RaDAR-America: April 2013

26 April 2013

1. Aim

The RaDAR Program is aimed at promoting the use of Rapidly Deployable Amateur Radio stations and is for all licensed radio amateurs. The points system is so structured as to encourage portable operation, especially pedestrian mobile stations.

The rule structure is very close to that formulated by the founder of the RaDAR contest idea: Eddie ZS6BNE

2. Date and Time

Every calendar month from the first day of the month at 00:00 UTC until the last day of the month at 23:59 UTC.

3. Bands and Modes

All amateur bands 6m and lower, as well as any satellite bands, are eligible for entry.

Modes – Any.

4. Conduct

All operators are to follow the Radio Amateur's Code:

http://www.ham-operating-ethics.org/files/1-Eth-operating-EN-IARU-R1-V3-CORR-2011.pdf

as well as all legal requirements.

5. Exchange

Call sign, type of operation ( /portable /mobile /maritime mobile /pedestrian mobile" etc., as applicable), Name, Report (RST), QTH using USNG/ MGRS or Maidenhead grid locator (at least 6 digits).
Note that the grid locator can change as RaDAR operators are allowed to move to the next destination at any time.

Note that several SmartPhone apps support these advanced grid locator features (e.g. HamLog or Theodolite for the iPhone).

6. Scoring

Total score per month is the sum of all daily scores.

Daily score calculated as follows:

Per call sign: 1 QSO point per mode, per band / satellite, per every 5 minutes (i.e., if your QSO is over 5 and up to 10 minutes = 2 QSO points, over 10 minutes and up to 15 minutes = 3 QSO points, etc.. Rag chews are encouraged!).

Per participation in a EmComm Net or round table discussion Net: 1 QSO point per mode, per band / satellite, per every 5 minutes (i.e., if your Net is over 5 and up to 10 minutes long = 2 QSO points, over 10 minutes and up to 15 minutes = 3 QSO points, etc.. Net participation is encouraged!).

Note:

1) Moving RaDAR stations can move at any time but are required to move to the next destination after five QSO points have been made. The move needs to cover the required distance before further QSO points may be documented.

2) Moving stations may also operate while in motion, but need to have covered the required distance for every 5 QSO points.

Note: safety and all (traffic) laws take precedence at all times. All operators operate at their own risk at all times.

7. Bonus points (Are added to QSO points before applying power multiplier)

5 Points (Equivalent to five QSOs) for a minimum of one satellite or any digital mode QSO. (For clarity: Thereafter 1 point per Satellite / Digital modes QSO)

Screen photo of your APRS location on an online APRS map, may substitute a photo or video for mobile or portable RaDAR stations, as proof of QTH change (add 5 extra points per day for using APRS).

If you:

- document your Maidenhead Locator: 5 extra points per day

- document your USNG locator: 10 extra points per day

- receive the Maidenhead Locator of your QSO: 1 extra point per QSO

- receive the USNG locator of your QSO: 2 extra points per QSO

8. Categories and multipliers

Per day:

x 1 - Stations situated within a building may ONLY log points if their QSO was with a field or moving RaDAR station

x 1 – "Portable" RaDAR Field station (any place exterior to a building in which people live, locations as balconies and patios count as portable operation sites). These stations log themselves as /p ("portable"). At least one photo or video of the station MUST accompany the day's log entry (APRS beacon may not substitute photo in this category!).

x 2 – "Mobile" Moving RaDAR station, Car / Motorcycle / Bicycle / Maritime – Minimum 3 miles (approx. 5 km) per 5 QSO points. These stations log themselves as /m ("mobile"). A photo or video of the station MUST accompany every QTH (to document relocation by required distance, see below for substitution with APRS beacon).

x 4 – Moving RaDAR station, on foot – Minimum 0.6 miles (approx. 1 km) per 5 QSO points. These stations are to log themselves as /pm ("pedestrian mobile"). A photo or video of the station MUST document every QTH change (see Bonus points for substitution with APRS beacon).

9. Power multiplier:

The power multiplier that applies is determined by the highest power output of any of the transmitters used per day.

5 watts or less, the power multiplier is 6.

6 to 50 Watts, the power multiplier is 4.

51 watts or greater, the power multiplier is 2.

100 watts or greater, the power multiplier is 1.

10. Entry details

A) Log entries, images, videos, total daily and monthly QSO points should be posted on the operator's preferred website, preferred website service or else; link to this with Calculated Monthly Points is then to be sent to radaramericacontest AT gmail.com by the 3rd of each following month.

B) The monthly winner will be entered in the program's roll of honor.