General Rules Apply


1. Date/time of contest

1400 Saturday 6th July 2002 until 1400 Sunday 7th July 2002.

2. Site Notification

Each Group intending to compete must supply the following details:

Name of Club/Group

Contact name and address/telephone number in case of query

Section entered

Choice of Bands (see section 7)

Call sign for each band

NGR of site

Site access information (maps are not required)

A suitable form is available in the RSGB Callbook, from VHFCC web site
www.blacksheep.org/vhfcc or from G4XUM (VHFCC Chairman).

Post the details to: VHF Contests Committee, PO BOX 40, NEWPORT, PO32 6BF
or email to vhf.entry@rsgb.org.uk .

The postmark of the letter or date of the email must not be later than 30th
June 2002.

Each group may only register one site although essential changes may be
acceptable provided G4XUM is informed before the contest; tel.: 0870 740
7909, evenings / weekends; email: g4xum@blacksheep.org.

3. Bands

The chosen bands must be stated on the site registration form. See
individual section rules (see section 7 of these rules) for the choice of
bands during the contest.

4. Operators

Any RSGB member or group of members operating from the British Isles
(excluding the Irish Republic) may enter. Also, affiliated RSGB societies
may enter (operators MUST be members of the Affiliated Society (AFS), but
not necessarily members of RSGB themselves). In this case, a declaration
signed by an officer of the AFS that the operators are members of the
society is required with the entry. RSGB members are allowed to operate in
AFS groups whether or not they are actually members of that AFS group.

5. Stations

All equipment including antennas and accommodation must be installed on
site not more than 24 hours before the contest. Only portable accommodation
can be used to house the stations. Power for all equipment must be derived
from an on site generator, battery, wind or solar power.

6. Contest exchanges

a. On each band report, serial number and 6 character (e.g. IO91OJ) locator
must be exchanged.

b. Additionally, on 70MHz only, QTH information must be exchanged (Special
rule S2).

7. Sections

7.1 Open section (O):

(i) Maximum output power as permitted by standard licence conditions.

(ii) General rules apply

(iii) Operate on up to 4 bands from the following list:

50MHz (6m) 1400 to 2200 Saturday (all mode)

70MHz (4m) 0800 to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

144MHz (2m) 1400 Saturday to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

432MHz (70cm) 1400 Saturday to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

1.3GHz (23cm) 1400 Saturday to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

Single band entries for any band are also acceptable.

7.2 Restricted section (R)

(i) The power output of any band must not exceed 100W PEP at the
transmitter.

(ii) The height of the antenna’s driven element must not exceed 10 metres
above ground level.

(iii) Only one antenna per band may be used (i.e. no stacked, bayed or
colinear arrays or switching between two or more antennas). A slot fed Yagi
or Quad antenna is permitted. Dish or Backfire antennas must not exceed 2m
diameter.

(iv) Operate on up to 4 bands from the following list:

50MHz (6m) 1400 to 2200 Saturday (all mode)

70MHz (4m) 0800 to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

144MHz (2m) 1400 Saturday to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

432MHz (70cm) 1400 Saturday to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

1.3GHz (23cm) 1400 Saturday to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

Single band entries for any band are also acceptable.

7.3 Low Power section (L):

(i) The power output of any band must not exceed 25W PEP at the
transmitter.

(ii) The height of any part of the antenna’s driven element must not exceed
10 metres above ground level.

(iii) Only one antenna per band may be used (i.e. no stacked, bayed or
colinear arrays or switching between two or more antennas). A slot fed Yagi
or Quad antenna is permitted. Dish or Backfire antennas must not exceed 2m
diameter.

(iv) Operate on up to 3 bands from the following list:

50MHz (6m) 1400 to 2200 Saturday (all mode)

70MHz (4m) 0800 to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

144MHz (2m) 1400 Saturday to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

432MHz (70cm) 1400 Saturday to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

1.3GHz (23cm) 1400 Saturday to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

Single band entries for any band are also acceptable.

(v) Each band may be operated for no more than 16 hours (except for 6m and
4m: see 7.3 (iv) above) during the contest period. Each rest period must
last at least 1 hour.

7.4 Mix and Match (M)

(i) A group can elect to place different bands into Restricted, Low-Power
or Open sections. E.g. 4m in Restricted, 2m and 70cm in Open, and 23cm in
Low Power. This decision must be made at registration time and the details
shown on the site registration form. At least one station must be in a
different section to the other stations (e.g. 6m, 4m and 2m in the Open
section, 70cm in the Restricted section)

(ii) Individual band entry will be tabulated in the appropriate main
section, and a normalised score for the band produced on this basis.

(iii) The sum of the normalised scores will appear in a separate Mix &
Match section table.

(iv) Operate on up to 4 bands from the following list:

50MHz (6m) 1400 to 2200 Saturday (all mode)

70MHz (4m) 0800 to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

144MHz (2m) 1400 Saturday to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

432MHz (70cm) 1400 Saturday to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

1.3GHz (23cm) 1400 Saturday to 1400 Sunday (all mode)

(v) Note that 2m, 70cm or 23cm stations entered in the Low Power section
may be operated for no more than 16 hours during the contest period. Each
rest period must last at least 1 hour.

7.5 SWL section (S): as per general rules.

8. Inspections

All stations are subject to inspection by members of the VHF Contests
Committee or nominated representatives. Should the inspector be unable to
locate the site due to inadequate or incorrect information, the entry may
be disallowed. In the event of a last minute site change it is the
responsibility of the group to make suitable arrangements for the inspector
to find the site. The inspector must be given immediate access to all parts
of the site with the right to stay as long as desired, and the ability to
return at any time during the contest.

9. Entries

(a) All entries must be postmarked no later than 31st July 2002

(b) Entries must be addressed to VHF Contests Committee, PO BOX 40 
NEWPORT PO32 6BF, or via email: vhf.entry@rsgb.org.uk.

(c) A Form 427 cover sheet or near facsimile is required for each band.

10. Awards.

The Surrey, Martlesham, Arthur Watts and G5BY Trophies will be awarded to
the overall winners of the Open, Restricted, Low Power and Mix & Match
sections respectively. The Tartan Trophy will be awarded to the leading
resident Scottish entry in the Open section, the Cockenzie Quaich to the
leading Scottish station in the Restricted Section and the Scottish Trophy
to the leading Scottish entry in the Low power section. Certificates will
be awarded to the winners and runners-up on all bands in each section, and
to the leading stations in each country.