10-10 QSO PARTY HANDBOOK

PURPOSE

This document provides information about operating the 10-10 QSO Parties. These events are held throughout the year and are designed to provide fun and to meet old, new and prospective 10-10 members around the world on the 10-meter amateur band.

ELIGIBILITY

QSO Parties are open to all amateurs with operating privileges on the 10-meter amateur band; however, logs will be accepted for awards only from current (paid-up) members as of the date of the event. Other logs received will be handled as check logs. Check logs are used to validate (check) other logs but do not qualify the sender for any awards. A QSO Party contact log submitted by an Amateur that intentionally submits erroneous contact information to cause errors on membership applications and awards will be considered an invalid log. Ten-Ten
will not accept any log of contacts from an Amateur who had his or her membership/1010 number revoked.

Inactive members can renew their dues electronically via the internet. See the 10-10 website www.ten-ten.org for details.

OPEN SEASON event logs will be accepted from all eligible amateurs.

WHEN ARE THE QSO PARTIES?

There are currently nine (9) QSO Parties held throughout the year. The Parties are: (2) Phone (SSB), (2) CW, (2) Digital, Open Season (Digital/PSK), Weak Signal (WSQP), and Sprint. The SSB, CW, Digital, Open Season and Weak Signal QSO Parties are 48-hour events. The Sprint is a 24-hour event held on the 10th of October (10-10) each year. Please consult the schedule listed at: www.ten-ten.org > On Air Activity QSO Parties > Schedule for exact dates as they change slightly each year.

WHAT DO I NEED TO OPERATE IN THE QSO PARTIES?

10-10 QSO Parties are intended to be fun events and not high-pressure contests. Quite often during the event, you will hear stations quit making contacts to have a rag chew or to assist a non-10-10 station with information about how to get their own number. This illustrates the overall purpose for the QSO Party, to encourage non-members to join our group.

It should be emphasized that it is not necessary to have a station with large antennas or lots of power to enjoy the QSO Parties. Many stations are running low power and non-directional antennas.

Using a software logging program is a great assist when operating these events. The software combines logging and duping functions into one program. If manual logging and duping are used, it requires two separate paper devices to be used. When working many stations at a fast rate, it is very easy to log dupes without knowing it if you rely on paper logs/dupe sheets. Some examples of logging programs include: WIN1010, N3FJP, WINEQF*, 10QSOLogger, N1MM, and GenLog.

WHAT FREQUENCIES AND MODES ARE ALLOWED?

Sprint QSO Parties use all modes of operation in the 10-meter band. Phone (SSB, FM, & AM) use the phone segment of the band (28.300-29.700 MHz for E, A, & G; 28.300-28.500 MHz for N & T); CW use the 28.000-28.300 MHz segment, with consideration for the sub-bands conventionally assigned to digital operations, e.g., RTTY 28.095, PSK31 28.120, JT65 28.076, FT8 28.074, JS8/JS8CALL 28.078 and so on. Repeater, satellite, IRLP, EchoLink, or any other similar type of assisted contacts are NOT allowed. No matter your physical location, your QTH is the location of the transmitting antenna.

ENTRY CLASSIFICATION

There are five entry classifications: QRP, LOW POWER, HIGH POWER, CLUB, and MOBILE.

QRP: Includes single station operators and can also include OM/XYL teams or any families or groups of people using individual call signs and 10-10 numbers. CW/Digital/RTTY operations max 5 watts and Phone operations max 10 watts during the entire event.

 

LOW POWER: Same as QRP listed above except that output power for CW/Phone/Digital/RTTY operations is max 150 watts during the entire event.

 

HIGH POWER: Same as QRP listed above except that output power for CW/Phone/Digital/RTTY operations is greater than 150 watts during the event.

 

CLUB: In order to participate as a club in the 10-10 QSO Parties, the club must have a valid club station license issued by their National Licensing Authority and must have an active 10-10 membership. Club entries must include a list of call signs, names, and 10-10 numbers for all operators using the club call sign during the event. Club operations will take place from only one location using only one set of equipment. Club operators entering under a club entry may also enter an individual log for contacts made using their own call signs/10-10 numbers during the event.

