Send any changes or corrections of your station info to your local IBM WWHAM coordinator or an email to -
Roger Root - W7LZ#arrl.net .
******************************************************************
Bob Vogel --
Published 07 JULY 2003, Updated: Saturday, 07 March 2009
Note: Change # to
@ in email addresses on this page.
2009 SPRING IBM QSO PARTY (IQP) RULES
QSO Party results
are
handled the same as in the past few years. Validity
check of IBM stations will come
from the
IBM WWHAM Listing.
It is hoped that all will
use "RYLogit" computer logging.
Any and all formats of logging will be accepted including paper
logs.
There will be NO validation of individual station's results.
We will use the Honor system whereby each participating station
that sends a summary will
have their results
Posted to a WEB page
for all to view. Do not send individual contact log,
just the final results.
The IBMHAM listserver (reflector) has been provided specifically
for the use of IBM Amateur Radio Operators to keep in touch and
discuss topics of interest. Any e-mail message which is sent to
IBMHAM will be re-transmitted to all the subscribers. You can
either receive the updates via e-mail, or if you prefer you can
opt to read them on the WEB. The facility is moderated by Roger Root - W7LZ#arrl.net
and Bill Bennett - N7DZ#arrl.net.
If you want to give it a try, contact Roger.
In the USA, the VANITY call sign program has been extended to
more classes of licensees, so the IBM WWHAM may not always
be accurate. Operators who have recently received a new call sign
should ensure that their IBM WWHAM entry has been updated.
Also, if you have changed QTH or Email address.
This can be done with an Email to your local WWHAM coordinator or
an email to Roger Root - W7LZ#arrl.net
.
The IBM QSO Party was started by Jacques Motte F6HMJ in 1984. Over the years several familiar Ops have helped with
the running
of the event - Roger W7LZ, Paul AA6Z, Earl K5SNO, George KI4KK,
Brian G0UKB, Ted G0BHK, and
Barry G3DUZ (SK) and his list of
IBM Hams. A big THANK YOU to the above for
their past efforts.
If you are interested in being involved with the running of the
IBM QSO Party in the future please Email to Bob - W0RY.
I have created an IBM QSO Party logging program -
RYLogit
< click to
Web page for download.
RYLogit requires Windows 95 or later. Features included are call
sign
checking
against a list of known IBM operators,
duplicate
checking, and points scoring. Make sure you download the
current version early, leaving yourself ample
time to
become
familiar with it before the event. The UserGuide
may be viewed
directly from the program. It is also available
online via a Link on
the above RYLogit web page if you would like to read it there before
downloading and installing.
I have written a program to export your RYLogit Log records to
ADIF format for Import by another Logging program or
uploading
to eQSL
and/or Logbook
of the World.
ADIFConvert may be downloaded
at the above RYLogit
web page.
INTERNET REMOTE BASE (IRB)
Use of an IRB station is permitted. The IRB station should
be in the same Continent as the user and more than one IRB may
be used by any given user. As required by the IRB
stations, a user must identify with not only their own
call letters but those of the IRB station as well.
As far as point counting, there is no change. It is only
necessary to log the call letters of the IRB user and not the
call letters of the IRB station.
Refer to instructions near the bottom
of this page regarding
your completed Log file.
As always, we hope you will submit your log after the event and
please include your comments, both positive and negative.
Most important of all - ENJOY THE QSO PARTY
The Rules
1- OBJECT:
a) To work as many Amateur Radio Operators, who are Employees,
ex-Employees or Retirees of IBM companies, their families,
and IBM Club stations, as possible using the suggested
frequencies in the 10, 15, 20, 40 and 80 mtr Amateur HF bands.
b) When IBM amateurs cannot be found - to work as many non-IBM
amateurs as possible using the suggested frequencies in the
10,
15, 20, 40 and 80 mtr Amateur HF bands.
2- ELIGIBILITY:
Logs will only be accepted from IBM Amateur Radio Operators and
their families, (spouse and children), retired employees and
ex-IBM employees whose details appear in the 'IBM WWHAM'.
Employees, Retirees and ex-Employees should ensure that details
of Family participants are included in the IBM WWHAM.
If there are circumstances where eligible operators cannot or do
not wish to be included in the 'IBM WWHAM'.
The organizers should be notified of the circumstances
Operators who appear in the 'IBM WWHAM' will be referred to
as IBM operators.
All other operators will be referred to as non-IBM operators.
Logs will NOT be accepted from non-IBM operators.
3- CONTEST PERIOD:
SPRING 2009 IQP
24 Hours
MODES:
SSB - CW - RTTY - PSK31: Saturday APRIL
4, 0000 UTC to
Saturday APRIL 4, 2400 UTC
4- OPERATING CATEGORIES:
Single Operator:
In the single operator category, one person performs all
operating and logging functions, as well as equipment and
antenna adjustments.
IBM Club Station:
The club station can be operated by one or more operators.
Club stations will be grouped with other reporting stations for results.
One person can operate from his own station, (single operator
category), and from his IBM club station, (club station
category).
A club can also be activated from a private station, if the
operators are all eligible (see section 2).
Please indicate on the
log
submitted if it is from a club station.
A station may be worked once per mode per band
for credit. The same station may be worked on all indicated Modes on the same band (once per mode per
band).
Suggested frequencies for all Countries unless noted by *. Split frequency is
allowed
Use normal PSK
operating frequencies
| BAND |
CW |
RTTY |
SSB |
| 80 | 3540-3560 | 3585-3590, 3520-3525*** | 3750-3770, 3885-3895* 3660** |
| 40 | 7020-7035 | 7035-7040, 7080-7095* | 7050-7070, 7260-7280* |
| 20 | 14040-14060 | 14080-14090 | 14260-14280 |
| 15 | 21040-21060 | 21080-21090 | 21300-21320 |
| 10 | 28040-28060 | 28080-28090 | 28450-28470 |
* for the USA
** for Italy, Australia and some other countries - check this
frequency periodically to give contacts to
these countries that do not have access to 3760.
