The RARS HF Challenge is to be a friendly competition among RARS club members. The aim is to encourage operation on the HF bands, and further to encourage sharing of operating tips, tricks, and tales among members.
2.0 To have fun!
2.1 The object of the challenge is to have QSOs with different US States,
Canadian Provinces, DXCC countries, and NC counties.
2.2 A QSO with any of these entities counts for 1 point, regardless of band or
mode.
2.3 Operation is open to the HF bands, 160m-10m, including WARC and 60m bands.
Please observe band plands where applicable.
2.4 A QSO is defined as exchanging any kind of information directly with
another station. The intent here is to have an honest QSO - not count every NC
county represented on the Tarheel Emergency Net you just checked into. See the
"Categories" section for further information.
3.1 Each year, the Challenge begins January 1 1200z and runs through the
following January 1 1159z.
3.2 Tally sheets are due by February 15 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Inclusion of
unused valentines is optional.
3.3 You may submit tally sheets throughout the year so you can show off your
progress - in fact, this is encouraged.
The Challenge is made up of four separate categories. An operator does not have
to choose a category at the beginning of the Challenge, and may change
categories (with possible QSO omissions) during the year.
4.1 Limited Category
The Limited category consists of entries that are limited in one of the
following ways:
- All QSOs occur on one band.
- All QSOs are made using CW.
- All QSOs are made suing a digital mode (RTTY, PSK, MT63, SSTV, etc.).
The specific mode may differ from one QSO to another, but all must be (non-CW)
digital.
- All QSOs are made when mobile.
- Output power used is less than 5 watts for all QSOs.
- Other limiting circumstances as okayed by the Challenge Master. Just ask!
4.2 Little Pistol Category
This category is open to all bands and modes, with a top power limit of 150
watts.
4.3 Big Gun Category
QSOs may use any band and mode, at any legal power limit.
4.4 Ragchew Category
All QSOs in this category must be at least 10 minutes in length. Any band, mode
and legal power level is accepted.
4.5 Special Ragchew Rule
QSOs may be counted simultaneously in the Limited, Little Pistol, or Big Gun
category and the Ragchew category. For example, if NI4S works a
mix of "pileup" DX throughout the year using his 100W TS-850, he may enter
those QSOs in the Little Pistol category. Should he happen to have a QSO
lasting more than 10 minutes with a DX station, that QSO may count both toward
his LP category points and toward a Ragchew score.
As this is a friendly competition, no QSLs are required to validate QSOs. We
operate on the honor system. Be forewarned that you may be called upon at a
club meeting to "tell the tale" of how you bagged a rare QSO!
5.1 For the top three claimed scores in each category, logs (tally sheets) will
be checked at the end of the year.
5.2 The Challenge Master will have final authority as it related to
interpretation or amendment of the rules, and awarding of Challenge points.
5.3 If an entity is added or deleted during the year, it will count for credit.
Entities will be counted based on the reference materials available at:
ARRL List of DXCC Entities
UNC Institute of
Government List of NC Counties