10-10 QSO Party Rules


The dates and times for the 2008 10-10 QSO Parties can be found on the Calendar page.

10-10 INTERNATIONAL NET QSO Party Information

Introduction

The 10-10 QSO Party Brochure provides everything you will need to know in order to participate in and enjoy 10-10 QSO Parties.

Although 10-10 QSO Parties are by nature a contest because awards are given for high scores in Call Areas, countries, etc., 10-10 likes to think of them as Parties. These Parties are held for fun and to meet 10-10 members around the world.

There are a few basic rules that all participants must follow in order to make the Party fair for everyone and to make the scoring as straight forward for the volunteer scorers. All QSO Party rules are listed in this brochure. Also included for your use is an example Cover Sheet, and Dupe Sheet.

Please read the brochure thoroughly so that you have a good working knowledge of each of the 10-10 QSO Parties.

6.2  10-10 QSO Parties

10-10 QSO Parties are contests that are held for fun and to meet old, new and prospective members around the world.  The rules listed here are for all general QSO parties.  The Anniversary and Mobile QSO Parties are specialty contests and do have additional rules.

An annual Calendar of QSO parties is published annually by 10-10.

6.2.1  Who Can Eligible?

Contests are open to all amateurs with operating privileges on the 10 meter band, however logs will be accepted only from active members as of the date of the contest. Other logs received will be handled as checklogs.  Checklogs are used to validate (check) other logs but do not receive awards.

6.2.2  When are the QSO Parties?

There are currently five QSO Parties held through the calendar year:

Winter Phone Contest – held on the first full weekend in February 0001 UTC Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday.

Spring CW Contest – held on the first full weekend in May 0001 UTC Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday.

Summer Phone Contest – held on the first full weekend in August 0001 UTC Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday.

Sprint – a 24 hour contest held on October 10th (10/10) 0001 UTC through 2359 UTC.

Fall CW Contest – held on the last full weekend in October 0001 UTC Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday.

6.2.3  Frequency and Modes

Direct unassisted contacts only are permitted. Repeater, Satellite, IRLP or any other similar types of assisted contacts are NOT allowed.

CW Contests should be operated in the CW portion of the 10 meter band and operated using CW and/or any Digital mode (RTTY, PSK, etc).

Phone contests must be operated in the PHONE portion of the 10 meter band and may be operated using any approved Phone method (SSB, FM, AM). 

The SPRINT utilizes both CW and Phone portions of the 10 meter band.

NOTE: A QUIET ZONE between 28.490 and 28.510 shall be in effect during contests using the Phone portion of the 10 meter band to allow for non-contest use of the band.

6.2.4  Entry Classification

Entrant may submit a log in ANY of the following classifications:

INDIVIDUAL: includes single station operators and can also include
OM/XYL teams or any families or groups of people using individual call signs
and 10-10 numbers.

QRP: same as an individual as listed above except that output power
does not exceed 5 watts with CW/Digital operations and/or 10 watts
with Phone operations during the entire contest.

CLUB:  A Club must have a valid club station license issued by their
National Licensing Authority.
The Club must have active 10-10 membership.
Club entries must additionally list the call, name and 10-10 number (if any) for all operators.
Operators entering under a club entry may also enter an individual log for contacts made using their own call sign.
(Entry Classification - Club updated effective 6/10/2005)

6.2.5 TRANSMITTER INFORMATION

An operator may operate mobile, portable or fixed.  If they change their exchange QTH during the contest, the operator must show same in their log.  The operator may enter a log from only one call district, province, or DX country.

Multi-transmitters (two or more transmitters operating simultaneously, sharing one call sign) are NOT permitted in any QSO Party.

If a single transmitter becomes inoperable, it is permissible to change to a replacement transmitter.

6.2.6 EXCHANGE

10-10 members send call sign, name, 10-10# and QTH (State, Province or Country). If received exchange does not have a 10-10#, then record a zero[0] in the log.

