The ARLHS Presents Its Annual

LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
QSO PARTY (LCL - 2006)

  • Purposes:
  • To promote public awareness of ham radio and lighthouses; to contribute to the recognition that lighthouses, lightships, and their keepers deserve; to foster camaraderie within the ham fraternity; and to provide fellowship amongst the members of the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society

  • Dates & Times:
  • 0001 hrs UTC on December 16, 2006, through 2359 hrs UTC on January 1, 2007.

  • Suggested Modes / Calling Frequencies:
  • Any and all modes : SSB, CW, RTTY, PSK, FM, SSTV, etc.
  • Suggested SSB freqs: 1950-1990, 3950-3990, 7250-7290, 14.250-14.290, 21.350-21.390, 28.350-28.390
    (Calling on the centered 0.70 kHz on each band — Example: 14.270.)
  • Suggested CW center freqs: 1830, 3530, 7030, 14.030, 21.030, 28.030
    Note that these are center calling frequencies. Work 20 kHz each side of center.
  • NO CREDIT will be given for contacts made on WARC bands.
  • To alleviate QRM, spread out and work SSB from 50 kHz to 90 kHz and on CW work from 10 kHz to 50 kHz (i.e., +/- 20 kHz of center.)

  • Scoring:
  • IMPORTANT: Answers to some common scoring questions can be found on the Scoring FAQ page at http://arlhs.com/scoring.html
  • Each contact (member or nonmember) = 1 pt.
  • Add 2 points more if contact is an ARLHS member
  • Add 3 points more if contact is at a lighthouse or lightship
  • ------
    Also, this year we are cooperating and participating in the ARRL "Hello" program as announced in the April 2006 issue of QST. (See also December QST, page 43, right column, third paragraph, as well as the ARRL Hello web site by clicking HERE.)

    This special event commemorates 100 years of voices over the airwaves;thus, all voice modes are qualified, but ONLY voice modes: AM, SSB, FM, IRLP/Echolink.

    There will be three special event stations operating for a limited time during our ARLHS Christmas QSO Party, from 2000 UTC December 29 to 2000 UTC December 30. The stations are:
    W100BO/W1F at Brant Rock
     GB1FVT at Machrihanish
     W1AW in Newington, CT
    ------
    Working any one of these special event stations during the times speciified, will add 100 points (each) to your score. Be sure to indicate these separately on your score coversheet and on your log (mark with an asterisk). ------

  • NO CREDIT and no points will be given for contacts made on WARC bands.
  • BONUS for activating a light: As an incentive for participants to activate a light beacon, we are instituting a multiplier. If you activate a lighthouse or lightship under the rules of the ARLHS, you qualify for an additional 2x multiplier of your total score (as determined above). If for example your base score is 600 points and these were all accumulated by your operation at one of the recognized ARLHS lights (see the ARLHS World List), multiply your 600 points x 2 = 1200 points final score. This will be indicated on the final scoring cover sheet, which MUST be attached for log to qualify — see section below under "Log Submissions."
  • A sample log sheet in Microsoft Excel (XLS) format can be found HERE, but you can use whatever format is most comfortable for you. You do NOT have to use this log sheet, provided that all the usual, pertinent information is obvious. Whatever log format you use, you MUST always attach as a top sheet a Scoring Summary Cover Sheet (see http://arlhs.com/score-coversheet.html for a sample) as the cover sheet for each log. See "Log Submissions" below for more logging details.

  • Example:
  • You work ARLHS member #155 who is at lighthouse ARLHS USA-701.
  • Your score for this contact is 1 pt for the contact, plus 2 points
  • for working a member, plus 3 points for working a lighthouse.
  • Total score for this QSO = 6 points.
  • Answers to some other common scoring questions can be found on the Scoring FAQ page at http://arlhs.com/scoring.html

  • Exchanges:
  • ARLHS members send call sign, member number, name, state/province/country
  • Non-members send call, sequential contact number, name, state/province/country
  • Lighthouse/Lightship Stations send call, ARLHS lighthouse number, name, state/province/country
  • NOTE: A numbered list of ARLHS lighthouses is available from page 10 of the Society's web page at http://arlhs.com

    • AWARDS, CERTIFICATES, and PRIZES

  • In addition, the usual series of ARLHS awards is also available, and these are described on the Society's Award Program page 9.

    • LOG SUBMISSIONS


    [1] Put your call & member number on EVERY PAGE of your log and on ALL other material submitted, including envelopes and checks.

    [2] A sample log sheet in Microsoft Excel (XLS) format can be found HERE, but you can use whatever format is most comfortable for you. You do NOT have to use this log sheet, provided that all the usual, pertinent information is obvious. Whatever log format you use, you MUST always attach as a top sheet a Scoring Summary Cover Sheet (see http://arlhs.com/score-coversheet.html for a sample) as the cover sheet for each log. If you choose to use your own version of a cover sheet, then it must at least include all items and elements on the ARLHS version: It should show the total points for all contacts; total points for member contacts; total pts for lighthouse contacts; grand total of points for that log a detailed list of all certificates, endorsements, and prizes applied for; and a listing of all amounts and totals of checks or money submitted.
    Versions of the cover sheet from previous ARLHS contests and events are not valid.
    Logs without the Summary Cover Sheet showing all required proper information will NOT be counted and no refunds will be made.

    [3] All logs MUST specify the entrant's call on EACH page of the log and clearly indicate the entrant's name, address, and member number (if applicable) on the first page, as well as on the summary score sheet.

    [4] All checks should be in US funds made payable to "Weidner Publishing." NOTE: IRC's are valid for postage only and can NOT be used for cash payments.

    [5] NEW! Each operation from a different QTH (home, mobile, lighthouse) using the same call but with a /P, /MM, or /M designation requires a separate log and separate score sheet. The scores from each log will then added together on the Summary Score Sheet to determine the final event score.

    [6] Send log data to the Contest Manager:
    Dave Ruch, NFØJ
    P.O. Box 20696
    Bloomington, MN 55420-0696

    [7] Include a self-addressed 9 x 12-inch envelope with return postage (63 cents for USA, 2 IRCs for DX), along with $2.00 (US) for each certificate requested. Entries received without an SASE will not be acknowledged or returned.

    [8] Deadline for submissions is January 31, 2007. All logs must be postmarked by this date. Late entries can not be accepted. No exceptions!

    [9] NO refunds will be made for logs and/or applications submitted improperly or without Summary Score Sheet and in proper form. Once submitted there are *NO* refunds!

    [10] Although a sample log sheet is shown on the web site, any format of log sheet can be used, according to your preference, but be sure your log shows all appropriate information; e.g., Date, time (UTC preferred), station worked, op's name, member or sequential number, state or province, band, mode — whatever the event calls for.

    [11] Rules, guidelines, criteria, prizes, etc, as cited herein, are subject to change at any time without notice and are at the sole discretion of the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society.

    REV: Oct 22, 2006