Lantern Battery Challenge^©
Operating Parameters September 2014

Call them rules

Entry Form • Results Summary Form

The sixth NVARC Lantern Battery Challenge will start in October. This year we are going back to our roots. So read on. Last year we added a bonus point system for DX contacts. But this year we will return to a straight QSO total scoring. This based on the feedback on the system we used last year. The final score for this year’s Lantern Battery Challenge will be just the total number of QSOs.

We will be using the same lantern battery packs as last year. The batteries will be made up of nine (9) lantern battery cells as in past years. The entry fee will be $15 as last year to cover the cost of the batteries and provide a little extra for the prizes. The sign up period will close shortly after the September meeting. If you can’t make the September meeting please see me or a board member to register for this year’s event. Now they say the devil is in the details. So here are the revised Operating Parameters for the 2014/20154 NVARC Lantern Battery Challenge. There are some minor changes so be sure and review them.

Activity Period

The 2014/2015 Lantern Battery Challenge will run from the end of the October meeting, on October 16^th, till 0001 UTC March 3 10^th, 2015. Note the change. This will allow operation in the ARRL SSB DX contest this year.

Bands

All contacts must be made on the normal contest bands of 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, and 6 meters.

Modes of Operation

There are three modes of operation, CW, SSB (including AM), and Digital (This mode lumps all digital modes such as RTTY, PSK, JT-65, JT-9 and any of the other so called “sound card” modes together.

Classes of Entry

There are really twelve.

1. Mixed mode is operating more than one of the three primary modes, CW, SSB, and Digital.
2. CW
3. SSB includes AM
4. Digital, note the computer and display do not need to run on the battery for this mode. Only the radio.
5. Transmit only mode. This mode allows the use of a line powered receiver. Only the transmitter is required to be battery powered.
6. Crystal controlled transmitter. This is the same as 5 above except the transmitter is crystal controlled. This is for radios like the Tuna Tin and Rock Mite transmitters. Pulling the frequency of the crystal is permitted. You can use as many crystals as you have.

Now in addition to these six operating modes there are two antenna classes as explained next. The modes of operation and the two antenna classes combine to provide 12 entry categories.

Antennas - There are two classes of Antennas

General class

Any and all types of antennas with no part of any antenna used for operating in the Lantern Battery Challenge higher than 55 feet above average ground.

Unlimited class

The Unlimited class consists of all other antennas. The purpose of this is to try and level the field between competing stations.

Location

Contacts may be made from anywhere. Fixed, portable, or mobile, just as long as the same battery must be used for all contacts.

Logs

Logs must be submitted with a contact summary sheet (form to be supplied later) at the end of the event. Logs can be readable paper, original or a copy. Electronic logs must be readable with available software in an easy and convenient form. If we can’t read it, the entry will be set aside. Logs must contain date and time of contact, station call, mode, frequency or band and contact information. If the contact is made in a contest the contest exchanges is required in the log. For just general QSOs the signal report, name, and state, or province are suggested but not required. For DX QSOs only name and report are required. Note for contacts with stations operating in a contest or DX mode follow the procedure the station is using. Logs are due at the end of the March club meeting. We will try and make arrangements for those that cannot attend the March club meeting to submit their log on line or via US mail.

Scoring

The final score will be the number of valid QSOs. Any and all questions regarding scoring or other event “rules” will be resolved by the NVARC board and their decision will be considered final.

Awards

Awards will be decided by the board upon review of the entries. We guarantee all the fame you can carry home. But we may come up with something like cups, CDs or books. Certainly certificates will be awarded. The idea that everybody that enters is a winner comes to mind. Awards will be made at the April 2014 or later NVARC club meeting.

Entrance Fee

The entrance fee is to cover the cost of the battery provided by the club. It is $15.00. This is just to cover the cost of the batteries and maybe have a little left over for awards. The fee along with a completed application form is payable at the September meeting and must be paid by the close of the application period to receive a battery. Members that cannot make the September meeting should contact me or a board member to try and make arrangement to pay your fee and submit your entry form. Checks and application forms can be mailed to the club PO box in Pepperell. We will hold the entrance fee payment period open till Sept 30^th to give members that can’t make the meeting an opportunity to pay their fee. All entries must use the official battery pack and pay the required fee.

Event Spirit

The spirit of the operating event (we are reluctant to call it a contest) is to work as many contacts as possible on the limited amount of energy in the battery. Working stations with another rig and asking them to stand by and work you with your QRP rig is not in the spirit of the event.

Equipment

It should be obvious that trying to run any of the modern transceivers on the battery will be short indeed. It will require a low drain radio. There are of course many of this type of radios available. The FT 817 and KX3 are examples. But radios that in general have complicated modern receivers with displays require a lot of current in the receive mode. Even transceivers like the Elecraft K2 and KX3 that have a low current drain mode draw 120 to 150 mills of current and will eat up the energy in the battery in short order. With the small battery it is best to have a plan. Use headphones and keep the transmit power down. Turn off the receiver when you are not actively listening to save battery capacity. I suggest disconnecting the battery when not in use. The battery will probably start to fail in the transmit mode where the current required is higher. Giving the battery a rest to recover can stretch the capacity. Low power rigs with simple low drain receivers will probably have an advantage but that remains to be seen. A big part of this is experimental.

There are those that will say, “Well I don’t have a radio and I am not going to plunk down the Big Bucks for some fancy low power radio kit or radio. Well that is one reason for the Transmit only mode. Low power, low drain, simple CW transmitters are little more than a week end project, and they will get you in on the fun. A one watt crystal controlled transmitter only takes two transistors and can be built in an evening. I have a few boards and we can scrape up the parts for those that may be interested in building their own little transmitter to get in on the fun. (If you are interested, get in touch with me).

Operation with different equipment is encouraged. The only requirement is that any equipment must be powered by the battery supplied. So you are free to try as many different rigs as you like during the event. The same is true of antennas as long as they are in the same class. So it is a good time to experiment with antennas.

Changes

The NVARC Board may modify or issue new event rules at any time it feels necessary to the conduct of the operating event.

Main Objective of the Lantern Battery Challenge - Have Fun!

Issued Sept. 17th 2009, revised Sept 2^nd 2011, Sept 7^th 2012, Sept 10^th 2013, and Sept 4^th 2014
73 Bob W1XP