CQ FE! - CW Fun Event Homepage

The CW Fun Event 3

Note: This event follows a different format from the previous CW Fun events 1 and 2. Read on.

This CW Fun Event has a little something in it for everyone. It is a 48 hour CW event that begins on February 25, 2012 at 0000 UTC and ends on February 26, 2012 at 2359 UTC. If you just want to get on the air and make a few CW contacts you can do that in this event. You don't even have to submit a score. If you do participate and submit a score you can take the simple way and just tell how many QSOs you made. If you want to qualify for bonus points you need to get a game card for the event and do a little record keeping. Although shortwave listeners (SWL) can not claim QSO points they can play along and claim bonus points if they have a game card.

Here is how it will work: Each game card is unique and consists of a PUBLIC word list, a PRIVATE word list, and instructions. The PUBLIC word list is used for sending during a QSO and the PRIVATE word list is used for copying.

The words that make up the PUBLIC word list is the same on all game cards BUT the order of the words in the list is different for each game card. The first word in the PUBLIC list is to be sent as part of the exchange in your first QSO. Your next QSO gets the next word in the list and so on. If you reach the end of the list, start over from the beginning of the list and continue as before. Within a QSO you can send the word as many times as needed to get a QSL or GUD CPY report from the other station.

The PRIVATE word list used with copying is a short list of words that are taken from the larger public list. Although the same words may appear on more than one game card there is enough variation to make it extremely unlikely that two game cards have identical private lists. Please do not give any clues during your QSOs or on any computer spotter pages as to what words you have on your private list. Let's not spoil the fun!

To claim bonus points for the event you keep count of how many times you hear one of your PRIVATE words being sent. It is a simple bonus if you hear the word being sent to someone else but a double bonus if it is being sent to you. The game card you get will have check spaces to keep track of your copying.

Since this event will focus on tradional methods of sending and receiving, the use of electronic keyers or keyboards for sending, or CW skimmers or decoders for copying, is not permitted. Use a straight key, sideswiper, or bug for sending and the decoder between your ears for receiving. You can use computer logging to keep track of things and you can use internet spotter pages to look for contacts and to announce your participation.

Although scores and a ranking list will be generated by the analysis program it is the intent to make this a fun event rather than a contest. Hopefully this event will provide a little fun for all participants.

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Get a Game Card

A game card is optional for participation in the event but you need one if you want to claim bonus points for copying. You do not have to be a licensed amateur radio operator to participate and claim copy bonus points. SWLs are welcome. To get a game card, enter your information in the form below and click the submit button. In a day or so you will receive via email your personal game card and information for the event. It is absolutely essential that you enter a valid email address to receive this information. You will want to print your game card and keep it handy as you operate in the event.

Sorry, the registration submit window is closed.

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Sending During The Event

To announce your participation in the "Fun Event" you can try calling CQ FE DE your call.
Suggested frequencies in kHz are centered around 3555, 7032 (EU), 7055, 7115, 14055, 21055 and 28055. Operation on the WARC bands for the event is not permitted.

If you are a radio operator with a game card, the first contact you make should be sent the first five letter "word" in your copy of the PUBLIC word list. This should be sent in the exchange after your name. For example, RST 589 NY DICK JTKLW BK

You should give an RST report so the other operator may be made aware that repeating the info may be helpful. Sending QTH info is optional. After logging your first QSO check off the PUBLIC word and get ready with the next word in the PUBLIC list for the next QSO.

You can count a second QSO with the same station on the same band provided that BOTH parties have had at least one QSO with some other station in between AND that BOTH parties have (new) words to send.

If you have a game card, but the person you contact doesn't, send the PUBLIC word anyway and move to the next word for the next QSO. If you contact someone who does not know about this event they may ask what the gibberish in your exchange is. You can send them to this web site for info.

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Copying During The Event

You can earn bonus points through the copying part of the event but only if you have a game card for the event. Since it does not involve your sending it does not matter if you are a licensed ham or not, SWLs with a game card can earn bonus points. As you tune around the bands, if you hear a word being sent to someone else that is on your PRIVATE word list make an "H" (for heard) on your game card next to that word. If a word on your word list is being sent to you during a QSO, put a Q on your game card next to that word. When it comes time to enter your score you will be asked to enter the total number of Hs and Qs.

Earning copy bonus points this way does encourage listening around and it does introduce an element of luck too. Hopefully it will make for a fun event.

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Scoring

Your score for the event will be determined from four factors as follows:

QSO Count	This is the number of stations you have contacted and exchanged some data with. You, and the other person, do not have to have a game card so exchanging words either way is not required for this count. Of course both parties must be licensed hams so this count will be zero for SWLs.
Simple Bonus	You must have a game card to earn bonus points. The Simple Bonus is the number of times you heard one of your PRIVATE words being sent to someone else during a QSO. On your game card this is the total number of H's you have recorded. This bonus can be claimed by any participant with a game card. (SWLs included.)
Super Bonus	The Super Bonus is the number of times YOU WERE SENT a word during a QSO that is on your PRIVATE word list. Since this requires that you be in an active QSO, this bonus is not available to SWLs. On your game card this is the total number of Q's you have recorded.
Jackpot Bonus	You can claim a Jackpot Bonus if ALL of the PRIVATE words on your game card were heard at least once. It is not restricted to QSOs that you had so it can be claimed by any participant with a game card.

The results analysis program will add the points together to arrive at your final score:

Score = QSOCount + Simple Bonus + 2 x Super Bonus + Jackpot Bonus

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Results Submit Form

After the event the submit window remains open until 2359 UTC on the Friday following the event. If you have entered your data and then discover an error you can re-submit your data again provided the submit window is still open. Your new data will overwrite your old data.

Sorry, the results submit window is closed.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Randy at KB4QQJ for providing web space for this venture and to Bill at NT9K for help with some of the technical aspects of setting it up. Both have also provided feedback and suggestions as I put it together. I hope all participants have as much fun with it as I have had enjoyment in bringing it to fruition.

Contact information