VHF Mini-Test on Wednesdays, Mykolaiv Region

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Archive post.

Translated from Ukrainian.

Draft version, open for discussion

Purpose of the mini-test

To give beginners on-air practice for taking part in various VHF contests, and to let everyone test their gear and antennas. Scoring relies on hams being honest and trusting each other. The idea is based on the HF mini-tests, which have been running for many years.

All radio amateurs are welcome to take part.

Schedule

The mini-tests run every Wednesday from 21:00 to 21:30 Kyiv time.

Repeat contacts are allowed after ten minutes. Each round starts at a “zero” minute (00, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50) and ends at the end of the ninth minute (09, 19, 29, 39, 49, 59). Within each ten-minute period (round) you can make only one contact with each station.

Exchange procedure

Every QSO includes a control number made up of the RS report, your QSO number and QRA locator (6 characters, you can look yours up here). Send it in every contact, including repeats.

Whoever took a free frequency and made a contact must hand the frequency over to the station they just worked.

Sample exchange

  • All participants, this is UR4ZWF
  • UR4ZWF UR5ZHF
  • UR5ZHF UR4ZWF Good evening 59 004 KN56xx
  • UR4ZWF UR5ZHF 59 002 KN56td
  • thanks, copied, frequency is yours UR5ZHF
  • All participants, this is UR5ZHF…

Frequencies

  • recommended segment 145300 to 145475 kHz
  • 25 kHz channel spacing
  • mode — FM
  • antenna polarization — vertical.

Using the 145500 calling channel or repeaters is strictly prohibited.

Score

The score is the total number of contacts multiplied by the number of stations worked. Each station counts only once for the whole mini-test. You don’t need to calculate the final score yourself; it’s done automatically in Excel. Numbering is continuous: it starts at 001 and runs through to the end of the mini-test, regardless of the round.

Each participant reports their number of contacts and number of stations worked on air on 145550 kHz, the same day the mini-test ends.

Results

Results are tallied every Friday and announced on the VHF “round table”.

After two months (December 2017 – January 2018) there will be awards for:

  • the most consistent participant

The participant who took part in the most mini-tests over the two months. If several participants are tied, the tiebreakers are: a) the sum of their placings in the standings, and b) total points scored over the whole period. If they’re still tied, the winner is drawn by lottery. The prize in this category is ……

  • the most consistent place in the standings

Decided over the two months by how steady a participant’s place in the standings is. If there’s a tie, the winner is drawn by lottery. ….

  • the most “outstanding winner”

Whoever takes the most first places over the two months gets a kilo of chocolates.

For the first two months, the last two places in each mini-test won’t count. This applies only to the most-consistent-place prize. To qualify for most consistent participant, a contender must finish above the last two places at least twice.

The first mini-test takes place on December 6, 2017, from 21:00 to 21:30 Kyiv time.

The project is aimed mainly at beginners, but the organizers ask experienced hams to support it. Participants don’t have to submit their results. You can just get on the air to make up the numbers and give the beginners points. How many contacts you made and how many you report is on your own conscience. As for the prizes, densely and sparsely populated districts can compete on equal terms. Even with a simple antenna you can make a few contacts and still have a shot at winning something.

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