 kHz | PSK-63: 3580 - 3583 kHz | ||||
| 7MHz: | CW: 7010-7035 kHz | PSK-63: 7040 - 7043 kHz | ||||
| (e) QSO format | Call CQ using the procedure, "CQ CQ CQ de G9XYX G9XYZ G9XYZ" when beginning on a new frequency, and from time to time. This will trigger the CW/PSK skimmers/reporters which are monitoring in various locations. Do not call TEST or CONTEST. | |||||
| Exchange real report and 4-character locator. For example, "459 IO83". Sending 599 to everyone is not useful for analysis purposes! | ||||||
| Additional information about each QSO should be recorded on paper or using the "Note" facility available with contesting software. For example, "0905 GM9ABC stronger on vertical". Then please copy or transcribe into Soapbox comments in your log. | ||||||
| Those using PSK-63 with software showing a signal-to-noise level are requested to note the average level received for each QSO, and transcribe this data into the Soapbox of the log. | ||||||
| (f) More information: | Email the Contest Committee | Email the Propagation Studies Committee | ||||
| Description of experiment and other web links | ||||||
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| (a) Logging: | Computer logging is recommended, using the Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge format for Cabrillo logs. | |||||
| Record the frequency (not just the band) in logs if possible. | ||||||
| Use the Soapbox section to note information on conditions, activity and to compare changes in band, antenna and power levels used. | ||||||
| Note details on your equipment in the Soapbox. When using more than one antenna per band, report which one is used for each QSO. | ||||||
| Logs should be submitted to the Contest Committee Robot before the 6th April 2015. | ||||||
| The Contest Committee Logfile Generator is available for entry of logs using the web input system. | ||||||
| Logs will be circulated within the RSGB Contest Committee and the Propagation Studies Committee, and to others who wish to investigate the effects of this experiment. | ||||||
| (b) Recording: | Participants who have recorded their operations in the QSO Party (in an MP3 file, for example) are asked to note this in their Soapbox comments, in case the recording could be used for analysis. | |||||
| (c) Using N1MM Logger: | Les, G4OGB, has suggested a way to use N1MM logger for this QSO Party -- many thanks. | |||||
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| (a) Display of results | This is not a contest, but a table of participants with QSO data will be shown in the Contest Committee web pages | |||||
| (b) Certificates | A Certificate of Participation in the Experiment will be awarded to all stations who make 5 QSOs or more in the Eclipse QSO Party | |||||