This January will mark the Tenth Annual WASH 2 Meter Contest. We've already had a lot of interest in it, and this year promises to be even more exciting!

Remember: In response to input from our participants, and in view of the growing popularity of radios like the Ten-Tec 6N2, IC-706 & FT-100, the contest will NOT only be an FM contest but also open to SSB, and CW! (Digital? Maybe next year!)

Everyone who participated in it the last several years had a blast, and we hope to continue the tradition again this year!

There may be some additional "tweaking" of the rules between now and January, so keep an eye on this column in the next few newsletters, and we'll look forward to seeing you on the 12th !

Date & Times : Saturday, January 9th , 2010 from 7 to 11 PM EST.

(That's January 10th 0000-0400 UTC to the purists!)

Objectives:

•  To make as many contacts as possible

•  To have fun!

Band, Mode & Frequencies: The contest will take place solely on 2 meter band.

•  FM : FM simplex only, no repeater contacts. The FM frequencies are all standard 2 Meter simplex frequencies, as per the ARRL 2 Meter Band Plan, every 15 kHz , from 146.535 to 146.595 MHz , and 147.520 to 147.580 MHz . The National Simplex Frequency, 146.520 is not to be used. Use of simplex frequencies in the "FM Experimental Simplex" band of 145.510 to 145.670 are not recommended. See list of recommended simplex channels at the end of the rules.

•  CW : 144.05 to 144.1 MHz Only. (See ARRL 2 Meter band plan) SSB : 144.2 to 144.275 MHz Only. (See ARRL 2 Meter band plan)

Note: Listen for CW QSO's around 144.1 MHZ 15 minutes after the hour Listen for SSB QSO's around 144.2 MHz 30 minutes after the hour

In the event of accidental QRM with nets and non-contest QSO's in progress, please respect their right to the frequency and QSY.

Power Limit : Maximum 50 watts output. No external amplifiers.

Exchange : Callsign, contact number, ZIP Code, and whether or not you are a Member of WASH or a Club Station.

For the purposes of the contest, the 5 Digit ZIP Code for your location is sufficient - do not use the "Zip +4" code. Mobiles and portables should use the ZIP code of their location as determined to the best of their ability. Canadian stations will use their 6 digit postal code.

Example 1: "N3ZCG from N3 ZEL, please copy Number 3, 15347, Member."

Example 2: "K3VX from K3CM, please copy Number 21, 16801, Non-Member"

Example 3: "W3WH from W3OC, please copy Number 7, 15137, Club Station"

Contacts : Work as many different calls and locations as possible, giving Exchange as noted above. Work each station once per mode, and once per ZIP Code - Mobiles can be reworked whenever they

change locations. Remember hilltops work best!

Disqualification : Remember, this is a friendly "for fun" contest. Stations may be disqualified for infractions of the rules and for unacceptable operating practices. While not an inclusive list, stations may be disqualified for:

•  FM signals transmitted on simplex channels 146.52 MHz and below.

•  Intentional interference to non-contesters, established nets, and QSO's

•  Intentional interference to other contest operators

•  The contest committee reserves the right to verify QSO's. QSO's that can not be verified may be removed from the log without penalty, especially if the committee is unable to obtain log information for verification.

Scoring : Each Contact,

Non-WASH Member: 1 point

WASH Member: 2 points

(*) Club Stations: 3 Points

Multipliers: Number of different ZIP Codes
Power: Stations running 10 watts or less: 2

Stations running over 10 watts: 1

Final Score: Total Points x Locations x Power

(*) " Club Stations " for the purposes of the contest are those calls assigned by the FCC or Industry Canada or equivalent to bona-fide Amateur Radio Clubs. They include N3SH, WA3SH, NP2SH, WA3COM, W3KWH, N3GC, W3PIE, K3CR, W3YA, K3HKK, W3YI, W3VC, W3PGH, W3EXW, K3MJW, NY3EC, W1AW, etc. The call MUST be assigned as a Club Call to be eligible. [In other words, you can't just claim to be a "club" and pick a call, or use the call of a club member; the call must be assigned as a club call]

After the Contest : Fill out all the log information. In the upper left corner check whether "base" or "mobile." In the upper right corner be sure to enter your callsign and club affiliation (or "none" if not a member of any club). Please number all log sheets consecutively. Log sheets can be downloaded from the WASH web site, www.n3sh.org on or after January 1st.

Submit Log Sheets: : Check your log sheets carefully for dupes. Verify that all information is entered.

Send the logs to: WASH 2 Meter Simplex Contest
c/o Edward K Oelschlager
60 Carl Ave B2
Eighty Four PA 15330

Enclose a SASE #10 for return of results.
Entry Deadline: February 7th , 2010

Each log submitted with SASE on or before the deadline will receive a raffle ticket to WASH Fest 2010 on February 28th

Recommended FM Simplex Frequencies:

After the first year of the contest, we found that the limited number of frequencies suggested in the rules were insufficient for the activity level. In subsequent years, we permitted use of any recognized simplex frequency, as per the ARRL recommended guidelines in the ARRL Repeater Directory and other sources, above 146.520.

You will note that many of these frequencies are listed as potential dual use, with a "local option" for them to be used for repeater inputs and outputs.

We have been notified that the Western Pennsylvania Repeater Council has issued their own band plan for the 2 meter band, and has elected to withdraw most or all of these dual-use or optional-use frequencies in favor of their being assigned to FM repeaters, primarily those on 1 MHz splits. Although we have not heard of interference problems with any repeater (with ONE exception - the contest participant was notified of interference and immediately moved), good amateur practice requires us to take note of the situation and the potential for interference problems in some parts of Western Pennsylvania where these repeaters exist.

The following list of recommended frequencies are recognized as standard simplex channels and should not suffer from co-channel problems with any existing repeaters:

The National Simplex Frequency, 146.520, may not be used. To avoid interference to other contestants and other users of the bands, please do not operate on 5 or 10 kHz "offsets" from these recognized FM channels.

To be clear, we have no objection to contest participants operating on additional recognized FM "optional" simplex frequencies above 146.520 MHz. Participants who do so run the risk of potential interference with repeaters sharing these frequencies, and therefore do so at their own risk. Again, as per the rules of the contest, if you operate on these frequencies and are notified of actual interference, please exercise good amateur practice and QSY.

We also recognize that the WPRC may continue to be less than happy with this stance. We point out to them that the amateur spectrum is a shared resource. And frankly, if push came to shove, the legality of their "withdrawing" of the frequencies from use by the general amateur population of WPA might be an interesting question before the FCC. (To say nothing of the fact that this change in band plan is probably something most WPA amateurs are unaware of, but that's another story).

Bottom line: Enjoy the contest, but do so responsibly.