MOBILE: There are various types of vehicles that qualify for the MOBILE classification including: car, truck, RV, SUV, motorcycle, boat, airplane, or any other mode of transportation. Use of a base station antenna system, amplifier, or commercial power is not allowed. Operation while your vehicle is parked across county lines, occupying more than one county, qualifies as multiple counties and contacts. Marine and aeronautical mobiles must be able to establish their county of operation. Safety is paramount while operating mobile. If you are unable to park near multiple county lines due to safety issues (i.e. on a bridge, freeway, etc.), please move to the nearest area which would provide the safest operating conditions and still be able to give out multiple counties. Duplicate entries are allowed when working from multiple counties. In addition to the normal log information provided, the county worked from and the county worked also must be included. Mobile stations will receive awards within their own category and will not be eligible for awards in the Individual or Top Ten in the World. Mobile entries only will be accepted for Winter and Summer Phone and 10-10 Sprint QSO Parties.

WHAT IS THE EXCHANGE?

For all QSO Parties except Open Season, the exchange is Call Sign, Name as copied over the air, QTH, and 10-10 Number. The Open Season, being a special digital event, exchange would be Call Sign, Name as copied over the air, QTH, 10-10 Number, 070#, and EPC# (if you have either of the 070 or EPC numbers).

QSO POINTS

10-10 members count as two (2) points and non-10-10 members count as one (1) point. Log non-10-10 stations with a zero (0) in the 10-10 number log position. The Open Season event scoring is slightly different. There are four (4) points possible with each contact. One point for each contact plus one point for each number that person may have such as 10-10 number, EPC#, and 070#. Any log showing 10% or more errors may be handled as a check log.

CHAPTER AFFILIATION – SCORE ASSIGNMENT

Entrants with Chapter Affiliation to any current Ten-Ten chapter may assign the entrant’s score to that chapter. QSO Party scores for OPEN SEASON and SPRINT may not be assigned.

AWARDS

Awards will be issued by the Certificate Manager for Top Ten Individual scorers in the World, the top individual scorer in each US Call Area (W0-W9), each DX country and for top QRP, LOW POWER, HIGH POWER, CLUB, MOBILE and CHAPTER. Electronic certificates will be sent to the 2nd and 3rd place scorers in these categories. An award will also be issued for working all 10 USA Call districts for the SPRINT QSO PARTY.

ANNIVERSARY AND MEET THE VOLUNTEERS EVENTS

These specialty events run from January 1st to December 31st each year. For the Anniversary event, submit a log of contacts with members that have the anniversary year contained in their membership number. Example: 2022 is the 60th anniversary of 10-10 International Net, Inc. Contact members with a ‘60’ in their 10-10 number (i.e. 60088, 75360). Each year the anniversary number changes. In the MEET THE VOLUNTEERS EVENT, submit a log of contacts with members listed in the 10-10 News as being a volunteer. One contact per volunteer is permitted regardless of mode. Logs shall be submitted at the end of each year in 10-10 number order, listing 10-10 number, call, name, date, QTH and mode.

Weak Signal QSO PARTY (WSQP)

This event was added to help promote digital activity on the ten-meter band. The event in no way affects or modifies the policies for other scheduled Ten-Ten events. All weak signal modes for this event include: FT/JT/JS8/JS8CALL and any future weak signal mode. No repeater, cross-mode or cross-band contacts allowed.

 

 

Primary suggested frequencies:

FT4 28.180

FT8 28.074

JT65 28.076

JS8/JS8CALL 28.078

 

Entry categories: QRP – Maximum 10 watts output. Low Power – Maximum 150 watts output.

