RSGB Contest Committee

SCC Questions and Answers

There have been some questions about SCCs. Here are responses from the RSGB Contest Committee. Some of the answers will only make sense if read in conjunction with the Ofcom application form -- http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/spectrum/amateur-radio/apply-for-a-licence/ofw286.pdf

(1) Why is there a "qualification" -- there wasn't before?

Beginning in March of 2010, SCCs are available for individuals as well as clubs. Ofcom were concerned that clubs have been obtaining SCCs and hardly ever using them, and that the extra calls issued for individuals would meant that they might all run out. They wanted a simple measure of the fact that SCC holders had at least achieved something. There are only 520 available, and Ofcom thought it was time that the unused ones were recycled.

(2) Why is the Contest Committee involved?

Ofcom does not have the resources to check that applications meet the requirements.

(3) Why is number of QSOs the qualifying factor, not score?

It's difficult to work out a simple rule that depends on final score, and Ofcom didn't want a huge application form. If a contest has multipliers, the final score is generally inflated by the fact that the winners will have a lot more multipliers. In a contest such as WPX, where 70% (sometimes more) of QSOs will also be multipliers, the score will be increased by a large factor as a result. So you can do extremely well, but still not achieve a huge score. Then there are VHF and UHF contests, where at higher frequencies, 20 QSOs might requires a lot of effort, but the distance factor can inflate the leaders' scores.

(4) What am I comparing with in a multi-section contest?

Generally, on HF it would be position in your country, power level, and band(s) entered, with assisted and unassisted distinguished if appropriate. IOTA is slightly different, but it would be the section you entered. At VHF/UHF, the section is usually determined by factors such as power level and whether portable or not, but your section is whatever the results' table shows. Ofcom wanted a level of qualification such that it did not unnecessarily exclude people, but rather included those who have made an effort.

(5) Why do all SCCs expire at the end of this year, even those just issued?

This was Ofcom's idea, which presumably makes administration easier. The counter-proposal from the RSGB side (not supported by Ofcom) was that individual SCCs should be automatically renewed for three years from 1 January 2011 – after all, these applicants would only have qualified a few months before.

(6) If a club has just received a SCC under the old rules, how can they possibly re-qualify by the end of this year? And what about clubs who realise too late that they need to enter more contests before the end of 2010?

This could be difficult, and we again disagree with Ofcom's approach. Clubs ought to have more time to qualify, since they would not have had a great deal of notice that their renewal would no longer be automatic; alternatively, qualification could be based pro-rata on contests entered in 2010. Some clubs may have to revert to their original (non-SCC) callsign in 2011, in order to build up enough entries and get back their SCC, which would have been put on hold for two years if they were not able to retain it at the end of 2010.

(7) Why aren't CW Field Day and SSB Region 1 Field Day included?

These are not contests where SCCs can be used, and the qualifying list currently only includes those for which SCCs are available. This might be the subject for a later change by Ofcom. As far as SCC usage in "local" contests is concerned, there is quite a lot of opposition to this, including from contesters themselves.

(8) If I use my club's SCC, does this qualify in my individual SCC application?

Yes, the use of one club SCC per individual applicant is accepted for applications made before the end of 2010, provided it is clear that it was a single-operator entry.

(9) Can I use my contribution to a multi-operator entry to qualify? What about my trip to a French island for the IOTA Contest?

Multi-op entries are not accepted for qualification, except where club SCCs are being renewed (from 1 January 2011). One exception: in some contests, assisted entries are automatically classified as multi-op -- in this case, applicants should note this next to the box on page 3 of the application form. Ofcom have stated that operations under CEPT, using a callsign such as F/G9XYZ, are acceptable. An entry from an applicant who obtains a call from the local administration, such as TM1DX, will not qualify.

If you have other questions about SCCs, please contact the RSGB Contest Committee -- chairman@rsgbcc.org