Objectives
The 30CW QSO Party has the following objectives:
- Increase 30m CW activity
- Increase Rubber Stamp QSO activity (RSN, Name, QTH, Ant, PWR, Key)
- Increase membership of all CW clubs (QTT followed by Club and Membership Number)
- Increase awareness of noise levels and their impact on amateur radio communication
- Increase use of frequencies across the band and not only in specific club Centers of Activity
Participation
Any amateur radio station permitted use of 30m CW can participate. Those who do not belong to any CW Club can also participate without use of QTT. All permitted powers are applicable.
QSO Format
This is not a contest and there are no prizes. This is normal QSO activity of any duration but NOT of the "5NN TU" style. To allow for international contacts and to encourage newcomers to CW, the "Rubber Stamp" format with a few additional recommendations: Exchanges should include an honest signal report (ideally RSN, see below), name, QTH, QTT followed by Club(s) and Membership Number(s), and on the second over PWR, ANT, KEY before closing with "77".
RSN Report
In today's world of HF amateur radio communication the T for tone quality report in the RST system, is superfluous. A more meaningful N for the current local noise level (S1-S9) can be included in an RSN report. The use of RSN aids in understanding the impact of noise at the remote station relative to your signal strength as well as the growing problem of RF noise levels around the world.
Summary
30m QSO Party any day any time on 30m in CW near 101xx kHz where xx is the current date, or alternatively in the "Top 9" (10121-10130kHz)*. Normal CQ calling, no awards. QSO should include honest RSN signal report, name, QTH, "QTT" followed by any previous amateur or other service callsign used, or any CW club and your membership number therein. On the next over you may send PWR, ANT and type/model of key. RSN is encouraged for signal reports, where "N" is your local noise level from 1-9, as this provides a meaningful understanding in todays context of noise levels and their impact on HF radio communication. QSO are ended with "77" meaning "Long Live CW and wishing you many happy CW QSO".
Background
The 30m QSO Party is an activity to encourage use of the 30m CW band. 30m is allocated to the Amateur Radio Service on a Secondary basis, with the Fixed Service having Priority.
Contests are not allowed on 30m to avoid QRM on this narrow band where we are secondary users. 30CW.Net (30m CW Activity Group) was set up to protect 30m CW interests. Please consider joining 30CW, it is currently free, and you receive a membership number.
The 30m QSO Party takes place on any day at any time on 30m in CW mode. To make it easier to find stations, and to vary the center of activity each day, it takes place X kHz above band edge, or nearby, where X is the date. For example on the 12th, near 10112.
Normal CQ calling procedures should be observed. There are no awards and the encouraged format is a relaxed QSO in which during the first over each station exchanges an honest signal report, name, QTH, and "QTT" followed by any past amateur radio or other service callsigns used, or any CW club and your membership number therein.
On the second over you are encouraged to send your power, antenna and type and/or model of Morse key.
The "RSN" system is encouraged for signal reports, where "N" is your local noise level from 1 to 9, as this provides a meaningful understanding in todays context where noise is a more important factor than tone quality and to aid in understanding of noise levels experienced by radio amateurs and its impact on the radio communication.
QSO are ended with the greeting "77" which means "Long Live CW (Morse Code) and wishing you many happy CW QSO".
If you have comments or experiences to report, you are encouraged to do so on the 30CW.net forum. All who join 30CW.net have free access to the forums too, as well as much other useful information about 30m available on the menu "30m info".
Update: In line with the ICWC Top 9 Activity we now encourage the use of either 101xx where xx is the current date, or if that region is already busy, anywhere free in the top 9kHz of the CW-exclusive sub-band, i.e. 10121-10130kHz.
We hope to read your reports in the forum!
