Rules: (click to download printer friendly rules)

Objective:
For Amateurs inside the state of Ohio to make contact with as many Amateurs as possible both inside and outside of Ohio. For Amateurs outside the state of Ohio to make contact with as many Ohio stations as possible. Non-Ohio stations may work only Ohio stations, while Ohio stations may contact anyone.

Period:
The Ohio QSO Party occurs on the fourth Saturday of August. The contest period extends from 1200 EDT [noon] to 2400 EDT [midnight] (1600Z Saturday until 0400Z Sunday). All stations may operate the full twelve hours. The 2013 contest is on August 24th.

Bands & Modes:
CW and SSB on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. Stations may be worked once per mode on each band; i.e. K8MAD may be worked on both 40 CW and 40 SSB for point credit. Each station may be contacted 10 times (once per each of the 5 bands and once per mode on each band).

80m cw: 3.545   | ssb: 3.825
40m cw: 7.045   | ssb: 7.200
20m cw: 14.045 | ssb: 14.250
15m cw: 21.045 | ssb: 21.300
10m cw: 28.045 | ssb: 28.450

Try 10 meters on the even GMT/EDT hours (16,18,20,22,24,02); 15 meters on odd GMT/EDT hours (17,19,21,23,01,03). Also, if you are within/close to Ohio, check 80m during the day light hours for activity.

Entry Categories:
SINGLE OPERATOR: One person performs all operating and logging functions. Use of spotting nets (i.e. PacketCluster but not Skimmer*) is permitted for the purposes of encouraging contest participation. Only one transmitted signal is permitted on the air at any time. Single operator entries are categorized by output power:

• QRP (5 W or less output CW, 10 W or less SSB)
• Low power (more than QRP but less than or equal to 100 W output)
• High power (greater than 100 W output).

All single operator entries are classified as mixed mode.

MULTI OPERATOR: Entries where more than one operator performs the operating and logging functions or stations that use Skimmer*. Multi-operator entries may employ multiple transmitters simultaneously and are not categorized by power. All multi operator entries are classified as mixed mode.

MOBILE: Entries which are self-contained (radio, antenna, and power source) and capable of motion while in operation. Motion is optional. Mobile entries may have multiple operators and are limited to 100 W output or less and only one transmitted signal at a time. Mobile stations that change geographic area (counties for Ohio stations, state or province for others) may be contacted again for QSO points and multiplier credit. The geographic area (county) must be clearly marked in the log for each qso.

ROVER: A station that operates from non-permanent locations in two or more counties. Use of any power source, including AC mains, is permitted. Operation while in motion between fixed sites is permitted. Rover entries may have multiple operators and are limited to 100 W output or less and only one transmitted signal at a time. Rover stations that change geographic area (counties for Ohio stations, state or province for others) may be contacted again for QSO points and multiplier credit. The geographic area (county) must be clearly marked in the log for each qso.

*Skimmer is any software, hardware or other device capable of decoding multiple signals at one time. Note that this does not prohibit the use of a code reader on CW as long as it decodes only one signal.

Exchange:

• Ohio stations send a sequential serial number beginning with 001 and their Ohio county.
• Non Ohio W/VE stations (including KH6/KL7) send a sequential serial number beginning with 001 and their state or province.
• DX stations outside of W/VE send a sequential serial number beginning with 001 and "DX".
• Mobile and Rover stations are allowed to maintain a continuous sequence of serial numbers for all contacts, or may begin with serial number 001 for each separate geographic area activated. The only requirement is that no serial number be repeated within a geographic area.
• Multi-op stations who can't maintain sequential serial numbers regardless of band/mode shall give serial numbers by band mode (75m ssb 1-# 75m ssb qsos, 80m cw 1-# 80m cw qsos, 40m ssb 1-# 40m ssb qsos, 40m cw 1-# 40m cw qsos and so on...).

Scoring:
QSO POINTS - Each complete non-duplicate SSB contact is worth one point. Each complete non-duplicate CW contact is worth two points.
MULTIPLIERS - Multipliers are counted once per mode, i.e. working the same multiplier on both CW and SSB counts as two multipliers.
For OHIO STATIONS, multipliers are the 49 American States (excluding Ohio), 11 Canadian Provinces (NL, PEI, NS, NB,VE2-7, YT/NWT/NU), 88 Ohio Counties and 1 DX.
FOR ALL OTHER STATIONS, multipliers are the 88 Ohio counties.

