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2008 International DX (CW)

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Rules, 2008 ARRL International DX Contest

ARRL Contest Branch · General Rules · HF Rules

Object:
1. 1.1. W/VE amateurs work as many amateur stations in as many DXCC countries of the world as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands.
2. 1.2. Foreign amateurs (also including KH6, KL7, CY9, and CYØ) work as many W/VE stations in as many of the 48 contiguous states and provinces as possible.
Date and Contest Period:
1. 2.1. CW: Third full weekend in February (February 16-17, 2008).
2. 2.2. Phone: First full weekend in March (March 1-2, 2008).
3. 2.3. Contest Period: 48 hours each mode (separate contests). Starts 0000 UTC Saturday; ends 2400 UTC Sunday.
Entry Categories:
1. 3.1. Single Operator:
  1. 3.1.1. All Band:
    1. 3.1.1.1. QRP.
    2. 3.1.1.2. Low Power.
    3. 3.1.1.3. High Power.
  2. 3.1 2. Single Band.
    1. 3.1.2.1. A participant may submit only one single band entry. If contacts are made on other bands, the log file must clearly be marked as Single Band in the header of the Cabrillo file.
    2. 3.1.2.2. The same callsign may not be used by a different operator(s) to generate additional single band entries.
2. 3.2. Single Operator Assisted.
3. 3.3. Multioperator:
  1. 3.3.1. Single Transmitter.
  2. 3.3.2. Two Transmitter.
  3. 3.3.3. Multi-transmitter.
Contest Exchange:
1. 4.1. W/VE stations in the 48 contiguous United States and Canada (except in the islands of St Paul and Sable) send signal report and state or province.
2. 4.2. DX stations send signal report and power (number indicating approximate transmitter output power).
Scoring:
1. 5.1. QSO Points - W/VE stations count three points per DX QSO. DX stations count three points per W/VE QSO.
2. 5.2. Multiplier
  1. 5.2.1. W/VE stations: Sum of DXCC entities (except US and Canada) worked per band.
  2. 5.2.2. DX stations: Sum of US states (except KH6/KL7), District of Columbia (DC), and Canadian provinces/territories: NB (VE1, 9), NS (VE1), QC (VE2), ON (VE3), MB (VE4), SK (VE5), AB (VE6), BC (VE7), NWT (VE8), NF (VO1), LB (VO2), NU (VYØ), YT (VY1), PEI (VY2) worked per band (maximum of 63 per band).
3. 5.3. Final Score: QSO points X multipliers = final score.
Miscellaneous:
1. 6.1. Your call sign must indicate your DXCC station location (KH6XYZ/W1 in Maine, KG4/W1INF at Guantanamo Bay, etc).
2. 6.2. The same station may be worked only once per band: no cross-mode or repeater contacts.
3. 6.3. Aeronautical and maritime mobile stations outside the US and Canada may be worked by W/VE stations for QSO credit only.
4. 6.4. DXpedition scores may be included in the Medium and Unlimited club totals only.
5. 6.5. Participants are reminded they should be aware of the ARRL Band Plans (http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/bandplan.html).
Submission:
1. 7.1. Entries for the CW competition must be emailed or postmarked by 2359 UTC March 17, 2008.
2. 7.2. Entries for the Phone competition must be emailed or postmarked by 2359 UTC April 1, 2008.
3. 7.3. Electronic entries for the CW competition must be emailed to DXCW@arrl.org
4. 7.4. Electronic entries for the Phone competition must be emailed to DXPhone@arrl.org
5. 7.5. Submissions that are created electronically must be in the Cabrillo file format and must include the log file.
  1. 7.5.1. Paper copies of electronic logs are not an acceptable substitute for the electronic Cabrillo format file. Paper logs that are entered into an electronic medium after the contest are considered electronic logs.
6. 7.6. Hand-written paper entries or diskettes should be marked on the envelope as either DX Phone or DX CW entries and mailed to: ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
  1. 7.6.1. Entries for the CW and Phone portions of the competition are considered separate contests and must be submitted in separate emails or envelopes to the appropriate contest address.
7. 7.7. Submissions of Cabrillo files that are manually created (not created automatically by contest logging software) may be made using the web applet at www.b4h.net/cabforms
  1. 7.7.1. Forms for all ARRL contests may be downloaded from the Contest Home Page at: http://www.arrl.org/contests
8. 7.8. Contest forms and rules may be requested from the ARRL by sending an SASE with 2 units of postage.
Awards:
1. 8.1. Plaques (if sponsored) will be awarded in the following categories for both the CW and Phone contests.
  1. 8.1.1. Top W/VE scorer in each entry category; single operator-all band-QRP, single operator-all band-low power, single operator-all band-high power, single operator-single band (160-10 Meters), single operator assisted, multi-operator-single transmitter, multi-operator-two transmitter, multi-operator-multi-transmitter.
  2. 8.1.2. Top scorer in the single operator-all band category worldwide and on each continent. In addition, worldwide leaders in the single operator-all band-QRP, single operator-all band-low power, single operator-single band, single-operator assisted, multioperator-single transmitter, multi-operator-two transmitter and multioperator multi-transmitter categories will receive plaques.
  3. 8.1.3. Additional special plaques will be awarded as sponsored.
2. 8.2. Certificates will be awarded to:
  1. 8.2.1. Top single operator-all band entries (QRP, low power, and high power) from each DXCC entity and ARRL/RAC Section.
  2. 8.2.2. Top single-band entries in each ARRL/RAC section and each DXCC entity.
  3. 8.2.3. Top single operator assisted entries in each ARRL/RAC section and each DXCC entity.
  4. 8.2.4. Top multi-operator entries (single, two and multi-transmitter) in each DXCC entity, US call area and in Canada.
  5. 8.2.5. DX entrants making more than 500 QSOs on either mode will receive certificates.
  6. 8.2.6. Additional certificates will be awarded as appropriate.
Other:
1. 9.1. See "General Rules for All ARRL Contests" and "General Rules for ARRL Contests on bands below 30 MHz (HF)" on the ARRL Web at http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/
2. 9.2. For information, contact contests@arrl.org or by phone (860) 594-0232.

2008 ARRL International DX Pins

The ARRL Contest Branch is again offering pins for the 2008 International DX Contest. The sharp four-color design will prominently display the year 2008. To earn the International DX Contest pin, all you need to do is complete 100 QSOs in either the CW or Phone contest weekends. There are not separate pins for each mode. You may contact the same station on different bands. The cost is $7 (US) in the US, its possessions and Canada, and $10 for others (postage included). Your pins will be shipped once all logs for the contest have been processed and verified by the log checking team for publication in QST. To purchase your pin, send a copy of the first page of your Cabrillo log file along with your payment to: DX Contest Pins, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington CT 06111. Pins are only guaranteed for orders received by April 4, 2008. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery after the order deadline.