West Kent QRP Award

Rules
1. 2021 sees the inception of the WKARS QRP Award, designed for operators using low power equipment. Entries from Foundation Licence holders will be particularly welcome. The scoring encourages contacts with as many stations as possible, across as many bands as possible, and over the greatest distances possible. But distance isn’t everything, the enthusiastic operator who makes lots of nearby contacts can build a good score.

2. Sections. The award has two sections, and both have the same rules. Each section is
restricted to two-way voice contacts using analogue modes, with an RF output from the radio of no more than 10 watts. Section One is for FM and AM contacts; Section Two is for SSB. Any frequency band or combination of bands for which the operator is licensed may be used.

3. Objective. The award for each section will be for the highest score achieved between 0001 hours on 1 January 2021 and 2359 hours on 31 March 2021. Scoring is defined in Rule 5 below. All contacts must be made from locator square JO01.

4. A qualifying QSO is a unique combination of callsign, band, and section. So several QSOs with a single distant station can count if each is on a different band, or in a different section, or both. For example, M7XXX contacts G6YYY in IO91 on 2m, and scores 25 points. He then contacts G6YYY on 70 cm and 40m, and gains a further 50 points.

5. Scoring. Each qualifying QSO attracts a score based on the locator of the distant station, or the locator of the repeater through which the QSO was made. For European QSOs, the score is based on 4-character locator squares. Outside Europe, it uses the larger 2-character locator fields. The scoring table (page 2) shows the squares and fields and their scores. Put simply, within six squares of JO01, 4-character squares are used. Beyond that, 2-character fields are used.

6. Locators or fields for each QSO should be gleaned from the distant station or determined by using the maps or web based tools shown in the schedule.

7. Entry forms: Entries must be made in one of three ways:
a. using the entry form available from the club secretary;
b. using the Excel based entry form from mike.granatt@blueyonder.co.uk which calculates scores automatically;
c. or using an equivalent format showing the same information in the same order.

8. If using a manual entry form, the operator must write the total sheet score on each sheet, and provide the overall total on the final sheet.

9. Deadline: All entries must be sent to mike.granatt@blueyonder.co.uk headed WKARS QRP ENTRY, to be received no later than 9 April 2021. If posting, your entry must be sent to arrive no later then than the 9th April. This is so that an announcement of the winning entries can be made at the AGM which is scheduled for Monday, 12 April 2021. If an entrant wishes to submit entries by post, then Mike’s address can be found in the yearbook or on QRZ.COM or can be requested from him. 

This award is open to paid up Members of WKARS only.