Tennessee QSO Party - 1998

Tennessee QSO Party - 1998

	A few changes have been made to the TQP rules for 1998.  
We're especially excited about the addition of team competition.  
This is a great chance for your club to get some of its less-active 
members on the air.  Consider issuing a challenge to the club in 
the next county, and then see how many of your members you can get 
on the air.  If more than five members are interested in participating,
form more than one team.  

	This is also a good way to get some of the rarer counties 
surrounding Tennessee's major cities on the air.  (and improving the 
multiplier count of your more active stations in the process)  Encourage
your club's members without HF gear to get on 146.55 FM simplex & wander
some of the surrounding counties.  There are certificates available for 
the leading VHF/UHF-only entrants.

	There are two other changes this year.  Bonus points will be 
awarded for QSOs with TCG headquarters station K4TCG.  This station will 
be active on many bands, and should be easy to catch.  There are also new
recommended frequencies for RTTY and VHF/UHF operation.  Remember that 
these are recommended frequencies.  Other frequencies may be used if you 
wish.  The only exceptions are the 10/18/24MHz "WARC" bands, and repeater
frequencies.

	Good luck!

The rules:

- When:	1800z Sunday, September 20 until 0100z Monday, September 21.

- Exchange:	RS(T) and Tenn. county/state/province/DX country.

		Tenn. stations work anyone; outside Tennessee, work only 
		Tennessee stations.  Stations may be worked once per band/mode.
		Mobiles may be worked again if they change counties.  No 	
		repeater contacts allowed; packet QSOs must have a licensed 
		operator present at both stations.  (no "robots")

- Scoring:  One point per QSO on phone; two on CW or digital modes.
		Multipliers are Tennessee counties.  (95 max.)  For Tennessee
		stations only, add U.S. states, Canadian provinces/territories,
		and DXCC countries.  

		An extra multiplier may be claimed for every five additional 
		QSOs with the same Tennessee county.  For example, your first
		QSO with Davidson County is good for one multiplier.  If you
		complete five more QSOs with Davidson County (6 total) you may
		claim two multipliers; if you complete 11 QSOs you may claim
		three multipliers, etc.

		Tennessee Contest Group headquarters station K4TCG will be 
                active on several bands.  Each band/mode on which you work 
                K4TCG is good for 100 bonus points.  

- Mobile	Tennessee mobile operators may claim 500 bonus points for
  Bonus:	each Tenn. county from which they complete at least 15 QSOs.

- Where to  	CW:	1815, 3540, 7040, 14040, 21040, 28040
  look:		SSB:	1855, 3900, 7240, 14280, 21390, 28390
		Novice/Tech:	3700, 7130, 21140, 28140, 28390
		RTTY:	3620, 7080, 14080
		VHF:	50.195, 144.195, 146.55, 223.50, 446.0

		All bands may be used except the 10/18/24mHz WARC bands.
- Awards:       Single-operator fixed		Multiple-operator fixed
		Mobile				VHF/UHF
		Outside Tennessee		Team

		Certificates will be awarded to the five highest scoring  	
		Tennessee stations in each category. Certificates will also be
		awarded to the highest scoring station in each U.S. state, 	
		Canadian call area, and DX country.  

- Teams:	Along with the individual competition, there will be team 	
		competition in the 1998 TQP.  A team consists of between two and
		five people, operating at any number of stations.  Teams do
		not need to be registered in advance, and team members do not
		need to be members of any radio club.  Team members do need to
		indicate the name of their team on their entries.  

		If more than five members of a club would like to participate in
		team competition, they may form more than one team.  ("Podunk
		Radio Club - Team #1", "Podunk Radio Club - Team #2", etc.)  

		Multiple-operator stations can participate in team competition.
		The only limit is on the total number of operators at all 	
		stations.  A multi-op station	with three operators could be on the
		same team with two single-operator stations.  

- Logs:		Indicate band/mode, time, call worked, and QTH.  Mark new 	
		multipliers.  If you make more than 100 QSOs, provide a dupe
		sheet.  Mobiles must indicate when they change counties.  	
		Include a summary sheet showing QSO points, multipliers, and
		final score.  

		Computer logs will be accepted, on MS-DOS formatted floppy 	
		disks or via email.  Logs must be in ASCII text format and include
		all required information listed above.  Please label the disk with
		your callsign and address.  Template files for the TRLog and NA
		contest programs will be posted on the TCG Home Page at
		http://www.k4ro.net/tqp.htm
		If you don't have Internet access, write W9WI at the 
		address below for a copy.  

- Address:		Tennessee QSO Party
			Douglas Smith
			1385 Old Clarksville Pike
			Pleasant View, TN  37146-8098
			w9wi@bellsouth.net

		Logs must be postmarked before November 12.  Enclose a 	
		business-size SASE for results, or watch the TCG Home Page at
		http://www.k4ro.net/tcg.html
.