6.2.7 QSO POINTS

Two (2) points are awarded for contacts WITH a 10-10 number.
One (1) point is awarded for contacts WITHOUT a 10-10 number.
Duplicate entries should be retained in log and show a zero[0] for points.
Any log showing 10% or more errors may be handled as a checklog.
A station may be counted only once regardless of mode.

6.2.8 CHAPTER SCORE ASSIGNMENT

Any entrant who is a chapter member and whose contest operating
location is within 150 miles of the primary net location of that chapter,
may assign the entrant's score to that chapter.
Contest scores for a sprint may not be assigned.
(Chapter Score Assignment updated effective 6/10/2005)

6.2.9 CONTEST ENTRIES

Logs shall be forwarded to the Contest Scorer as identified in the 10-10 NEWS or on the 10-10 web site. It is strongly suggested that logs be sent as soon as possible after the close of the contest. It is also recommended that DX logs should be sent AIR MAIL to insure they are received in good time. Any logs received with a postmark date AFTER the deadline date will be handled as a checklog. Any logs received more than 15 days after the contest entry deadline, regardless of postmark, will be discarded.

6.2.9.1 ENTRY DESCRIPTION

Entries must contain a Cover Sheet, Log, and Dupe Sheet as described here:

COVER SHEET will list the Event Entered, Entry Classification, US Call Area (W0-W9) or DX Country, Chapter Score Assignment (if any), number of contacts and points with 10-10#, number of contacts and points without 10-10#, and total contacts and points claimed.

LOG must be listed in date/time order and list UTC Date, UTC Time, Call, Name, 10-10# (zero [0] if none), QTH and Contact Point Value.

DUPE SHEET is required for any logs exceeding 50 contacts. It may be either a list of all calls contacted in call sign order, or hand entered on a dupe sheet grid.  

6.2.9.3 Entry Deadline

Entries for all contests listed EXCEPT the Sprint shall be postmarked no later than 15 calendar days (this will always be a Monday) after the close of the contest. Mailed entries for the Sprint (held on 10/10) shall be postmarked no later than October 25th , unless that day falls on a Sunday, then the postmark deadline shall be October 26th.

6.2.10 CONTEST RESULTS AND AWARDS

Contest results will be posted on the 10-10 web site about 15 days after the closing deadline for the contest, and also printed in the 10-10 NEWS in the appropriate issue. Awards will be issued by the certificate manager for Top Ten Individual scorers in the World, the top Individual scorer in each US Call Area (W0-W9) and each DX Country, and for top QRP, CLUB and CHAPTER.

6.2.11 ANNIVERSARY QSO PARTY

This event runs from January 1 0001 UTC to December 31 2359 UTC.  Entrants may submit a log of contacts with members that have 10-10’s anniversary year contained in their membership number.

Example:  2002 is the 40th anniversary year of 10-10 International Net, Inc.  Contact with members containing a “40” in their membership number (i.e., 72040, 69405, 64054, 40126, 00407) would count toward the contest.

Each year the anniversary number changes, making a new group of members the focus of the contest and promoting the use of the 10-meter band.

All general rules are applicable with the following exceptions:

During the calendar year (January 1 though December 31) make legal 10-10 contacts with 10-10 Number, Date, Call Sign, Name, QTH, with members containing the anniversary year in their membership number as described above.

Contacts must be made on the 10-meter band with any legal mode (AM, SSB, FM, PSK, CW, etc.) but all contacts must be made direct and unassisted.  NO repeater, satellite, or Internet assisted contacts are permitted.  The contact mode must be recorded in the log entry.

All submitted logs must contain only one entry for each 10-10 number contacted.  Contacts MUST be listed in 10-10 number order and each entry must list the 10-10 Number, Date, Call Sign, Name, QTH and Mode, in that order.

This contest is for Individual entries as described in section 6.2.4 and certificates will be awarded for the Top Ten, however all entrants will be listed in the 10-10 NEWS.

