1. It’s SC QSOP Time!
2018
By: Gil Huggins – KS4YX

2. Our State Needs You to Be

3. The Big Day is February 24th – 25th 2018

4. It begins at 10:00 am (15:00 UTC) Saturday Morning, February 25th
Contest Period
It begins at 10:00 am (15:00 UTC) Saturday Morning, February 25th

5. Contest Period
And Ends at 8:59 pm (01:59 UTC) Saturday Night (Technically Sunday Morning)
11 Total Hours

6. Working the Whole Event Is Not Necessary
Just work as many stations as you can during the contest period.

7. The Objective
SC Hams should try to work as many stations, in and out-of-state as possible.

8. Out of State Operators
Those outside of SC will want to work as many SC stations in our 46 counties as possible.

9. How? Working a mixture of modes is encouraged,
but using just the one you feel most comfortable with is fine. CW
Voice
Digital

10. You May Use More Than One Mode
For Example: You may do digital in the morning, switch to voice in the afternoon, then CW in the evening. This would be a
Mixed Mode Entry.

11. Why Should I Participate?
To have fun and gain operating and contesting experience

12. What About The Rules?

13. The “Usual Suspects.” 6, 10, 15, 20, 40, 80 and 160.
What Bands Do I Work?
The “Usual Suspects.” 6, 10, 15, 20, 40, 80 and 160.

14. Technician Class Hams Are Allowed to Work 10 and 6 Meters!
Remember
Technician Class Hams Are Allowed to Work 10 and 6 Meters!

15. How Much Power Should I Use?
Different power classes exist for various awards.
The three categories for our party are the traditional
High Low QRP

16. Power Categories Are: QRP is 5 Watts or Less
Low Power is 100 watts or less
High Power is greater than 100 watts

17. How Much Power Should I Use?
Most stations run about 100 watts.

18. Determining Your Power Rating
You Power Level must be listed in your log report, along with your county designator. i.e. High Power - Oconee

19. SC County Information The QSO Party Web Page Has A Listing of The
County Designators on the Rules Page.
Here Are Examples:
Abbeville – ABBE Aiken – AIKE Allendale – ALLE
Anderson – ANDE Bamberg – BAMB Barnwell – BARN
Beaufort – BEAU Greenville – GVIL York – YORK,
etc

20. What Is The Exchange?
For SSB, SC Stations would give a signal report and then the County Designator. i.e. 59 Cherokee - CKEE

21. Know Your County Designator
It is important to know your county designator ahead of time as many stations may not have a listing of the various counties in our state.

22. CW Exchange Naturally, for CW , the exchange could be
599 and then the designator. i.e DARL

23. The New Digital Modes and the Qso Party
Digital modes include RTTY, PSK31, and other legal digital modes.

24. Logging of the Digital Modes
Regardless of the digital mode used, submit your log with the contact listed as RY

25. When Someone Calls Me?
Copy the Call, Date, Time, Band, Mode and the Exchange (Mult) #1. KF4YQF – 2/ :28 –10 M - SSB - LEX Make certain that your DATA is accurate.
KF4EGT / : SSB Ocon

26. Exchange Examples
For SC to SC Stations: 10 M 2/25 15:05 SSB KI4KKB 59 Pick (Pickens) 10 M 2/25 15:07 RY WA5KSC 59 Gvil (Greenville) 10 M 2/25 15:08 CW N4IQ 59 Lee (Lee)

27. For SC Contest Operators Working Out-of–State or DX Stations:
Exchange Examples
For SC Contest Operators Working Out-of–State or DX Stations:
Give a Signal Report and two-letter state abbreviation.
W1AW 2/ :05 20M SSB Ct (Connecticut)
N3KSG 2/25 15: M CW OH (Ohio)
G8OCT 2/25 16: M RY DX

28. Most Popular Entry
Most stations enter as Single Operator; Fixed Station, Multiple Bands, Low Power and SSB mode.

29. Entry Categories
Review the Category and Modes in the Rules and Select What Is Best For You. i.e. Single Op – Low Power – Fixed – SSB Only

30. The SC QSO Party Web Page Has A Section on Free Logging Software

31. Logging Software
If You Plan on Using A New Logging Program, Become Familiar With It Before the Contest.

32. It must then be converted to an electronic file for submission.
Logging Software
A PAPER LOGGING Template may be used, but this year, only logs submitted electronically will be accepted.
It must then be converted to an electronic file for submission.

33. Each station can be worked ONCE per BAND, and MODE for QSO Points.
Scoring
Each station can be worked ONCE per BAND, and MODE for QSO Points.

34. Scoring
Mobile Stations can be worked more than once provided they are in a different SC county.

35. Voice Point Value Each SC to SC SSB contact equals 1 point.
Each SC to Out of State SSB contact counts as 2 points.

36. CW/Digital Point Value
Each CW/Digital contact within SC
shall count as 2 points.
Each CW/Digital contact outside the state shall count as 4 points.

