This contest, to be held concurrent with the CQ World-Wide VHF Contest, is to encourage amateurs in and near Rhode Island to learn the basics of contest operating, provide a concentrated time to make QSOs on 2-Meter FM Simplex, and expand the scope of their VHF operating beyond that needed for repeater operation.

Time:
Saturday, July 18, 2 PM Local to Sunday, July 19, 5 PM Local to coincide with the CQ Contest.

Focus Hours:
To concentrate activity, stations are urged to especially operate during these focus hours:
Saturday: 5 PM to 8 PM Local
Sunday: 1 PM to 5 PM Local
Object:
To work as many stations as possible on 2-meter FM simplex in as many different Rhode Island cities and towns, neighboring states, and grid squares as you can.

Frequencies:
(a) Operate FM simplex frequencies in accordance with the ARRL Band Plan as follows: Most popular – 146.58 MHz, 146.55, 146.49. Next most popular: 146.46, 146.43, 146.40. If activity warrants, spread out to: 147.42, 147.45, 147.48, 147.51. 147.54, 147.57.
(b) Do not operate on repeater frequencies or 146.52 the National Calling Frequency.
(c) Be a considerate operator and not monopolize a given channel to the detriment of others.

How to Get Started:
Call “CQ Ocean State” or answer someone else’s call.

What Do I Say?
The required QSO information for exchange purposes is –
1. Your callsign
2. Your RI city or town (see list of RI cities/towns) or name of neighboring state
(town not required for out-of-state contacts)
3. 4-digit Grid Square (see explanation further on)
You may exchange names if desired but it need not be logged.

Entry Categories:
1. Single-Operator BASE station – one operator at his/her fixed home location.
2. Single-Operator PORTABLE – same as 1 but operating portable like from a hilltop.
3. Multi-Operator – 2 or more operators from either a base or portable location.
4. Mobile/Rover – a complete mobile station operates from 2 or more RI cities/towns.
Stations may be re-worked from each new RI city/town. These stations sign
“/Rover” after their callsign. For driving safety, 2 operators/drivers are permitted.
Note: There are no category breakdowns by power level, antenna height, age, etc.



Scoring:
QSO points – Count two (2) points for each complete QSO. Duplicate contacts
do not count.
Multiplier – The TOTAL multiplier = the number of different RI cities/towns worked
(maximum of 39) + number of different states worked (not counting RI) +
number of different grid squares worked. Bonus Points – Add 100 points to your final score for working the CTRI club call,
WA1RR, and an additional 100 points for making any contacts on battery, generator, solar, etc. power. Maximum bonus points = 200.
Note: CTRI club call, WA1RR, will operate each of the focus hours from a different location on 147.42 MHz to enable everyone the chance for the bonus points. WA1RR may be re-worked each time it is in a new location, just as though it were a rover station, but for only 100 total bonus points.
FINAL SCORE = (Total QSO Points X Total Multiplier) + Bonus Points
Miscellaneous:
1. Use only one callsign per entry per station, except family members who share a station.
2. A rover station may use only one callsign.
3. Soliciting contacts during the contest on repeaters, e-mail, telephone, etc. is not in
keeping with the spirit of the challenge.

Awards:
Certificates will be issued to top scoring entrants in each category per geographical area. Based on the level of competition, overall category winners will be considered for certificate mounted plaques. CTRI CG members are not eligible for awards.

Log Entry:
1. Log entries must be received by September 1, 2009.
2. A log entry contains the following: Date; time in Universal Coordinated Time (EDST + 4); station worked; RI city/town or state; grid square.
3. A summary contains: Your name, call, and address; entry category; score calculation; and this statement: “I have observed all rules of the contest and have operated my station in accordance with FCC rules.”
4. Log and summary forms may be downloaded from the “Ocean State 2-Meter FM Simplex Challenge” link on www.wa1rr.org.
5. Entrants are strongly encouraged to submit an electronic log in MS Word or MS Excel format as an e-mail attachment to: ctri2mchallenge at cox dot net (put in proper format).
6. Paper logs may be sent to: CTRI 2-Meter Challenge, 48 Shannock Road, South Kingstown, RI 02879.
7. Results will be posted on the CTRI website: www.wa1rr.org.
8. Indicate if you want your log entry to be scored and entered also in the CQ WW VHF Contest for listing in CQ Magazine (recommended).

RI City/Town Abbreviations:
1. For logging purposes, entrants are encouraged to use these 3-letter abbreviations for RI cities and towns (Total of 39) –
Barrington BAR Hopkinton HOP Portsmouth POR
Bristol BRI Jamestown JAM Providence PRO
Burrillville BUR Johnston JON Richmond RIC
Central Falls CLF Lincoln. LIN Scituate SCI
Charlestown CHN LittleCompton LCN Smithfield SMI
Coventry COV Middletown MID So. Kingstown SKT
Cranston CRA Narragansett NAR Tiverton TIV
Cumberland CBL New Shoreham BLI Warren WRN
E.Greenwich EGR Newport NEW Warwick WAR
E. Providence EPR No. Kingstown NKT W. Greenwich WGR
Exeter EXR No. Providence NPR West Warwick WWK
Foster FOS No. Smithfield NSF Westerly WES
Glocester GLO Pawtucket PAW Woonsocket WOO
2. Villages and places which are parts of incorporated cities and towns, such as Greenville, Hope Valley, Peace Dale, etc. do not count and should not be used in the contest exchange.
3. Use 2-letter out-of-state abbreviations: MA, CT, NY, etc.

Grid Square Information:
Grid squares are 2° longitude x 1° latitude squares designated with 2-letters and 2-numbers, such as FN41. You can find your grid square on:
http://www.arrl.org/locate/locate.html.
Here are some general guidelines that may help in case you work someone who does not know their grid square:
A. Almost all of RI is FN41. The exception is a sliver across the top of the state that goes right through Woonsocket. North of the 42nd parallel and into Massachusetts is FN42.
B. Southeastern Mass. and most of Cape Cod is also FN41. The exception is the extreme eastern Cape in Chatham, Orleans, Eastham – east of longitude 70° is FN51 (rare!).
C. Western Massachusetts, west of longitude 72°, is FN32.
D. Eastern Connecticut, east of longitude 72°, is FN41 (same as most of RI). This includes Mystic, Stonington, Voluntown, Danielson, Putnam, etc.
E. Almost all of the rest of Conn. is FN31.
F. Long Island is FN30, except Montauk Point which is FN41.