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2008 ARRL International EME Competition Rules

Object: Two-way communications via the earth-moon-earth path on any authorized amateur frequency above 50 MHz.
Date and Contest Period. Three full weekend 48-hour periods (0000 UTC on Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday).
The 2008 dates and designated bands for each date are:
1. September 20-21: 2304 MHz and Up
  October 18-19: 50 MHz through 1296 MHz
  November 15-16: 50 MHz through 1296 MHz
Definitions:
1. 3.1 Single Operator. One person performs all operating and logging functions, equipment adjustments and antenna alignment.
2. 3.2 Multi-Operator. Two or more persons participate.
3. 3.3 Single Band. A station log where all the contacts are from a single band.
4. 3.4 Multi-band. A station log where contacts from two or more bands are combined into one score.
5. 3.5 Assisted operation (Assisted). Any active or passive use of amateur or non-amateur communication tools used during the contest period to solicit and/or coordinate a contact prior to the start of that contact. Once the process of making a contact started further coordination is prohibited until after the contact is completed in its entirety via the EME path. If, for some reason, the contact is not completed in its entirety via the EME path and another attempt is coordinated or arranged, the process of making the contact must be restarted from the beginning. Self spotting is allowed.
6. 3.6 Mixed Mode. A contest score comprised of both analog mode contacts (CW, Phone) and Digital mode contacts.
2304 MHz and Up Weekend:
1. 4.1 Analog (CW, Phone) and Digital modes may be used. A station may be worked once for contest credit on each band regardless of mode.
2. 4.2 Assisted operation is allowed for all operating categories.
3. 4.3 Operating Categories.
  1. 4.3.1 Single Operator
  2. 4.3.2 MultiOp
50 MHz through 1296 Weekends:
1. 5.1 Analog (CW, Phone) and digital modes are allowed both weekends. On any given band a station may be worked once on analog mode and once again on digital mode.
2. 5.2 Assisted operation, as defined in Section 3.5, is always allowed on 50, 222, and 902 MHz.
3. 5.3 Operating Categories. Assisted operation, as defined in Section 3.5, is allowed only for those operating classes that state "Assisted".
  1. 5.3.1 Single Operator, Analog Mode
  2. 5.3.2 Single Operator, Digital Mode
  3. 5.3.3 Single Operator, Mixed Mode
  4. 5.3.4 Single Operator, Mixed Mode, Assisted. This category is intended to encourage smaller stations and operators who may be new to EME. It applies only to single-band operation on 144, 432, or 1296 MHz.
  5. 5.3.5 Multi Operator, Analog Mode
  6. 5.3.6 Multi Operator, Digital Mode
  7. 5.3.7 Multi Operator, Mixed Mode
  8. 5.3.8 Multi Operator, Mixed Mode, Assisted. This category is intended to encourage smaller stations and operators who may be new to EME. It applies only to single-band operation on 144, 432, or 1296 MHz.
Scoring:
1. 6.1 QSO Points: Count 100 points for each complete EME contact
2. 6.2 Multiplier: Each US State and Canadian Province, plus each DXCC entity (excluding the US/Canada) worked via EME on each band.
3. 6.3 Final Score: Multiply QSO point total by the sum of multipliers worked from each band.
Miscellaneous:
1. 7.1 A Multi-Operator entry may be made up of neighboring amateurs within one state, province, or non-US/Canadian DXCC entity, but with EME facilities for different bands on different team members' premises, as long as no two are more than 50 km (30 miles) apart. Multi-Operator neighborhood groups may use the same call signs at each location if permissible under national licensing rules and regulations. If not permissible, separate callsigns may be used for the multi-operator neighborhood entry. When operating under this neighborhood provision, all logs must be submitted together in a single envelope or email with a single summary sheet showing the combined operation, designating the principal callsign for the entry. All multioperator callsigns will be shown in the results.
2. 7.2 Commercial Equipment: Stations using equipment that is not amateur (such as a dish antenna for lab equipment owned by an institution or government agency) will have their scores listed separately.
3. 7.3 Exchange: For a valid contact to occur each station must send and receive both call signs and a signal report in any mutually understood format, plus a complete acknowledgment of the calls and report. Partial or incomplete QSOs should be indicated on your log, but not counted for contest credit. Stations may be worked once per mode (Analog and Digital) per band for credit.
4. 7.4 Fixed or portable operation is permitted.
5. 7.5 Only one signal per band is permitted
6. 7.6 A transmitter, receiver, or antenna used to contact one or more stations under one call sign may not be used subsequently under any other call sign during the contest. An exception is made for family stations where more than one call sign has been issued, and then only if a different operator uses the second call sign.
7. 7.7 There is no specified minimum terrestrial distance for contacts, but all communications must be copied over the moon-bounce path, regardless how strong (or weak) a nearby station's terrestrial signal may be.
8. 7.8 Stations are encouraged to send in a log containing all contacts during the contest, regardless of entry category.
9. 7.9 See "General Rules for All ARRL Contests" and "General Rules for All ARRL Contests on Bands Above 50 MHz. These can be found on the ARRL website at http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/
10. 7.10 In addition to their official entries, participants are invited to submit contest stories and photographs to the ARRL Contest Online Soapbox at www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox
Reporting: Entries must be postmarked no later than December 16, 2008 and must include complete log data as well as a complete summary sheet. Official forms are available on the ARRLWeb http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/ or with a SASE request to the Contest Branch. Your summary sheet should show a band-by-band breakdown of QSOs and multipliers, and include details of your station's setup and a photo. Cabrillo format is not required for electronic submissions in the EME Contest but will be accepted for the log portion of the entry, provided the entry also includes the fully completed standard summary sheet. Email entries should be submitted to EMEcontest@arrl.org and paper/diskette entries should be submitted to EME Contest, ARRL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111.
Awards:
1. 9.1 Certificates will be issued to the top three station worldwide in each of the following operating categories.
  1. 9.1.1 Single operator multiband, 50 - 1296 MHz, separate awards for Analog, Digital, and Mixed Mode.
  2. 9.1.2 Single operator multiband, 2304 MHz and Up.
  3. 9.1.3 Single operator all band, separate awards for Analog, Digital, and Mixed Mode.
  4. 9.1.4 Single operator single band; separate awards for each band, and for Analog, Digital, and Mixed Mode on the 50-1296 MHz bands.
  5. 9.1.5 Single operator single band, Mixed Mode, Assisted, separate awards for 144, 432, and 1296 MHz.
  6. 9.1.6 Multi-operator multiband, 50 - 1296 MHz, separate awards for Analog, Digital, and Mixed Mode.
  7. 9.1.7 Multi-operator multiband, 2304 MHz and Up.
  8. 9.1.8 Multi-operator all band, separate awards for Analog, Digital, and Mixed Mode.
  9. 9.1.9 Multi-operator single band, separate awards for Analog, Digital, and Mixed Mode on each band.
  10. 9.1.10 Multi-operator single band, Mixed Mode, Assisted, separate awards for 144, 432, and 1296 MHz.
2. 9.2 Additional awards will be issued where significant achievement or competition is evident.
3. 9.3 Each station that successfully completes at least one EME contact during the contest period will receive a certificate commemorating that achievement.