FINAL SCORE - For non-mobile stations, multiply QSO points by the total number of multipliers. For mobile/rover stations, multiply the total QSO points by the total number of unique multipliers worked from all counties activated.

CLUB COMPETITION - Members' scores from Ohio stations will be credited towards their Ohio club. A plaque will be awarded to the Ohio club with the highest score. As the sponsoring club, the Mad River Radio Club is excluded from this competition, although its members may contribute their scores for other Ohio clubs to which they belong.

A listing of out of state club scores will be posted with the results, although there will be no plaque awarded to the winning out of state club. Only non-Ohio scores may be credited to those club totals.

Misc:

1. Callsigns and exchanged information must be received and confirmed by both stations for a complete QSO.
2. No cross-mode contacts. CW contacts must be made in the CW portions of the band.
3. Any station used to contact one or more stations may not be subsequently used under any other callsign during the contest period from that county/state/province/dx entity, with the exception of family stations where more than one callsign is assigned. Under these circumstances, no individual shall make a QSO utilizing more than one callsign.
4. No station may claim simultaneous operation in more than one county, state, or province. A mobile or rover station must move a minimum of 500 feet before claiming to be in a new county, state, or province. The complete station (operator, transceiver, antenna, etc) must exist in a single county/state/province.
5. Decisions of the Ohio QSO Party Committee are final.

Reporting:

• Logs must clearly indicate band, mode, date and time, received callsign and both sent and received exchanges for all QSOs. A scoring summary sheet must be included with all paper logs showing entrant's callsign, operating location, mailing address, and claimed score. All entries are encouraged to use the official OhQP county abbreviations for logging and the received exchange from Ohio stations.
• All entrants are strongly encouraged to submit their entry in a computer readable format. Logging programs that support the OhQP are available in the links section of this site. Computer generated logs must be submitted in Cabrillo format (see cabrillo information below). No binary files will be accepted. If you need help converting please ask on the OhQP mailing list. Entries may be submitted electronically (encouraged) to logs@ohqp.org; on an IBM compatible, MS-DOS formatted 3.5" disk; or on paper. Paper logs and disk entries must be sent to the address listed below and must be postmarked no later than 30 days after the end of the contest.
• Paper entry forms and operating aids (rules, summary sheets, log sheet and county abbreviations) are available for downloading in PDF format from the links section of this site.
• All Ohio entrants that are members of an Ohio club should indicate such on their summary sheets or in their electronic logs so that their scores may be credited to their respective clubs.
• Logs that have been received will be listed on the OhQP web site.
• Final results will be posted on this site.

Awards:

1. Plaques are available and will be awarded based upon sponsorship. Any individual or group wishing to sponsor a plaque should contact Jim Stahl, K8MR, at k8mr@arrl.net or via surface mail.
   

Plaques and Sponsors:
- Ohio Single Operator High Power - sponsored by Findlay Radio Club
- Ohio Single Operator Low Power - sponsored by Midwest Traffickkers and Contesters
- Ohio Single Operator QRP - sponsored by Flying Pigs QRP Club
- Out of State Single Operator - sponsored by Central Ohio Operators Klub Extra-Novice (COOKEN ARC)
- Out of State Single Operator, Mountain/Pacific Time Zone -sponsored by Canton Amateur Radio Club
- Out of State Single Operator Low Power - sponsored by Sean Fleming K8KHZ
- Out of State Single Operator QRP - sponsored by Chuck Patellis W8PT
- Single Operator DX - sponsored by Northern Ohio DX Association
- Ohio Multi Operator - sponsored by Wayne Amateur Radio Club
- Ohio Mobile - sponsored by Lake County Amateur R. A.
- Ohio Rover - sponsored by Delaware Amateur Radio Association
- Ohio Single Operator SSB - sponsored by Muskingum Ham Radio Club
- Ohio Single Operator CW - sponsored by Fourty Over Club (K8FOC) of Cincinnati

Snail Mail address for paper logs:
Ohio QSO Party
c/o Jim Stahl, K8MR
30499 Jackson Road
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022-1730