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The 24 hour time span was created to allow operators to fit some operating time into their busy lives. Some of the WES events focus on a particular theme or activity. Three popular themes that repeat each year are Homebrew Keys, QRP, and Boat Anchors. Some themes may have special rules and scoring that are different from those given below. Announcements about themes and special rules are made via email notice to the SKCC group.
Participants in the WES should use a mechanical key approved by the rules of the Straight Key Century Club. These include straight keys, sideswipers (Cooties) and bugs. Exceptions are granted to those with physical disabilities that prevent the use of such keys. Please be reminded that although it is like a contest in that scores are posted based in part on the number of QSOs, the WES is rather informal, and has as its main objective to bring together operators with different skill levels. Operating speed should be adjusted accordingly.
The theme for the sprint is "QRP". For the purpose of this sprint, QRP is taken as five watts or less. Although participants are encouraged to go on the air at a QRP power level you do not have to do so to participate.
| 1) 15 bonus points if you can eke out at least 1 QSO at a QRP level. |
| 2) two bonus points per QSO at QRP level. |
As is always with the SKCC sprints, the themes are presented as activities to generate a little more fun during the sprint. If, for whatever reason you can not meet the requirements of the theme, you are still welcome to participate in the sprint. Use the soapbox and photo option for show and tell of your QRP setup.
*** SOMETHING NEW ***
If you are a ham, either with or without an SKCC number, or a ShortWave Listener, you are invited to participate in this sprint in the SWL category. Here are the basics:
| 1) If you copy both sides of a QSO you can count that as two QSOs. |
| 2) Follow the rules that apply to hams for counting multipliers and C/T bonus points. |
| 1) Enter in the SWL category. |
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2) If you are a ham, enter your call sign. If you are not a ham but have a unique SWL club identification, enter that as your call sign. If you do not have such an identification, enter your last name. Please note, it should be just a one word identification. |
| 3) For SKCC number, if you have one, enter it else enter SWL. |
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4) Enter your counts for QSOs, Multipliers, Cs and Ts as determined by the rules given above. You are not eligible for the Extra bonus points for operating QRP. |
The theme for the sprint is "Boat Anchors". Participants are encouraged to go on the air using some boat anchor equipment. For the purpose of this sprint a "Boat Anchor" is loosely defined as a transmitter or receiver that has some, or all, tube components. You can claim extra bonus points if you have made AT LEAST TWO CONTACTS while you were using a boat anchor. Go by the following:
15 Extra bonus points if your rig has a mix of tube and solid state components.
25 Extra bonus points if your rig uses only tube components.
In the optional photo submit you can show us your rig and tell us about it.
As is always with the SKCC sprints, the themes are presented as activities to generate a little more fun during the sprint. If, for whatever reason you can not meet the requirements of the theme, you are still welcome to participate in the sprint.
*** SPECIAL NOTICE ***
This sprint will also mark the start date of a new SKCC DX award and it should provide a good opportunity to start racking up some QSOs/Countries toward that award.
Click here:http://www.skccgroup.com/dx/ for details on this new award.
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The Special SKCC Member for the May 10, 2009 WES is Martin (IK2RMZ), SKCC#5278. He will be operating from Ispra, Italy. He will start early on 40m and later from around 1800-2000 UTC you might find him on 20m, 14030-14050 kHz. when he will also be particpating in
the EUCW Fratinizing CW QSO Party.
Since it is a WES you are welcome to spot his location on any of the web spotter pages.
The theme for the sprint is "It's Not My Usual Antenna". The weather should be nice for getting outdoors and putting up a new antenna to try out. You can use a proven design, or a modification of a known design, or dream up something yourself. You can use commercially available parts but please no complete antenna kits. Put up the antenna before the sprint and use whatever test equipment you want to "tune it up". You can go on the air with it beforehand with as many QSOs you want to verify that it works and determine if you need to make adjustments to improve its performance. You can make more than one new antenna and switch between them during the sprint. If you find out during the sprint that the new antenna is not working out, you can go back to your regular antenna.
On the results submit form you can claim a special bonus of 15 points if you made at least ONE contact with a new antenna but 25 points for more than one contact. In the optional photo submit you can show us your creation. In the soapbox describe how it was made and tell how it performed in case others want to duplicate it.
As is always with the SKCC sprints, the themes are presented as activities to generate a little more fun during the sprint. If, for whatever reason you can not meet the requirements of the theme, you are still welcome to participate in the sprint.
