UK/EI DX contest Rules

1.   General  
The aim of these contests is to promote contacts between stations in the U.K. and Ireland (UK/EI) and stations in the rest of the world (DX).

All UK and EI contesters, including those with modest stations and antennas, will experience the fun of being a 'Multiplier' in a worldwide contest.

There are long periods in the 24 hours when DX stations cannot work UK/EI stations because there is no propagation, so all entrants can work all other entrants for QSO points and multipliers. However a good score will only be achieved by working sufficient numbers of UK and EI stations and UK/EI district code multipliers.

Adjudication is automated, with logfiles being submitted online within 24 hours of the end of the contest.

3.   Bands / mode
3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28MHz. 
Contest-preferred segments must be observed - on 80m and 20m these are  :  CW   3510-3560 kHz, 14000-14060 kHz                                                                                                                                     SSB   3600-3650 kHz, 3700-3800 kHz, 14125-14300 kHz.

Note :  On 80m and 40m on Sunday morning, any News Bulletin frequencies should be avoided.

4.   Entry categories
All entrants must operate within the limits of their chosen category when performing any activity that could affect their submitted score.

4.2   Operators

4.2.1   Single operator Unassisted (Unconnected) - One person. One signal at any one time. Any form of QSO alerting assistance disqualifies the entrant from the Single-operator Unassisted (Unconnected) category.

4.2.2   Single-operator Assisted (Connected) - One person. One signal at any one time. QSO alerting assistance is allowed. Self-spotting or asking to be spotted is not allowed. 

Note :  Each of the above Single-operator categories have the option to enter the SINGLE-ELEMENT ANTENNA category - this means one antenna covering all bands e.g. a wire doublet fed via an ATU or a multi-band vertical. (Select SINGLE-ELEMENT ANTENNA overlay when you upload your logfile to the robot)

4.2.3   Multi-Operator, Single Transmitter - UK/EI only -  More than one operator, but only one TX at that station i.e. this is not Multi-One or Multi-Single, but is intended for e.g. radio club members taking turns at operating the same single TX station. QSO alerting assistance is allowed (this includes, but is not limited to, packet, local or remote Skimmer and/or Skimmer-like technology, RBN, Internet). Self-spotting or asking to be spotted is not allowed. Entries in this category must be for 24 hours and remote operation is not permitted in this category. A full list of operators must be included with a Multi-op entry - in the Cabrillo OPERATORS section.  

Note: There are no other Multi-Operator categories.

4.3   Callsigns       Entrants may use any callsign issued to them personally.  If operating a club station as in Rule 4.2.3 above, the callsign of that club station should be used.

5.   Power categories

(a)  High Power - the maximum permitted by the entrant's licence or 1500W, whichever is the lower.

(b)  Low Power - maximum 100 watts output

(c)  QRP - maximum 5 watts output

Any station not indicating their transmitter power on their submitted Cabrillo logfile will be classified as High Power.

7.    Scoring

7.1    QSO Points - All entrants can contact anyone for points, whether UK/EI or DX.

UK/EI stations contacting :  
UK/EI/Europe                     80m, 40m        4 points       20m, 15m, 10m      2 points
Outside Europe                  80m, 40m        8 points       20m, 15m, 10m      4 points

Note :  For UK/EI stations only, all QSOs will score double points between the hours of 0100z and 0459z.

European stations contacting :  
UK/EI                                 80m, 40m         4 points       20m, 15m, 10m       2 points
Europe                               80m, 40m         2 points       20m, 15m, 10m       1 points
DX (outside Europe)          80m, 40m         4 points       20m, 15m, 10m       2 points

DX (outside Europe)contacting :
UK/EI                                 80m, 40m         8 points      20m, 15m, 10m       4 points
Europe                               80m, 40m         4 points      20m, 15m, 10m       2 points
DX (outside Europe)          80m, 40m         2 points      20m, 15m, 10m       1 points

7.2     Multipliers - There are 2 types of multipliers  (i) different DXCC countries and (ii) UK/EI District Codes.
The multiplier total is the total of different DXCC countries worked on each band, (excluding the UK/EI DXCC countries EI, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW) plus UK/EI District Codes worked on each band.
 
Note :   All QSOs with UK/EI stations only count for District Code multipliers - they do not count for DXCC country multipliers.

