THE PEARS NATIONAL VHF/UHF CONTEST
Updated February 2020
1. Introduction
1.1 The
PEARS National VHF and UHF contest will take place from 17 to 19 January 2020 and
is open to all licensed amateurs in
the RSA, including non-members of the
SARL, as well as amateurs from the neighbouring states.
1.2. The
aim of a VHF and UHF contest is to stimulate activity on these bands, make many
long-distance contacts possible, establish new records, encourage the
improvement of VHF and UHF equipment and advance amateur radio.
1.3 This is
a 44-hour dual contest for analogue and digital modes, which is divided into 2
sessions that will spread out activity
over the contest period and reflect
changes of propagation.
1.4 So,
watch out for Tropo Ducting or Meteor Scatter in the
early mornings or at night on 50 MHz and 144 MHz, while in the
daytime look out for Rover stations,
Aircraft scatter and possibly Sporadic-E. This is also a wonderful camping
period with lots of fun for field stations. Amateurs are requested to
participate in both the contests and keep the bands alive.
2. Dates and Times.
The first
22-hour session of the VHF and UHF contest starts at 16:00 UTC on Friday 17
January and closes at 14:00 UTC on Saturday afternoon 18 January. The second
22-hour session commences immediately after 14:00 UTC on Saturday and ends at
12:00 UTC on Sunday 19 January 2020.
3. Categories
3.1. Base
Station. A base station is the normal home or fixed station. It may be operated
by one or more amateurs as long as they use their own call signs.
3.2. Field
Station. A field station is a temporary station set up in a caravan, tent or
motor vehicle and may erect any type of antenna system but must use their own
portable power supply. One or more amateurs may operate it, but they must use
their own call signs.
3.3. Club
Multi-Operator Station. A Club Multi-operator station can only operate under
the
Club Call
Sign. It may use many operators, since all
five bands can be worked at the same time and beginners should be encouraged to
participate. A club multi-operator team may operate either from a base or a
field station as desired.
3.4. Rover
Category. A Rover is a mobile station that operates from a stationary position
in any four 4-digit grid squares during a session. Rover activity should be
encouraged as they create a lot of extra activity during a VHF contest and
should appeal to townhouse amateurs.
3.5.
Limited Category. This category is limited to a total of 4 hours per session
divided into two 2-hour periods during each session and may be scheduled during
any part of a session operating from any fixed grid position as a base or field
station or from a stationary mobile.
3.6. The
144,400 MHz and 145,500 MHz FM Category. The main objective of this divisional
FM category is to encourage the younger generation, novices or even some
old-timers, to participate and get the taste of VHF contesting using simplified
rules. You may operate with any type of equipment or antennas on 144,350
144,400 MHz FM and/or 145,500 145,575 MHz FM, fixed or mobile and try and make
as many contacts as possible. You only have to exchange signal reports, but
could learn about propagation, have fun and compare notes. You can score 10
points for each contact you make in your own division or 20 points from another
division. Stations from other categories and divisions may also QSY to these
frequencies and give you some points, of course, they will score their normal
one point per kilometre, but you must now give them your grid locator too.
There are two sessions, so you can work the same station twice and score extra
points, or hook up with a station that you missed during the first session.
4. Contest Frequency Channels
50,200
50,250 MHz SSB/CW
50,250
50,300 MHz Digital
50,350
50,400 MHz FM
70,100
70,150 MHz SSB/CW
70,150
70,175 MHz Digital
70,200
70,275 MHz FM
144,200
144,250 MHz SSB/CW
144,250
144,300 MHz Digital
144,350
144,400 MHz FM
145,500
145,575 MHz FM
432,200 432,250
MHz SSB/CW
432,250
432,300 MHz Digital
432,350
432.400 MHz FM
1296,200
1296,250 MHz SSB/CW
1296,250
1296,300 MHz Digital
1296,350
1296,400 MHz FM
4.1. To
avoid pile-ups on the calling frequencies of 50,200 MHz or 144,200 MHz SSB, it
is suggested that when activity is high to call on these frequencies but
continue the QSO 5 to 15 kHz higher up the band, as done during HF DX contests.
So, tune around at times.
4.2. CW
stations call CQ 1 kHz above the SSB frequency, (for example 50,201 MHz or
144,201 MHz, to be audible to USB stations too, but you must work CW stations
20 kHz higher in frequency, i.e. 50,220 MHz CW or 144,220 MHz CW).
4.3. Since
VHF amateurs are widely spread out across South Africa, it is important to know
when and in what direction they are transmitting. Therefore, spotting and any
form of liaison will be permitted to solve this problem.
5. Contestants
All
ZR/ZS/ZU amateurs may participate as well as amateurs from the six neighbouring
states i.e. Namibia (V5), Botswana (A2), Zimbabwe (Z2), Mozambique (C9),
Lesotho (7P) and Swaziland (3DA) and only contacts with these states will
count.
6. Reports and Scoring
6.1 A valid
contact consists of an exchange of call signs, signal reports and the locator,
such as the 6-digit Maidenhead Locator or co-ordinates. Stations in the five
categories (3.1 to 3.5) claim one point per kilometre, but points may only be
claimed for one (1) analogue and one (1) digital contact per station on the
same band during a session. A Rover station can be worked from four different
4-digit grid squares and each will count as a new contact.
6.2 A
multiplier, based on the total number of four-digit grid squares worked on all
bands, will multiply the scores achieved on all bands and categories. The
motive behind this is to encourage long distance operation and to log as many
4-digit grid squares as possible on all the VHF and UHF bands to boost your
score.
7. Log Sheets
7.1.
Separate log sheets are required for analogue and digital. The top of your log
sheet must indicate Category, Full Name, Call Sign, Locator and E-mail Address.
7.2. The
log sheets require only the Date, Time, Frequency, Call Sign of the station
worked, Signal Reports received, the Locator of station worked. Please note
that Rover stations must add the suffix /R to their call signs (e.g. ZS6XYZ/R).
7.3 All
entries must be submitted to PEARS not later than 14 February 2020 and their
decision will be final. The postal and e-mail addresses are given below. The
names of the winners as well as a complete list of all the scores will be
posted on the SARL VHF forum and the PEARS web site early in March 2020.
8. Awards
PEARS will
award certificates to the analogue and digital winners and runners-up as
listed below:
8.1. The
grand overall national winner and first and second runner-up on analogue or
digital modes are based on the stations which scored maximum points on all the
bands in the three categories (3.1) Base, (3,2) Field
and (3.3) Club Multi-operator.
8.2. The
longest distance on analogue or digital achieved on each band exceeding 400
kilometres.
8.3. The
Divisional overall analogue winner and first and second runner-up who scored
the most points on all the five bands in each of the three main categories
(3.1, 3.2 and 3.3) on analogue mode. This will offer three participants in
every division an opportunity to be awarded with certificates.
8.4.
Participants in the Rover and Limited categories can qualify as an overall
winner or first runner-up or second runner-up based on their maximum scores on
all the five bands.
8.5. The
144 MHz and 145 MHz FM category will also feature an overall winner and first
and second runner-up in their respective divisions.
9. Further Information
For further
information please contact the Port Elizabeth Amateur Radio Society, PO Box
10402, Linton Grange 6015, Port Elizabeth, e-mail at contest[at]peham.co.za