::.  RULES ARS Spartan Sprint Spartan Sprints are two-hour contests sponsored by the Adventure Radio Society, held the first Monday of every month. They are designed to encourage development and testing of lightweight radio gear suitable for outdoor human-powered QRP expeditions. The Sprints are virtual expeditions. They allow a wide range of people to participate in this exciting branch of amateur radio, even if practical obstacles (like winter weather, health problems, or schedule conflicts) would make an actual expedition impossible.

MORE INFO Text-only page ARS Web Site Time zone conversions The official U.S. time

Announcing:

ARS announces each Sprint in three ways: Through The ARS Sojourner By posting to the QRP-L Internet Group By direct email to each ARS member Most sprinters will operate from their home locations, but portable locations may be used. Transmitter output is limited to five watts or less.

Date/Time:

MONTHLY SPARTAN SPRINTS 2005 (held the first Monday of each month) January 3 (Jan 4, 0200-0400 UTC) February 7 (Feb 8, 0200-0400 UTC) March 7 (Mar 8, 0200-0400 UTC) April 4 (Apr 5, 0100-0300 UTC) May 2 (May 3, 0100-0300 UTC) June 6 (Jun 7, 0100-0300 UTC) July 4 (Jul 5, 0100-0300 UTC) August 1 (Aug 2, 0100-0300 UTC) September 5 (Sep 6, 0100-0300 UTC) October 3 (Oct 4, 0100-0300 UTC) November 7 (Nov 8, 0200-0400 UTC) December 5 (Dec 6, 0200-0400 UTC) In the Eastern time zone, start at 9PM and end at 11PM, local time. In the Central time zone, start at 8PM and end at 10PM, local time. In the Mountain time zone, start at 7PM and end at 9PM, local time. In the Pacific time zone, start at 6PM and end at 8PM, local time. When the U.S. is observing Standard Time, this slot is: 0200 to 0400 UTC When the U.S. is observing Daylight Time, this slot is: 0100 to 0300 UTC

Frequencies:

The frequencies will be: 3560 kHz+-, 7040 kHz+-, 14060 kHz+-, 21060 kHz+-, and 28060 kHz+-. (You may operate any number of bands - your choice.) You can take credit for working the same station on a second, third, or fourth band.

Mode:

CW.

Exchange:

Exchange RST, SPC (state, province or country) and power output.

Call:

If you choose to call CQ, use the format "CQ SP", or "CQ QRP TEST".

Scoring:

We report scores in two ways. The Skinny Division reports scores as a ratio of contacts to the weight of the station. The Tubby Division reports scores as the number of contacts. "Station Weight" is defined as the combined weight of: all transmitters, receivers or transceivers (which must include a complete enclosure with no exposed PCB circuitry or components) keys, keyers, paddles headphones or speakers power supplies (batteries, batteries holders, AC power supplies, solar panels, etc.) all interconnecting cables and connectors, up to, and including, the RF power output connector any computer connected to the radio That is, everything between the operator and the radio power output connector that is used during the Sprint. "Station Weight" does not include: antennas, tuners, towers, supports, feedlines and feedline connectors computers NOT connected to the radio You may report your weight to the nearest 10th of a pound, or, at your option, the nearest 100th of a pound. For stations weighing less than one pound, we recommend use of a U.S. Post Office scale and to the nearest 100th of a pound. We would like to motivate sprinters to develop and use radios that are packaged well enough for outdoor environments. Packaging is one of the legitimate elements of a great trail friendly radio, and we would like to see what kinds of packages are created by the remarkably creative Spartan Sprinters. We have the Skinny and Tubby divisions, and you are free to choose between a monster radio, or a trail-oriented one. If you go for the second choice, we are asking you to package it so that it could withstand the rigors of outdoor life.

Reporting:

Sprinters are strongly encouraged to use our automated contest reporting system, which can be found in The ARS Sojourner. Participants may also e-mail their sprint results directly to the ARS Contest Manager: E-mail: hjohnc@adelphia.net Please submit your results by Wednesday afternoon after each Spartan Sprint. Contest results are reported by Thursday on The ARS Sojourner, the QRP-L Internet Group, and in direct email to ARS members. If you email your results, please include the following: Your full name and callsign Date of the sprint Total number of completed QSOs for each band The weight of your station You may also want to add soapbox information, such as the equipment used, your operating location, interesting contacts, successes and challenges.

Important Spartan Sprint Rules Reminders:

You can reach our contest manager, John Huffman, NA8M, at hjohnc@adelphia.net You don’t need to be a member of ARS to participate in the Spartan Sprints, but we would welcome your interest in becoming a member. Inquiries may be directed to ARS’ membership chairman. His name and address are: Richard Fisher 1940 Wetherly Street RIVERSIDE, CA 92506 USA (e-mail KI6SN@aol.com)

Date of info: November 25, 2005	Source: ARS Web Site - Rules for the Spartan Sprints