7.3  Total Score - The final score is the total QSO points multiplied by the multiplier total e.g. 4000 QSO pts x 500 mults = 2000000 points.

See Appendix 2 below for a list of UK/EI District Codes.   

8.3   Please ensure you send a single log, with the logged QSOs in order of Serial number sent.  Do not send separate logs for each band. Your Cabrillo QSO records must conform to this format:

UK/EI station log :
QSO: 28024 PH 2014-07-26 1338 G3XYZ  599  001 OX   ON4SS     599  018 --
QSO: 21003 PH 2014-07-26 1341 G3XYX  599  002 OX   GM4SID   599  130 AB

QSO: 7165   PH  2014-07-26 1343 G3XYZ   59   003 OX   W3LPL     599  036 --

DX station log:
QSO: 28024 PH 2014-07-26 1338 DL1AA  599  001 --   ON4SS      599  018 --
QSO: 21003 PH 2014-07-26 1341 DL1AA  599  002 --   GM4SID    599  130 AB
QSO: 7165  PH 2014-07-26 1343 DL1AA    59  003 --    EI7CC       599  036 DU

Note - to qualify for an award, your submitted Cabrillo logfile must show all QSO frequencies to the nearest 1kHz.

8.4    Entries must be uploaded via the online log submission robot :

Click here to upload your Cabrillo logfile      

Entrants should check their Cabrillo logfile via a text editor before sending it, to avoid potential problems. Entrants will receive an acknowledgement by e-mail immediately, advising them if there is any problem with their log and asking them to correct it and resubmit it. 

8.5   See Appendix 1 below for information about which contest logging software packages support these contests.

8.6   The log submission deadline is 24 hours after the end of the contest.  Logs are then electronically adjudicated and the Provisional Results posted online as soon as possible after the deadline. Entrants who wish to appeal about any aspect of their adjudicated final score have 24 hours after the online publication of the Results to do so. UBN files will be online and/or e-mailed to entrants.

9.   Penalties

Points may be deducted, or entrants disqualified, for violation of the rules or for having poor quality transmitted signals. This includes, for example, use of a third party to make contacts on a list or net, contacting CW stations on an SSB frequency or vice-versa, failing to observe appropriate contest-preferred band segments, and excessively wide signals - including key clicks and distorted audio.

9.1   Logging errors - Incorrectly logged callsign or serial number =  loss of that QSO points plus 2X the value of that QSO points.

The bad QSO is removed plus a penalty of 2 equivalent QSOs is applied to the points only. In addition, removal of a bad QSO might result in the loss of a Multiplier, so accurate logging is essential. e.g. a UK/EI station's error in logging a 20m QSO with a European station =   loss of that QSO points (2pts) plus a further 4pts (2 x 2pts)

9.2   The following penalties also apply :

• NILs - loss of that QSO points plus 1x the value of that QSO points.
  
• Operating outside the published band segments - all QSOs disallowed
  

9.3   By submitting a log, you agree that the decision of the UK/EI DX Contest team will be final in all matters of dispute. You also agree to your submitted Cabrillo logfile and the associated UBN file being in the public domain on the UKEICC website.

10.    Awards

The 'Kenwood Trophies' and several other attractive plaques are awarded to the winners of different categories.  Certificates (PDFs) will be awarded to leading stations in each entry category and power category.

Awards Information

11.   General Rules

The following General Rules also apply :

11.1  Entries are accepted at the sole discretion of the UKEICC committee.

11.2  A different call sign must be used for each entry. Only the entrant’s call sign may be used to aid the entrant’s score.

11.3  Self-spotting or asking to be spotted is not permitted.

11.4  Remote operation is permitted (see rule 4.1.1 above) if the physical location of all transmitters, receivers, and antennas are at one station location. A remotely operated station must obey all station license, operator license, and category limitations. Remote receivers outside the station location are not permitted.

11.5  Only one signal on a band is allowed at any time. Alternating CQs on two or more frequencies on a band is not permitted.

11.6  All requests for contacts, responses to calls, and copying of call signs and contest exchanges must be accomplished during the contest period using the mode and frequencies of the contest.

11.7  Call signs logged must be the same as those exchanged over the air by the entrants during the QSO.