Rules: 2023 Canadian Prairies QSO Party (CPQP)
Last Update: January 30, 2023
The Canadian prairie provinces consist of Manitoba (VA4/VE4), Saskatchewan (VA5/VE5) and Alberta (VA6/VE6). Unlike most American states, these three Canadian provinces are not subdivided into counties. Instead, we have federal electoral districts. Manitoba and Saskatchewan have 14 districts each, while Alberta has 34, making for a total of 62 districts. For those who are “out of province” (think “out of state”), your goal will be to work as many of the 62 districts as possible. For those “in-province”, the goal is to work everybody (13 provinces/territories plus 50 states). Note that stations within the Canadian prairie provinces can count one multiplier from every province, including their own.
DATES AND TIMES:
Begins 1700 UTC – May 13, 2023 Ends: 0300 UTC – May 14, 2023
OBJECTIVE:
Stations outside of the three Canadian Prairie Provinces works as many VE/VA 4, 5 and 6 stations in as many electoral districts as possible. Stations inside the Canadian prairie provinces work everyone. Contacts between non VE/VA 4, 5 and 6 stations do not count for QSO credit.
EXCHANGE:
- VE/VA 4, 5 and 6 stations send RS/RST and 3-letter district abbreviation.
- Stations outside the VE/VA 4, 5 and 6 areas send RS/RST and 2-letter State, Canadian area abbreviation, or “DX”.
QSO POINTS:
Each complete non-duplicate CW or SSB contact is worth 1 point. Although there is no credit for duplicate contacts, there is no penalty either, so please do not remove them from your log as they help with log checking.
MULTIPLIERS:
A. For Canadian stations within VE/VA 4, 5 and 6 areas:
Count U.S. states (50), Canadian areas (13): BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NT, NU, YT, NB, NL, NS, and PE
Count a maximum of 63 multipliers on each of the four bands (Max mults = 63 X 4).
Please note: Stations within the Canadian prairie provinces who work each other will log 3-letter abbreviations. They will receive a provincial multiplier for the first VA/VE 4, 5 or 6 station worked on each band, including their own province.
B. For non-VE/VA 4, 5 and 6 Stations:
Count all VE/VA 4, 5 and 6 districts for a maximum of 62 multipliers, on each of the four bands (Max mults = 62 X 4).
NOTE: Stations outside the USA and Canada should be logged as “DX”. These stations count for QSO credit (1 point each) but not as a multiplier.
SCORE:
The final score is the total number of QSO Points multiplied by the total number of multipliers.
QSO Points = CW + Phone points
Final Score = QSO Points x # Multipliers
For example: A station makes 50 CW QSOs and 100 SSB QSOs with a total of 24 multipliers over the four bands:
Score = (50+100) * 24 = 3,600 points.
MODES: CW, Phone
BANDS: 10, 15, 20 and 40 meters
FREQUENCIES:
CW: 35 KHz up from the bottom band edge
SSB: 7220 KHz, 14240 KHz, 21340 KHz, 28340 KHz
NOTES:
- Single-OP: One person does all transmitting, receiving, logging, and all equipment adjustments.
- Multi-OP: Multiple persons operating under the same callsign from one station.
- Multiple radios can be used, however only one transmitter can be active at a time, regardless of the number of transmitters in use.
- “Rover” means operating from a station that moves between multiplier areas. The station must be independent of all commercial power sources, with contacts made via antennas mounted on or away from a vehicle. Note: VA/VE4, 5 and 6 Rover stations which change districts are considered to be new stations and may be contacted again for point and multiplier credit. The Rover station should append his/her call sign with /AAA, where AAA is the 3 letter abbreviation for the district. If a rover station operates on a district line (junction between two or more districts), a separate QSO and complete exchange must be made and logged for each county worked. The VA/VE4, 5 or 6 Rover station which makes the most total QSOs during the CPQP wins the Rover plaque.
- Stations may be worked once on CW and once on Phone on each of the 4 bands (maximum 8 QSOs with any one station).
- All CW contacts must be made outside the Phone sub-bands
- Avoid frequencies already in use by any mode
- A station’s transmitters, receivers and amplifiers must be located within a single 500-meter diameter circle, except for Rovers. Any fixed station that does not meet the 500 meter circle requirements (such as a distributed multi-op) must enter as a check log.
- Check logs are accepted and will not be included in the final results.
- A minimum of 10 QSOs must be logged in order to qualify for a plaque or certificate.
- The decisions of the organizing committee are final. These rules may be updated at any time.
- The log deadline is 15 days after the contest ends. Upload logs in Cabrillo format using the form in the Log Submission page.
