FT Roundup Rules
The FT Roundup has been discontinued. A new contest has been created to take its place. It is called the FT Challenge. The FT Challenge page is here.
Starting in 2019, the contest name has changed to FT Roundup. Contacts can be made on either FT4 or FT8.
1. Objective: Amateurs worldwide contact and exchange QSO information with other amateurs using FT4 or FT8 on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands. Any station may work any other station. Stations may be worked once per band regardless of mode (FT4 or FT8).
A. FT4 recommended sub-bands:
3.580-3.589
7.080-7.089
14.080-14.089***
21.080-21.089
28.080-28.089
Set the radio dial at the bottom of the sub-band and work stations on audio frequencies within the radio passband, typically 2.5-4 kHz wide. If a sub-band becomes crowded, move the radio dial frequency up in 3 kHz increments, as needed. (For example: 7.080, 7.083, and 7.086)
*** Please note that 14.080 Mhz is the standard “everday” FT4 20-meter frequency. In order to avoid confusion with non-contest stations, it may be better to use 14.083 Mhz.
B. FT8 recommended sub-bands:
3.590-3.599
7.090-7.099
14.090-14.099
21.090-21.099
28.090-28.099
Set the radio dial at the bottom of the sub-band and work stations on audio frequencies within the radio passband typically 2.5-4 kHz wide. If a sub-band becomes crowded, move the radio dial frequency up in 3 kHz increments, as needed. (For example: 7,090, 7.093, and 7.096)
C. JA sub-bands on 80 meters:
FT4: 3.570 MHz
FT8: 3.573 MHz
D. Please avoid International Beacon Project frequencies (14.100, 21.150, 28.500 MHz).
2. Date and Contest Period: First full weekend of December. Begins 1800 UTC Saturday, ends 2359 UTC Sunday (December 2-3, 2023).
2.1 Entrants may operate the entire 30-hour contest period but only the first 24 hours of operation are scored.
2.2 After the first QSO, up to two (2) off-time periods may be taken and they will not count in the 24-hour scoring period.
3. Entry Categories:
3.1 Single Operator Unlimited: The use of spotting assistance or automated, multi-channel decoders is permitted. 100 watts transmitter output or less. Designated as CATEGORY-POWER: LOW in the Cabrillo log file. HIGH power, above 100 watts, classifies log as CHECKLOG. QRP power, 5 watts or lower, classifies as LOW power.
3.1.1 All entrants are allowed only one transmitted signal at any given time. (SO2R is allowed but you cannot transmit on both radios during the same cycle.) Anyone found to be transmitting two signals at the same time will be reclassified as Checklog.
3.2 Multioperator Low Power: 100 watts transmitter output or less. Designated as CATEGORY-POWER: LOW in the Cabrillo log file. HIGH power, above 100 watts, classifies log as CHECKLOG. QRP power, 5 watts or lower, classifies as LOW power.
3.2.1 Includes those that receive assistance with logging or relief operators, etc.
3.2.2 Multioperator stations are limited to 6 band changes (maximum) in any clock hour.
3.2.3 The clock hour is from zero through 59 minutes.
3.2.4 Band changes are defined so that, for example, a change from 20 meters 15 meters and then back to 20 meters constitutes two band changes.
3.2.5 All entrants are allowed only one transmitted signal at any given time.
4. Exchange:
4.1 United States: Signal report and State (except KH6 and KL7).
4.2 Canada: Signal report and Province.
4.3 DX: Signal report and consecutive serial number, starting with 001 (including KH6 and KL7).
5. Scoring:
5.1 QSO Points: Count one point for each completed QSO.
5.2 Multipliers: Each US state (except KH6 and KL7) plus the District of Columbia (DC), Canadian provinces/territories: NB (VE1, 9), NS (VE1), QC (VE2), ON (VE3), MB (VE4), SK (VE5), AB (VE6), BC (VE7), NWT (VE8), NF (VO1), LB (VO2), NU (VYØ), YT (VY1), PEI (VY2) and each DXCC country. KH6 and KL7 count only as separate DXCC entities.
5.2.1 Multipliers count only once (not once per band).
5.2.2 The US and Canada do not count as DXCC entities.
6. Reporting:
6.1 Seven (7)-Day Deadline: All entries must be postmarked or uploaded by 2359 UTC December 10, 2023.
6.2 Logs in Cabrillo format must be submitted via the FT Roundup Log Submission page at https://ftru.contesting.com/ftrusubmitlog.php. A logs received page can be found at https://ftru.contesting.com/ftrulogsrcvd.php.
6.3 The Cabrillo entries include the header and the complete QSO list.
7. Miscellaneous:
7.1 Entrants must operate within the limits of their chosen category when performing any activity that could impact their submitted score.
7.2 A different call sign must be used for each entry. Call signs are different according to the base call sign, e.g., AA5AU and AA5AU/4 are the same base call sign and therefore do not qualify as different call signs. Only the entrant’s call sign may be used to aid the entrant’s score.
7.3 Do not exceed the total output power limitation of the chosen entry category on any band. Total output power on any band at any time is measured at the output of the active amplifier(s).
7.4 Self-spotting or asking to be spotted is not permitted.
7.5 Remote operation is permitted if the physical location of all transmitters, receivers, and antennas are at the station location. A remotely operated station must obey all station license, operator license, and category limitations. The call sign used must be one issued or permitted by the Regulatory Authority of the station location.
7.6 Remote receivers outside the station location are not permitted.
7.7 Alternating CQs on two or more frequencies on a band is not permitted.
7.8 All requests for contacts, responses to calls, and copying of call signs and contest exchanges must be accomplished during the contest period using the mode and frequencies of the contest.
7.9 Correction of logged call signs and exchanges after the contest, by use of any database, recordings, email or other methods is not allowed.
7.10 Call signs logged must be the same as those exchanged over the air by the entrants during the QSO.
7.11 Only FT4 and FT8 modes are permitted.
7.12 QSO finding assistance is permitted in all entry categories.
7.13 Robotic operation is not allowed. That is, the operator must take some action for each QSO. However, transmissions within a single QSO may be automatically generated.
8. Awards: Certificates will be awarded to all participants and can be downloaded online when available. In addition, Top Ten Single Operators will be awarded a bottle of premium wine from Muns Vineyard mailed to a U.S. address.
9 Log Checking: All logs are checked using custom software and human judgment.
9.1 Duplicate contacts are removed with no additional penalty.
9.2 Contacts with an incorrect received exchange are removed with no additional penalty.
9.3 Call sign errors (bust) or call signs not in the other log (NIL) are removed and receive a penalty of the QSO point value for that contact.
9.4 Contacts that do not meet the band change rules for multi-operator entries are removed with no additional penalty.