Sprint FAQ

Here's a quick FAQ on our sprint contests:

• Any licensed ham can participate

• SWLers are encouraged to join in the fun (we've even created a special award just for them)

• The times and duration of each Sprint can vary, so check for updated rules on this web site and our Groups.IO Reflector

• Scores to be submitted within 4 days of the contest using the online form (submissions normally close Wednesday after the sprint).

• Prepare your log by looking at it in a text editor, and remove any non-essential lines. We just need your QSO entries, one QSO per line.
  (Required fields are Date, Time, Freq or Band, Callsign, QTH and comments sent and received -- Name, Grid, FH#, QRP if applicable)

• We prefer cabrillo format, next - plain text, or comma delimited text, last resort is adif file (those contain a lot of unnecessary data - if you can just export the required data, it is appreciated).

• To copy and paste your log, open your text log in a text editor like Notepad, highlight and copy it all (Crtl-C), then paste it into the form submission text area (Crtl-V).

• CONTEST EXCHANGE:  FH #, STATE/PROVINCE/COUNTRY, GRID

  • Please see specific sprint page for special exchange requirements.

• Points are usually awarded as follows, although there may be different rules for certain sprints. 

• ALWAYS CHECK THE CONTEST PAGE FOR UP TO DATE RULES:

  • 3 QSO points are usually awarded for a QSO with any FHC member, 1 QSO point for non-member contact.

  • 2 additional QSO points are awarded with contact made by or with a QRP station.

  • You get one multiplier for any contact in a state, province, or DXCC country. If you work that station on multiple bands, you still get QSO points, but you don't get another multiplier.  (Example: If I work new member Phil AI4OF (FH1004) in FL on 20, 40, and 80 meters (as I did in the Flash Sprint) I get credit for 3 member QSOs, and 1 multiplier.)

  • Bonus points are awarded for meritorious results.  Again, check the Contest Page for details each month.

• 160 - 10 meters, no WARC bands.

• 100 watts limit

• Special callsign, WW1FHC, may be awarded for use to the U.S. club member with the top score in the most recent Sprint. 

• (We are exploring a way to get non-U.S. stations use of the callsign, or of creating special callsigns for Canada, England, and other countries in the future).

  • So that as many members can get the opportunity to use WW1FHC, no member may use the callsign more than once every three months.

  • This rule goes into effect with the January Sprint.  Watch this web site and the Groups.io Reflector for more information.

  • Contacts made as WW1FHC do not count towards any Awards for your own callsign.  (You are allowed, of course, to switch to your own callsign during the QSO to record the contact for yourself, if you wish.)

• And, oh yes, only real ham radio contacts are allowed (no Hamsphere, Echolink, or other Internet contacts - RF must be involved!)

• If the station sends a FHC# number as part of their exchange, they count as a club member QSO, if they don't or send NONUM count them as a non-club QSO.

• If the station sends QRP as part of their exchange, it counts for extra QSO points, so keep track of those too.