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The April 12, 2009 WES will feature Rob (G4LMW) SKCC# 4454C as the Special SKCC Member. Note that it is after midnight at Rob's QTH (Berkshire, UK) when the WES starts. He will put in a little time on 40/80m at the start. Then around 1300 UTC you might find him on 20m and again around 2100 UTC on the lower bands. Check the K3UK sked page for spots.
On April 25, 2009, the Cornish Radio Amateur Club from the UK will run a special event in celebration of Marconi's birthday. So as a tribute to Marconi our WES this month will provide for an extra bonus of points when you submit your results.
On your notepad write: "Guglielmo Marconi, April 25, 1874". As you work stations during the WES, use the call letters from the station to cross off the letters and numbers in the name and birthdate. Use each letter/number from a call sign only once, unless you work the same station on another band. When you submit your results at the end of the sprint, give yourself 5 extra points for each letter/number you have crossed off.
Visit the International Marconi Day website here:
IMD Homepage
In addition to the Extra bonus points, the standard scoring rules apply and that means you can claim a 25 point bonus for each band that you work Rob on.
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The March 8, 2009 WES will feature Fred (VE3FAL) as the Special SKCC Member. Although Fred likes to work QRP he will work the sprint as QRO at 50 watts into a loop antenna and be pounding away on his Kent straight key. You are likely to find him on 40m and 80m but you can check the K3UK sked page for spots.
The standard scoring rules apply and that means you can claim a 25 point bonus for each band that you work Fred on.
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The February 8, 2009 WES will feature John (G0RDO) as the Special SKCC Member. John is a frequent user of the K3UK sked page so you might find out what he is up to during the sprint by checking there. Remember, the 24 hour WES does allow the use of internet sked pages. The standard scoring rules apply and that means you can claim a 25 point bonus for each band that you work John on.
The theme for the sprint is the traditional Junkbox Key Sprint. The idea is to put together a key from stuff you find in your junkbox and go on the air with it. The emphasis is on uniqueness and imagination rather than craftsmanship. The photo submit place is where you can show off your creation.
If you build something that doesn't work right, use whatever key you want. You don't even have to try building a key to participate. Have fun.
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The January 11, 2009 SKCC sprint (WES) will feature Walt (LW3EX) as the Special SKCC Member for the sprint. Walt has been very active in SKCC, particpating in many of the sprints, and engaging in numerous non-contest chats with other SKCC members. As the Special SKCC Member for this sprint there will be a special bonus of 25 points for each band you work him on. This is in addition to the 10 points for his Tribune status.
Walt will work 20m, 15m, and 10m and use the K3UK sked page to announce his whereabouts on the bands.
The general rules and standard scoring given below also apply, however, since this sprint occurs during K3Y, you should be made aware of the following:
> If you contact a K3Y station you should use the SKCC NUMBER of the K3Y operator to determine if is a duplicate and count it accordingly. So a QSO with K3Y/2 operated by K2ABC and later, one with K3Y/2 operated by K2XYZ are not duplicates and can both be counted. To encourage making contact with K3Y stations there will be a "special bonus" of 10 points for each countable K3Y contact. You will need to keep a tally for that and enter the total points on the submit form. The special bonus points for these contacts is on top of the points you would otherwise get for that contact.
If you are operating as K3Y during the sprint you can count those QSOs for the sprint as though you are using your own call. Use your own call on the submit form. Do NOT use K3Y.
Eligibility:
You do not have to be an SKCC member to participate. All participants must use a manual key (straight key, sideswiper or bug) unless granted an exception by SKCC.
Suggested Frequencies:
The frequencies listed below are those most frequented by SKCC members and are where you are likely to make contact. Look around. Just make sure you are operating on a frequency allowed by your license class.
| 160 m, 1820 kHz | 80 m, 3550 kHz | 40 m, 7055 and 7114 kHz | 20 m, 14050 kHz |
| 15 m, 21050 kHz | 10 m, 28050 kHz | 6 m, 50090 kHz |
Bands other than those specified above are NOT permitted. 40 m counts as one band.
The use of the K3UK sked page or similiar aids IS allowed for WES.
Exchange:
The minimum exchange of data must include RST, QTH, NAME, and SKCC#. Please be realistic with RST, don't just give 599 because you have to. If you do not get a signal report you are obliged to ask for one.
QTH info is needed to count multipliers so it must be unique. USA stations should send the two character state code for QTH. Canadian stations should send the two character province code. All other countries can send the 3-alpha country code found here:
http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/codes/country.htm
Here is an example: NT9K DE K2RFP HR 589 NY - DICK 2099T - BK
The use of cut numbers for RST and SKCC# is not recommended for the first pass of the data but may be used in a repeat.
Scoring:
Score = (Total QSO points x Total multiplier Points) + Total Bonus Points