IRTS HF Field Day Rules

(for CW Field Day and SSB Field Day)

The IRTS General Contest Rules will apply, except as noted below.

1

Dates and Times
1.1 CW Field Day:  From 15:00 UTC Saturday to 15:00 UTC Sunday on the first full weekend in June.
  SSB Field Day:  From 13:00 UTC Saturday to 13:00 UTC Sunday on the first full weekend in September.

2

Sections
2.1 Open Section:
  Output power limit is the maximum permitted by the station licence.  No restriction on the number, type or height of antennas.
2.2 Restricted Sections: (see 2.2A and 2.2B)
  One transceiver with a maximum output power of 100 watts PEP.  There may be one antenna only, which must be a single element such as a dipole, vertical, long wire, etc., having not more than two elevated support points and not exceeding 15 metres above ground at its highest point.
  The presence on site of any transceiver, amplifier or equipment capable of more than 100 watts PEP will result in disqualification of the entry.
  2.2A  Restricted / 24 hours section:  Operation for up to the full 24 hour contest period.
  2.2B  Restricted / 6 hours section:  Operation for up to 6 hours of the contest period; operation need not be for one continuous 6-hour period, but once operation has commenced in the contest, off periods must be a minimum of 60 minutes.

3

Eligible Entrants
3.1 Any individual or group operating in EI complying with Rule 3.6 of the General Rules and operating portable on a site in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 below.

4

Bands and Mode
4.1 CW Field Day:  CW contacts in the 1.8, 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz bands.
  SSB Field Day:  SSB phone contacts in the 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz bands.
4.2 Operation is to be in accordance with the IARU Region 1 band plan.
4.3 On bands where relevant contest preferred segments are specified in the band plan, operation must be within those contest preferred segments.
Contest preferred segments:
   CW: 3.510 – 3.560, 7.000 – 7.040, 14.000 – 14.060 MHz
   SSB: 3.600 – 3.650, 3.700 – 3.800, 7.060 – 7.100, 7.130 – 7.200, 14.125 – 14.300 MHz
4.4 CW Field Day:  On bands where contest preferred segments are not specified, operation must be within the recognised CW segments of the bands.

5

Exchange
5.1 Signal report, serial number (starting 001 for the first contact).  Stations entering the Restricted / 6 hours section that operate for more than a 6-hour period may identify a start point that is not QSO no. 001 (and/or an end point that is not the final QSO), however QSOs within the 6-hour period to which the entry applies must be consecutive from the identified start point onwards.

6

Scoring
6.1 Points will be awarded for each complete QSO as follows:
  •  Fixed stations in Europe 2 points
  •  Fixed stations outside Europe 3 points
  •  Portable stations in Europe 4 points
  •  Portable stations outside Europe 6 points
6.2 Portable stations only count as portable if they sign ‘/P’, ‘/M’, ‘/MM’ or ‘/AM’
6.3 Each DXCC country worked on each band gives one multiplier.
6.4 The final score is the points total multiplied by the multiplier total.
Log submission info

7

Site & Power Supply
7.1 Buildings or man-made structures, other than those brought to, or constructed on, the site within 24 hours before the start of the contest for use during the contest, may not be used as antenna support points.
7.2 Additional standby equipment is allowed on site, but it must not be connected to any power source when the main equipment is in use.
7.3 The station must operate from the same site for the duration of the contest.
7.4 The station must not be sited in any permanent or semi-permanent building.
7.5 The station must not use the public mains supply.
7.6 Power for all equipment may only be derived from a portable generator, or from solar cells, accumulators or batteries.  Fixed generators are not permitted.  Float charging, if any, must be from a portable generator.
7.7 No equipment or antennas may be installed or erected on the site prior to 24 hours before the start of the contest.  This does not apply to storage of equipment.

8

Awards


(See Rule 6.2 / General Rules regarding the minimum number of QSOs for award eligibility)
8.1 CW Field Day
  •  The Pete Daly Cup is awarded to the station with the highest checked score in the Open section.
  •  The Paddy Smyth Cup is awarded to the station with the highest checked score in the Restricted / 24 hours section.
  •  A certificate will be awarded to the station with the highest checked score in the Restricted / 6 hours section.
8.2 SSB Field Day
  •  The Paddy Daly Microphone is awarded to the station with the highest checked score in the Open section.
  •  The IRTS HF Shield is awarded to the station with the highest checked score in the Restricted / 24 hours section.
  •  A certificate will be awarded to the station with the highest checked score in the Restricted / 6 hours section.
Contest Calendar and Rules page

Updated: 22 October 2017