 

Exchange: 10-10 members should send call sign, name, 10-10# and QTH (ST/Prov/Country). Received exchange should include normal exchange for FT/JT/JS8/JS8CALL modes and for extra points name, QTH and 10-10#. Scoring will be 1 point for contacts without a 10-10 number and three (3) points for contacts with a valid 10-10# exchange. NO MULTIPLIERS! All other normal rules apply. Logs shall be forwarded to the QSO Party Manager.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Refer to www.ten-ten.org > ACTIVITY for additional information on SCHEDULES, RULES and RESULTS. Any unanswered questions regarding QSO Parties and rules may be forwarded to the QSO Party Manager.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR QSO PARTY SCORE

Logs shall be forwarded to the QSO Manager as identified in the 10-10 News or on the 10-10 web site. It is strongly suggested that logs be sent as soon as possible after the close of the event. It is also recommended the DX logs should be sent either electronically or via AIR MAIL to insure they are received in time. Any logs received with a postmark date AFTER the deadline date will be handled as a check log. Any logs received more than 8 days after the entry deadline, regardless of the postmark, will be discarded. All logs may be sent via EMAIL.

You can submit your log electronically to tentencontest@ten-ten.org.

It is imperative that the following information be included on the cover sheet of all log submissions:

  1. Event entered

  2. Your Call Sign and Name

  3. Your 10-10 Number (if any)

  4. Entry Classification (Low Power, High Power, Club, QRP or Mobile)

  5. US Call Area (W0-W9 or DX Country)

  6. Chapter Score assignment (if applicable)

  7. Total Points with a 10-10 Number

  8. Total Points without a 10-10 Number

  9. Total Contacts and Points claimed

Log submissions are normally in Cabrillo format, but other formats will be accepted and must include the information listed above which is found on the standard cover sheet listed on the 10-10 web site. Many contest programs will prepare this form for you.

Dupe sheets are not required with an email entry.

Q95 (WIN1010) Formats are NOT ACCEPTABLE.

There are many ways to submit your score including: Paper Log, WIN1010 Software, N3FJP Software or other compatible contest software.

PAPER LOGS [including Cover Sheet, Log Sheet(s), and Dupe Sheet] should be sent to:

 

Dan Morris, KZ3T; 3162 Covington Way; Lenoir, NC 28645

 

WIN1010 SOFTWARE

If you are using the WIN1010 software, use the following steps for normal scoring submission:

  1. Make sure you have the contest loaded

  2. Click on FILE > Contest Print Menu

  3. A dialog box will pop up asking if you want to check logs. You can say ‘Y’ or ‘N’

  4. Choose Name from the drop down list at the lower left of the screen

  5. Click on the CABRILLO LOG (red) button or ASCII LOG if you are using an older version.

  6. Fill in the Cover Sheet information for your station

  7. Choose ‘Make CABRILLO’ at bottom right or ‘Make ASCII’ if using an older version

  8. Find your log file in WIN1010 directory and email to the QSO Party Manager

  9. Finished

N3FJP SOFTWARE Version 3.0 and above

If you are using the N3FJP 10-10 QSO Party software, use the following steps for printing a Cabrillo log:

  1. Click on FILE >WRITE CABRILLO (Contest Submittal) FILE

  2. Choose QSO Party name and fill out all appropriate information

  3. Click on ‘WRITE CABRILLO SUMMARY FILE’ at bottom of page

  4. Note file name (***.log) as It will be saved in the program directory

  5. Find the .log file and email to the QSO Party Manager

  6. Finished

N3FJP SOFTWARE Versions 2.9 and earlier

If you are using the N3FJP 10-10 QSO Party software, use the following steps for printing a Cabrillo log:

  1. Click on FILE > PRINT or WRITE FILES

  2. Choose QSO Party name and fill out all appropriate information

  3. Look for ‘WRITE ASCII FILE’ at bottom of page

  4. Click on ‘CABRILLO LOG FILE’ (it will save in the program directory)

  5. Find the .log and .dup files and email them to the QSO Party Manager

  6. Finished

IN CONCLUSION

The intent is to provide all 10-10 members and non-10-10 members with a fun activity while operating the QSO Parties. Encourage non-members to join 10-10 and spread the enthusiasm of our organization to other users on the 10-meter band.

 

Effective Date September 1, 2014

Updated Date May  3,  2024

 

 

 

 

 

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Updated May  3,  2024