W3VXT Memorial 2 Meter Simplex Contest.

The members of Butler County Amateur Radio Association (www.W3UDX.org) welcomes you to the 2024 September Simplex Contest. This contest helps us all be prepared in a number of ways, gets us to know one another, allow for some friendly competition and try out our emergency preparedness skills. Since this contest is limited to 2m FM/SSB modes, it does not require any fancy equipment and all can participate. The contest is just a short 3 hour time frame.

This is a great time for all local area hams to participate and join in the activity!

When: Saturday, September 28, 2024

Time: 19:00 to 22:00 Hours Eastern Standard Time, (7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, local).

Objectives: To make as many contacts as possible, FM/SSB simplex modes, and to have fun!

Who can participate: Properly licensed operators, with an FM/SSB Transceiver, from any location.

The Hunter vs. the Hunted: Consider operating from a remote location, high point, or perhaps a roving mobile; Mobile stations are able to re-work stations from a different location.

FM Simplex

Frequencies: 146.505Mhz

                       146.520Mhz

                       146.535Mhz

                       146.550Mhz

                       146.565Mhz

                       146.580Mhz

SSB Simplex

Frequencies: 144.200Mhz

The contest will take place solely on 2M band using simplex mode; (e.g. no repeater contacts). According to the ARRL band plan, we have chosen frequencies used for simplex.

Exchange: Callsign, contact number, 5-digit zip code. Rover stations should use the zip code of their current location, at the time. Zip code listing available at the tab on bottom of the Log Sheet. (Based on a 50 mile radius of Butler, PA)

Example: Stationary Exchange: "N3VVV from W3YYY, please copy my number 3 from 16001" or "AB3XX from W3HHH, please copy my number 6 from 16002"

Example: Mobile/Rover Exchange: "W3WWW from AB3XX/M, please copy #3 from 15044" Then.. "KB3SSS from AB3XX/M, please copy #4 from 15047".

Contacts: Work as many different calls and locations as possible, giving exchange as noted above. Work each station, once per ZIP CODE,Band and MODE: i.e. Mobiles can be re-worked whenever they change zip code locations.

Scoring: Use the handy log and scoring sheet mentioned in Exchange above. Each Contact is worth 1 point. Each of unique 5-digit zip code pairs are worth 1 point. Power Multipliers are in three groups: (#1:) Stations running <= 10 watts output: 3 Points. (#2) Stations running > 10, < 50 watts output: 2 Points. (#3) Stations running > 50+ watts output: 1 Point. Each band used is 1 point.

Final Score: Total Points = # QSO's Multiplier x zip code pair Multiplier x Power Multiplier X Band used. In developing your score, you will add the number of QSO's, then the number of unique zip codes, then the separate power multipliers and then the Band used. After you have the answers for these four columns of your log sheet, multiply the sum of # QSO's X the sum of the # of unique zip codes X the sum of the power multipliers X Bands used. (If you run 50watts or more, your multiplier will only be 1. 10 contacts will give you 10 points. If you run less or maximum of 10 watts, each contact adds 3. For example, you had 10 contacts, the power is 3 X 10 or 30 points) In summary for 10 contacts, at 10 watts, with 10 unique zip codes and power multiplier of 3 for each contact, your final score is 10 (QSO's) X 10 (Zip codes) X 30 (power points) = 3000 for a single band.