VK Shires 2013

[VK4TS]

Upcoming Contest Date & Time

The VK SHIRES is always held on the June long weekend, which is the weekend prior to the second Monday of June each year..
Contest Rules

The Australian Shires Contest

Held the weekend prior to the second Monday of June every year.

Starts: 06.00 UTC Saturday, June 8, 2013
Ends: 06.00 UTC Sunday, June 9, 2013
I. Contest Period: 24 hours for all stations, all categories.
II. Objectives: The objectives of this contest are for amateurs around the world to contact as many VK shires as possible in the contest period. IE. VK amateurs are to work the world including VK, whilst the rest of the world can only work VK
III.
A) Bands:. 80 Metres 3.500 - 3.700 MHz, 40 Metres 7.000 - 7.250 MHz, 20 Metres 14.000 - 14.300 MHz, 15 Metres 21.000 - 21.350 MHz, 10 Metres 28.000 - 28.600 MHz. Please note there is no 75m dx window permitted for VK stations which means the rest of the world can operate above 3.700 mhz. ie. split operation
B) Modes: SSB and CW only
IV. Class of Competition:
For all categories:
Transmitters and receivers for a fixed station must be located within a 500 meter diameter circle or within the property limits of the station licensee’s address, whichever is greater.
If you are a member of a multi op team you can not partake in the contest as an individual in any way. Please note that you are permitted to have up to two transmitted signals going simultaneously.
All contest operation must be within operator’s licence restrictions and conditions, eg power output, bands used, etc.
Single OP stations are only permitted one transmitted signal at a time.

No operator is permitted to use more than one callsign for the entirety of the contest.

A Rover station is a VK station who goes either portable or mobile for the entirety of the contest and activates more than one shire.

Please note that all portable equipment can not be set up prior to the Friday preceding the contest and no earlier than at 00.01utc.

The Rover who moves into a new SHIRE may count the same MULTIPLIER more than once per band as long as the Rover is in a new SHIRE location. Such change in location must be clearly indicated in the log.
IE. A Rover station becomes a new QSO to the stations working them when that STATION changes SHIRE locator.

Please note that in all categories below you may change band and mode as often as you like. You may also work the same station multiple consecutive bands/modes one behind the other. EG work VK4XX on 20m SSB then qsy to 15m CW then qsy to 80m CW then qsy to 40m SSB etc

1. VK Single – OP All Band Rover: Single operator(s) must do all contest related things by themself.
2. VK Multi – Two All Band Rover : Is 2 or more operators with maximum of two transmitted signals at any one time. This category MUST USE Software CONTEST LOGGERS. All operators must be fully listed when the log is submitted.
3. VK Single Op All Band….. same conditions as number 1 above
4. VK Multi – Two All Band…. same conditions as number 2 above
5. VK Single Op Foundation: Is a VK foundation licensee who must do all contest related things by themself..
6. DX Single Op—All Band….. Is a single op who must do all contest related things by themself..

V. Exchange: All VK operators to exchange callsign, RST followed by the VK shire abbreviation as per the official list provided . EG…… VK4XX ……59BU4 or 599BU4
Stations outside VK to exchange callsign, RST followed by CQ ZONE.
EG. ZL1AMO 5932 or 59932

VI. Multipliers: For stations outside VK : The multiplier is the number of different VK shires worked per band. A “VK shire” is counted once per band per mode. IE. If you work it on SSB it can be counted again on CW .To enter the contest you must have worked at least one VK Shire –
VII. For VK Stations: The multiplier is each VK shire worked per band and mode as above as well as each CQ Zone worked per band and mode .
VIII. NB. VARIATION FOR ROVER STATIONS. ROVERS CAN REWORK FROM MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
IX..
Contest Scoring

One (1) point per QSO. Phone and CW can be worked on each band with the same station.

Multiply total QSO points times total number of multipliers worked ( ie. If you worked 33 on 80m, 43 on 40m , 16 on 20m, 21 on 15m and 5 on 10m that would be a total of 118)

Example 1. VK4XX works stations as follows:
600 qsos x 1 point = 600points
118 vk shires worked + 35 cq zones worked = 153
600 x 153= 91,800
VK4XX final score is 91,800

Example 2. ZL1AMO works stations as follows:
700 qsos with VK amateurs x 1 point = 700
118 VK shires work
700 x 118 = 82,600
Zl1AMO final score is 82,600
Submitting Your Log

Log Submissions: Log entries must be submitted by July 1st 2013 to be eligible for awards. Submit your electronic log in the Cabrillo format created by all major logging programs.

Send via e-mail attachment to vkshires@wia.org.au

. Subject line: Callsign [used in the contest] only. SINGLE OP stations may submit a paper log, only if they make less than 100 qsos.
VK entrants are reminded to be sure their log indicates their VK shire location. If you go portable or mobile the log must clearly define where you changed location.

To enter a paper log simply Click on the “VK SHIRES Web Form” link at http://www.b4h.net/cabforms/vkshires_cab.php

Computer-generated logs must be e-submitted. Callsigns of electronic logs received are posted and updated regularly on the website.
Contest Results

Results will be published in both Amateur Radio and on the VK Shires Website, the first week of October every year.
Logging Software

VKCL http://web.aanet.com.au/mnds/

W3KM http://www.qsl.net/w3km/gen_log.htm

SD Logger http://www.ei5di.com/

CQTESTWIN http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~wxl/Downlod.html

[VK3MEG]

Hi Trent is there an updates shires list for download some where I'm having trouble locating one.
cheers

[VK4SMJ]

Steve at the bottom of this WIA page is a list.

http://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/wavks/

Good luck mate..

[VK3MEG]

thanks

[VK5PL]

I had a bit of fun with my first contest in over 20 years.
I helped 10 stations get a contact in the Barossa Council area on 20m (the only aerial ai have is on 20)
was fun listening to those & others working the DX contacts who wanted to give out serial nos instead of their DX zone number.
Was only on for a couple of hours each afternoon before either the band closed Saturday or the contest finished on Sunday, but enjoyed that little time.
Makes me more determined to get another antenna up to be able to work the other bands.
No VK3 or 7 but worked NSW, QLD, NT, SA & WA

[VK5TX]

I think there was another contest on.

Ben

[VK2PR]

It was nice to work you David, thanks for the Shire.

Ben, yes, the Portugal Day Contest was on at the same time and made it very hard to get CQ zones from the European stations.

Peter VK2TQ

[VK2LK]

They tended to go silent when asked for the CQ zone..

(A bit like you did Peter )

[VK3MEG]

They tended to go silent when asked for the CQ zone..

I just looked them up in qrz or on my cq zone map much easier
a fun contest quite a few people out on the road giving out numbers which was great.
I hope the results are out a bit quicker than last year
cheers

[VK5TX]

October

Ben

[VK3MEG]

HI this email vkshires@wia.org.au had failed ? any one else having problems