NA High Speed MS Contest
========================
<Rules 2000>


Introducing the Third, North American High Speed Meteor Scatter (HSMS) Contest.  
Sponsored by: The Western States Weak Signal Society.

Purpose: 
--------
To promote the development of skilled HSCW operators in North America. 


Objective: 
----------
Work as many North American stations as possible via meteor scatter during the 
contest period using HSCW on the amateur radio bands above 50 MHz. 
HSCW for the purpose of this contest is any speed no less than 495 LPM (99 WPM). 


Contest Period: 
---------------
0000z, 1 May 2000 to 2400z, 9 May 2000 
You may operate up to 48 hours during this time period. 
{0105:0000:12960}

An operating period begins with your first TRANSMISSION and includes time spent 
listening between transmissions. Operating time must be taken in 30 minute blocks. 
Time spent listening outside of your operating periods does not count towards 
your operating time. Multi-ham households--Each licensed ham is eligible to 
operate 48 hours under their own callsign. 


Contest Operation: 
------------------
Random and scheduled QSOs count for contest credit. 
The use of the letter system for CQing is REQUIRED, 
ie. CQF, CQX. Report is your four digit grid square. 
Real-time skeds, spotting assistance, DX-alerting nets, etc. are permitted for 
the purpose of arranging contact attempts. 
Refer to the Region II HSCW standard operating procedures 
<http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/hscw-sop22.html> for suggested HSCW techniques 
and meteor scatter calling frequencies. 
The use of HSCW on VHF SSB calling frequencies is poor operating technique. 
A station may only be worked once per band during the contest period unless 
one of the stations has changed grid squares. A separate log is required for 
each grid activated. Each grid activated will be scored separately. 


QSO Requirements: 
-----------------
To log a completed contact you must copy: both calls, report, rogers. 
Any form of liaison communication between the parties involved in a contact 
in progress is prohibited. Any interruption of a contact in progress requires 
both stations restart the QSO attempt from the beginning. All information 
required for a complete contact must be exchanged using meteor scatter and 
no other propagation mode. Classes: Single Operator Limited--2 meters only 
Single Operator Limited--Multi-band Single Operator Unlimited--2 meters only 
Single Operator Unimited--Multi-band 


Limited: 
Station ERP is restricted to less than or equal to 5kw. 

Unlimited: 
Station ERP is greater than 5kw. Multi-band stations must enter in the class 
corresponding to the highest ERP used. A station may only enter in ONE class. 


Multipliers: 
------------
The sum of each unique four digit grid square worked on each band. 

Scoring (QSO points): 
  BAND   ASSISTED   RANDOM 
  6m     1          1 
  2m     3          6 
  1.25m  9          18 
  .7m    9          18 

The final score is the sum of all QSO points from each band times the multiplier. 


Awards: 
-------
Certificates will be awarded to the top three overall, and to the highest scoring 
station in each USA/VE call district and each North American DXCC country for 
each category. In addition, a certificate will be awarded to the highest scoring 
portable station activating two or more grids (based on the sum of their scores 
from each grid activated). A minimum of 2 QSOs are required to qualify for any 
award. Additional certificates may be awarded where activity warrants. 
Participants can only enter in one class for contest credit. 


Reporting: 
----------
The following information must be contained on the summary sheet which must 
accompany the log: Callsign used, Grid Square(s) activated, Maximum ERP used,
Name, Address, and Email Address (if available). Log information must contain 
the following data: Callsign of station worked, starting and ending times/dates 
of contact (and operating periods), Frequency, Reports, and sked or random. 


Miscellaneous: 
--------------
Station equipment can only be used under one callsign, with the exception of 
multi-ham households. Single Band Entrants, time spent working stations on bands 
other than 2 meters does not count against your 48 hour operating time.
 Single band entrants are requested to send in check logs for all contacts 
made on other bands. The decisions of the awards committee are final. All logs
 must be postmarked or email dated no later than May 30th. Email logs must be 
sent in ASCII format to: hscw@contesting.com. Postal mail logs may be mailed to: 

WSWSS HSCW Contest, 
C/O Steve Harrison K0XP,  
37 Plainfield Ave., 
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 

Sample blank log page/summary sheets are available from 
http://www.qsl.net/n7stu/hscw.html or a reasonable facsimile may be used. 
A printed copy of the rules and sample log/summary sheet can be obtained by 
sending an SASE to the WSWSS. Please enclose an SASE if you would like to 
receive a printed copy of the results via postal mail. 


Note: 
-----
The radiant of the Eta Aquarids shower is projected to provide the best 
conditions during the contest (in North America) from approximately one hour 
before sunrise local time for approximately eight hours daily. 
This is the suggested best operating time each day. Remember though, HSCW contacts 
can be completed at any time of the day. 


Further Information about HSMS: 
The following Internet web sites contain a wealth of information about 
High-Speed-Meteor-Scatter. 
Please note that there are several minor operating practice differences between 
North America and European techniques; for example, in North America, 
the northern- or eastern-most station normally transmits during the odd minutes 
(those minutes beginning with odd numbers: 1231Z, 1415Z; etc.). 
Also, North American sked speeds (and sometimes CQ speeds) tend to be somewhat 
higher than in Europe because most North American HSMSers are using computers to 
record and playback recorded reflections. Suggested HSMS operating practices are 
described in HSCW Procedures (v. 7), available at 
<http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/hscw-sop22.html>. 
Information regarding calculating station ERP can be obtained from W5UN's website 
<http://web.wt.net/~w5un/>. Other information, including hardware modification 
tips, software, and HSMS articles may be found at these URLs: 

http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/ws1_15.html 
http://www.ilk.de/sites/gap 
http://www.mint.net/~n1bug/ 
http://www.qsl.net/k0sm/ 
http://www.sci.fi/~oh5iy/ 
http://www.cannon.net/~mattmc/kb0vuk/hsms/hsms.html 
http://www.qsl.net/kd5bur/ 
http://www.qsl.net/n7stu/hscw.html 

Many more links covering other HSMS topics may be found on most of the above 
web sites. 