Logs shall be forwarded to the Contest Scorer as identified in the 10-10 NEWS or on the 10-10 web site.  Logs MUST be postmarked no later than January 15th of the year following the anniversary contest year entered.  Only members in good standing (with dues paid) are allowed to submit logs.

6.2.12 MOBILE QSO PARTY

This event is held on the third Saturday in March from 0001 to 2359 UTC.  

All general rules are applicable with the following exceptions:

Fixed stations contact mobiles, mobiles contact everyone.  Mobile applies to vehicular, marine, aeronautical or other mode of transportation.  If in doubt, contact the Contest Manager. A station operating a mobile entry must be a true mobile.  Sitting in the driveway and using the base station antenna or amplifier, or using commercial power is not permitted.  RV generators are permitted only if the generator is used while in transit (moving).

Operation while your vehicle is parked across a county line, occupying two counties, counts as two counties and two contacts.  Marine and aeronautical mobiles must be able to establish counties of operation.

The contest exchange shall be Call, Name, State, 10-10 Number (if a member, zero(0) if not), and county (if applicable).  Only counties in the USA, Canada and England may be used as a multiplier.

Count one point for each contact whether a member or not.  Fixed stations multiply the number of contacts by the number of different counties worked.  Mobile stations multiply the number of contacts by the number of different counties worked PLUS a bonus of the number of counties worked from.

All stations must submit separate logs for the counties worked from.  Log scores will be combined by the contest manager.

Logs shall be forwarded to the Contest Scorer as identified in the 10-10 NEWS or on the 10-10 web site.  Logs MUST be postmarked no later than 14 days after the end of the contest.  Only members in good standing (with dues paid) are allowed to submit logs.

6.2.13 FOR MORE INFORMATION

Current information about 10-10 and upcoming 10-10 QSO Parties is always available on the 10-10 web site. Contest cover sheets, logging forms and dupe sheets are also available for downloading or printing. The address is http://www.ten-ten.org

Any unanswered questions regarding the QSO Party rules may be forwarded to the Contest Manager.

Additional Information and Clarification

Any additional information or clarifications that you may need regarding the rules or other information about 10-10 QSO Parties or the 10-10 Day Sprint may be requested through 10-10's Contest Committee Manager:

Please enclose a #10 SASE with your request if you would like a written response.

Go Get'Em!!!

Now that you have read the brochure throughly, you know all there is to know about the 10-10 QSO Parties and the 10-10 Day Sprint. Please keep in mind that these Parties are offered by 10-10 to serve several purposes:

* To promote the use of the ten meter band

* To offer the opportunity for both members and non-members around the world to meet one another

and

* To enhance the operating practices of all amateur operators on 10 meters

It is important that you, as a 10-10 Party participant, adhere to the rules as outlined above and that you respect the Quiet Zone that has been set aside for use by non-Party ham operators.

Above all, have a good time with each 10-10 Party! Let's get the most use of the 10 meter band possible!

"YOU HAVE TO MAKE CONTACTS TO GET RESULTS"

"Sample" 10-10 QSO Party LOG

DATE        TIME    CALL   NAME        QTH           10-10#     POINTS

10/10/99    0245    KB6HW  Esther      AZ             23331      2
10/10/99    0246    G4BLH  Mike        DX - England   18446      2
10/10/99    1454    K4CIH  Tom         AL             33233      2
10/10/99    1456    W6XXX  Joe         CA             Ø          1
10/10/99    1458    JA1XXX Sam         DX - Japan     Ø          1

The sample log above is for a US Call Area operator and has a total of five (5) contacts listed. Note the time is logged in UTC. The QTH column requires only the state or country, the city is not required.

Three (3) contacts have 10-10 numbers for a total of six (6) points.

Two (2) contacts were with stations (DX and US) without 10-10 numbers and therefore count one (1) point each.

The total points earned on this sample log are eight (8). With this log data, this station can now easily complete the QSO Party Cover Sheet.

Updated 08-09-2007

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