AWA 2008 Linc Cundall Memorial OT DX Contest

The annual OT DX Contest will take place in April 2008. This contest, held on 40 and 20 meters, gives the West Coast and DX oldtime operators a more favorable chance to participate and accords a higher point earning status to the great rigs and circuits of the 1950s and earlier. The 2007 OT DX Contest participation was down slightly from previous years, so please continue to encourage your fellow AWA operators to join in the fun.

As with last year, we are sending out log sheets and rules to an expanded mailing list, including AWA hams who have not regularly joined in our on-air events. AWA hams who have not received contest materials by April 5 may contact Bruce J. Howes, W1UJR, 312 Murphys Corner Road, Woolwich, ME 04579, or email to w1ujr@arrl.net.

These are low key affairs, with many of us working at 10 WPM. If we hear you signing or calling AWA, you dont need to worry about your speed, everyone will QRS for you.In the event you dont have old time gear, dont let that put you off, the main thing is to join in the fun! Ive used both my Icom and Elecraft when the OT TX was not ready. However, only equipment, or circuits designed before January 1st, 1960 will be counted as OT gear in scoring.

You will notice the 20-meter contest window is only fifteen kilohertz wide this year. That should make it a little easier for us to find each other on the band. Remember, use old time tuning methods for AWA contests, that is, tune up or down four or five KHz from your calling frequency to get those rockbound operators.

On a closing note, this is my first year, and Randy Haus's last, managing this event. Randy has given 11 years to this contest, and I'm privileged to work with him this year in a transition mode.

I'm open to your suggestions for how we can improve and increase participation in this contest, and look forward to hearing from you via postal or email.

(An Adobe PDF version of the info below is available. Click Here.)

Dates and Times: 2300UTC Wednesday to 2300UTC Thursday (April 16th-April 17th) and 2300UTC Saturday to 2300UTC Sunday (April 19th-April 20th).

Beautiful '1929' Station

Objective: Contact the greatest number of AWA members. When calling, use AWA AWA AWA DE W1UJR as an example. Once contact is made, exchange RST, name and year of equipment such as TX 35 for a 1935 transmitter and RX 38 for a 1938 receiver. Send MOD for 1960 or later gear.

Rules: A station will be scored only once on each band. Non-member contacts and stations not submitting logs will not count.

Frequencies: 7035-7050 kHz and 14050-14065 kHz, +/- QRM.

Scoring: QSO Zones: E eastern zone, U.S. Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 plus VE1, VE2, VE3; W western zone, U.S. Districts 5, 6, 7, 0 plus VE4, VE5, VE6 & VE7; DX zone, all others.

QSO Points per Contact by Zone: E to E or W to W: 1 point; E to W or W to E: 2 points; E, W, or DX to DX: 3 points.

Equipment Multipliers: Mod TX and RX: 1 point; OT TX or RX: 2 points; OT TX and RX: 3 points.

Power Multipliers (input to final): (input to final): 0-4.9 watts: 4 points; 5-24.9 watts: 3 points; 25-100 watts: 2 points; 100+ watts: 1 point.

Determining Total Points per QSO:

1. Find the QSO points for the contact.

2. QSO points x your equipment multiplier x your power multiplier = total points for the contact.

Scoring Examples:

N9CQX contacts WU2D
· Both are in the E zone for 1 QSO point.
· Both have OT TX and RX for a 3 point multiplier.
· Both are operating at 10 watts for a 3 point multiplier.
· Therefore, 1 point x 3 x 3 = 9 points for each operator.

K6TQ contacts K1FI
· W to E contact for 2 QSO points. K6TQ using an OT TX and RX with 20 watts.
· K1FI using a OT TX and MOD RX with 50 watts.
· K6TQ's points: 2 x 2 x 3 = 18 points.
· K1FI's points: 2 x 2 x 2 = 8 points.

Awards: Plaques will be given out at the AWA Conference in August.

Logs: As stated above, log sheets will be sent out to previous OT contest participants and other hams who are identified as such in the membership rolls. Please send completed logs and computed score to:

Randy Haus, KB2PLW, P.O. Box 665, 303 Pennsylvania Ave., Trumansburg, NY, 14886, by May 10th, 2008.