The 144MHz Backpacker Series of Contests

1. Introduction

The 144MHz Backpacker contests are a series of five individual contests each lasting 4 hours.  Four of the five contests are run alongside a major 2m contest.  Each session of the 144MHz Backpackers is treated as a separate contest. Please submit an entry after each session.

2. Sections

2.1 Backpackers (3B)

a) Duration: 4 hours.  See Contest Calendar for individual session dates & start time

b) Mode: All Mode
c) 3W maximum output from the transmitter

d) Single antenna with no more than 20 half-wave elements (or equivalent)
e) Antenna height: Driven element no more than 4m above the ground
f) No operation from a motor vehicle. The vehicle supply must not be used to power any equipment used during the contest or to recharge batteries for the equipment.
g) All equipment used during the contest must be battery, wind or solar powered.

h) Equipment must be carried and operated at least 100m from the transportation vehicle.

2.2 Hill Toppers (10H)

a) Duration: 4 hours.  See Contest Calendar for individual session dates & start time

b) Mode: All Mode

c) 10W maximum output from the transmitter.
d) One or more antennas with no more than 20 half-wave elements (or equivalent) in total.

e) Antenna height: Driven element no more than 6m above the ground

f) Operation from a motor vehicle permitted.  
g) All equipment used during the contest must be battery, wind or solar powered. 
If equipment is powered from a vehicle supply, the engine must be switched off for the duration of the contest.

3. Restrictions

a) All operators must be RSGB members.

b) Only portable stations (signing /P) may submit a contest entry

c) No fixed or mobile towers, cranes or any other "significant structure" (in excess of 2" outside diameter) may be used as a support for the antenna.

d) Equipment shall not be capable of delivering more than 10 times the section maximum power level. Participants shall provide details with their entry of how their power level was determined

e) The use of a petrol / gas / diesel generator or a motor vehicle engine for charging batteries is not permitted.

f) The VHF General Rules apply.

4. Scoring

a) 1 point per km (General Rule 5a) with a multiplier applied.

b) The multiplier type differs between individual contests in order to match the exchange in the main contest running at the same time - check the individual rules table carefully.

5. Awards

a) Session and overall winners and runner's-up certificates will be awarded for each section.

b) The Backpacker's Trophy will be awarded to the leading station in section 3B (Backpackers) with the best three normalised scores out of a maximum of five sessions. Scores will be normalised as in general rule 5c. In the event of a tie, the remaining sessions will be taken into consideration.

Recommendation

If stations intend to enter these Backpackers contests, they are requested not to call stations in the major events that run alongside from home before the contest, as they may, in effect, appear to be working the same station twice. This in fact is not the case, as the Backpackers series should be seen as separate, independent events. However, the reality of the situation is such that stations operating in the major events will effectively register the second, portable contact as a "dupe", thereby causing some confusion and delay. Should this happen, the second contact should be corrected and scored at a later time. This anomaly has arisen as a result of attempting to create more activity by coordinating two quite different contests simultaneously. Backpacker's participants, in particular, are requested to bear this in mind in order to help both contests to run as smoothly as possible.