*** for Japan.
USA Novice/Technician Plus frequencies: 3710, 7140, 21140, 28140
You
may use
IBMHAM email reflector, DX Summit, and EchoLink to let others know where
you are operating during the IQP. Connect to the
WA2IBM conference on EchoLInk.
5- EXCHANGE:
It is recommended 'CQ IBM' should be used for recognition. Each QSO must contain the
QSO number and
your first name. If the station you are working does not use
RYLogit then you will need to supply your Country, Continent,
and
if you are in the USA - your State.
Notes: 'RS(T)' signal strength, 'Retired' status,
'IBM division' and 'IBM location' are no longer required as
part of the exchange.
6- SCORING (automatically computed if using RYLogit):
POINTS for QSOs with IBM operators:
TWO points per QSO with same continent (same or another
country).
FIVE points per QSO with another continent.
POINTS for QSOs with non-IBM operators:
ONE point per QSO (all countries and continents).
Note: For scoring purposes at least half of the QSOs appearing in
the log must be with IBM stations - it does not matter if
the number of QSOs logged with non-IBMrs is greater than 50%
of the total, but only a number equal to the number of IBM
stations worked will be considered when the score is
calculated.
i.e. if your log contains 37 IBM QSOs and 53 non-IBM QSOs,
then you will score 37 points for your non-IBM QSOs.
MULTIPLIER:
Only IBM Contacts will count as multipliers (see note below).
The multiplier will be arrived at from the total number of
different IBM countries worked per band.
If working the same station on the same band but in a different
mode, only one multiplier is valid.
The USA will count as
four countries, divided as follows:
USA1: K1 - K2 - K3
USA2: K4 - K5
USA3: K6 - K7
USA4: K8 - K9 - K0
Example: 3.5 DL F G HB I
7 DL GM I HB
14 DL F I K4 K2
21 DL LU
28 F I K4
The multiplier will be: 19
Total score = (IBM points + non-IBM points) x multiplier.
For those who have moved out of their original USA call area and
have retained their call-sign, or are operating in a
different
call area from their home QTH, then they should always indicate
where they are operating from.
RYLogit takes
care of this because
of the information that is in the database (WWHAM).
Do not use
the slash " / " designator on the call sign when entering into
RYLogit.
Example: If you have contacted W2FMW and the operating location
is in the 4 call zone, the multiplier will be for USA2 and
not for USA1.
Note: Multipliers will only be applicable to QSOs with IBM
operators. QSOs with non-IBM'rs will not increase the
multipliers: i.e. a QSO with a non-IBM'r from a new country
or on a new band will not count as a extra multiplier.
7- REPORTING:
Entry logs must consist of the summary information. Individual contact information not required for submission.
Email submissions must have the following "Subject":
YourCall 2009 IBM QP - mode ,
Example: W9XYZ 2009 IBM QP SSB
The name of the file that you attach to your Email
should look like this:
YourCall 2009 IBM QP mode.csv
(change the call & mode accordingly) .
If you use RYLogit, the file name will be generated
for you based upon your call letters plus the Name of the
Log file
you created in "Settings".
Name the Log in "Settings" to 2009
IBM
QP MODE and you will have the correct
file name format.
Summary information is preferred via E-MAIL in the form
of simple text as an ATTACHMENT.
Procedure:
Click "Export to file" in RYLogit.
Open the exported file with a Text Editor such as EditPad.
Fill in your name - address info. Comments may be inserted
on
the "SOAPBOX" line.
More than one
SOAPBOX line may be used.
Close and Save the modified file. Insure that the Name of
the Log file follows the above convention. Rename the file
if necessary before sending it as an email attachment.
Sample of Exported RYLogit Header (summary) file:
CONTEST: 2009 IBM QP SSB <== note:
this info comes from "Settings"
CALLSIGN: W9XYZ
<== note:
this info comes from "Settings"
MY-CONTINENT: NA
<== note:
this info comes from "Settings"
MY-COUNTRY: USA4
<== note:
this info comes from "Settings"
CATEGORY:
IBM-CONTACTS: 1
NON-IBM-CONTACTS: 0
POINTS: 2
MULTIPLIER: 1
CLAIMED-SCORE: 2
OPERATORS:
CLUB:
NAME: <== your name
ADDRESS: <== your EMail or City
SOAPBOX: <== comments (more than one "SOAPBOX:" line is OK)
CREATED-BY: RYLogit version x.xx <== note:
this info comes from the program.
Entries from all countries must be time stamped no
later than 60 days after the QSO Party.
Send RYLogit Exported file (Preferred) or other computer log results
(Word / Excel / .txt)
via
E-mail
as
an attachment to: Paul - AA6Z paul#aa6z.com
Send paper log results to:
Paul Burton - AA6Z
877 BUCHSER WAY
SAN JOSE CA 95125
U.S.A.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1- Provide separate Email reports (contest results) for SSB,
CW, RTTY, PSK.
2- The ARRL DXCC list is the reference for the countries,
except the continental USA which is divided into four areas for the IQP.
The IQP results will appear at:
IBM QSO
PARTY RESULTS
It is important to keep the IBM WWHAM
database up to date as
it is used as the master reference.
View Call Sign database at WWHAM Listing
or the callsign database used by RYLogit at http://w0ry.home.bresnan.net/textwwham.htm
.
******************************************************************
Send any changes or corrections of your station info
to
your local IBM WWHAM
coordinator or an email to -
Roger Root
- W7LZ#arrl.net .
******************************************************************
Bob Vogel --