37. A Note About Digital Modes
PSK, RTTY and FT8, or any other digital mode, shall be considered equivalent and not separate.

38. A Note About Digital Modes
A PSK and RTTY contact on the same band, with the same station, is considered a Dupe.

39. Example of Scoring
i.e. As a SC station, you work W1AW on 10 and 20 Meters – SSB That counts as two contacts: thus, two contacts at 2 points each equal 4 total points.

40. Point Multipliers
Each State and County entity counts as a Multiplier only ONCE PER MODE – not per band as in most contest.

41. Bonus Stations
SC Special Event Calls to Work For Extra Points Include W4CAE (Columbia ARC) +250 points! WW4SF (Swamp Fox Station) +250 points!
W4CAE

42. These Stations may be worked ONCE per BAND per MODE.
Bonus Stations
These Stations may be worked ONCE per BAND per MODE.
W4CAE

43. Total QSO Points X Multipliers + Bonus Points
Your Final Score
Total QSO Points X Multipliers + Bonus Points
Example:
30 SSB Contacts from SC = 30 points
25 SSB Out-Of-State Contacts = 50 points
20 Multipliers = 80 X 20 = 1,600 points
1 Bonus WW4SF = 250 points
Total Score : 1, = 1,850 Contest Points

44. Submitting Your Score
The SCQSOP Web Page Has Instructions On How To Submit Your Score Only Electronically Filed Logs Will Be Accepted within 30 days after the contest.

45. Submitting Your Score Cabrillo formatted logs are encouraged, but
ASCII text formatted logs are acceptable.

46. There Are Various Awards and Certificates Available for Your Effort.
A minimum of 50 valid contacts is required to qualify for a category award.

47. And US States Outside of South Carolina
Award Certificates
Certificates will be awarded to the top scores for each entry category for the following:
DX Stations
Canadian Provinces
And US States Outside of South Carolina

48. Award Categories There are numerous award available.
Log onto the SC QSOP Contest Web Page for a complete listing found in the rules.

49. Miscellaneous Information
1. Out-of-State stations working from multiple states must submit a
separate log for each state, and each state score stands alone.

50. Miscellaneous Information
1. Out-of-State stations working from multiple states must submit a
separate log for each state, and each state score stands alone.
2. “County Line” contacts must be logged as separate contacts.

51. Miscellaneous Information
1. Out-of-State stations working from multiple states must submit a
separate log for each state, and each state score stands alone.
2. “County Line” contacts must be logged as separate contacts.
3. Remote Stations use the site of the transmitting station as their
QTH.

52. The use of spotting assistance is permitted.

53. Spotting Assistance The use of spotting assistance is permitted.
This includes the use of packet clusters, reverse beacons, networks, CW Skimmer, APRS telemetry, etc. and
Self Spotting is permitted.

54. A Clarification
1. A transmitter used to contact one or more stations may not subsequently be used under any other call sign during the contest.

55. A Clarification
1. A transmitter used to contact one or more stations may not subsequently be used under any other call sign during the contest.
2. Exceptions: Family Stations, where there is more than one call sign assigned to the operator in charge.

56. A Clarification
1. A transmitter used to contact one or more stations may not subsequently be used under any other call sign during the contest.
2. Exceptions: Family Stations, where there is more than one call sign assigned to the operator in charge.
3. Exception: A station used as a Bonus Station.

57. Finally
1. This is an easy contest to work.

58. Finally 1. This is an easy contest to work.
2. Submit your score regardless of what it is.

59. Finally 1. This is an easy contest to work.
2. Submit your score regardless of what it is.
3. Remember, there are contest rookies also working the event.

60. Finally 1. This is an easy contest to work.
2. Submit your score regardless of what it is.
3. Remember, there are contest rookies also working the event.
4. All stations “need” to work you for points.

61. Don’t Forget
The Carolina Weekend in 2018 The North Carolina QSOP is February 28th at 1500z to February 29th at 0100z.

62. Don’t Forget
The Carolina Weekend in 2018 The North Carolina QSOP is February 25th at 1500z to February 26th at 0100z. Join in the Spelling Bee for the challenge. Work NC counties and use the first letter of your worked counties to spell North Carolina.

63. Don’t Forget The Carolina Weekend in 2018
Visit the NC QSO Party Web Page for additional information.

64. www.scqsop.com Contest Results
The SC QSOP page has a listing of all award winners and scores from past years.

65. For Help
Review the Party Rules at the “Official Web Site” or
Help is available from:
The Columbia Area ARC and/or
Swamp Fox Contest Group Members

66. See You On The Air

67. Credits www.freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_McLeod/
Presentation by Gil Huggins – KS4YX
Based on rules for 2018
Music: “Pixelland” by Kevin McLeod using creative commons license by attribution 3.0.
Free Music Archive Web Page is: