The 60th annual NZART Doug Gorman Frequency Measuring Contest supported by the Wellington VHF Group will be held slightly later this year than usual on Monday 1st October 2012 at 2100 NZST.
The rules will be the same as last year based on feedback from contestants. Please read the rules carefully.
1. Listen to ZL6A on 3895 kHz LSB for instructions on the frequencies that will be used and the procedure to be adopted. Following the voice instruction an unmodulated carrier will be radiated on 3895 kHz for calibration and/or practice. This frequency will be within +/- 1 Hz of 3895 kHz. Measuring this frequency is not part of the contest but it is to encourage participation with simple equipment.
The contest itself will start at 2115 on the first frequency for five minutes, and every five minutes on a new frequency, for a total of five frequencies. All transmissions will be made within 5 kHz of 3895 kHz. Individual transmission start times may be delayed slightly due to equipment setup and adjustment.
Each transmission will be identified in 10 wpm Morse (CW) for about three minutes to allow the frequency to be located and will then remain key-down for the remaining minutes. At the end of the five minute period the transmission will cease. For station competing in the Ultra Category (see below) note that the last 10 seconds or so of carrier will be considered the reference frequency.
2. Read each frequency as accurately as possible. To qualify for an award it is essential to read at least three of the five frequencies. Only one entry will be accepted for each participant.
3. Post your entry to: Doug Gorman Frequency Measuring Contest, NZART, P0 Box 40-525, Upper Hutt.
4. Entries must be sent within seven days, together with details of equipment used and which section entered (John McKim Cup, Norm Edwards Shield, or Ultra Category). Entries postmarked after Monday 8th October 2012 will not be considered. Please include your call sign on the actual results entry as envelopes may be discarded.
5. Results
Participants may nominate which of the five frequencies they measured should be considered in their average score, with a minimum of three. The degree of accuracy will be judged by subtracting measurements from the actual transmit frequencies and averaging the nominated results. Do not ask the contest organizer to select your best frequencies.
Past results can be seen on here or by following the annual page links at the NZART website:
http://www.nzart.org.nz/activities/contests/
6. Awards
John McKim Cup for those using simple direct reading type of equipment. This includes a receiver using a calibrated dial or digital readout of kilohertz to one decimal place (100 Hz), or a simple commercial or homemade heterodyne type frequency meter (BC221, LM-10, etc).
Norm Edwards Shield for those using more sophisticated equipment. This includes receivers with digital readout of kilohertz to two or more decimal places (10 Hz or better) and computer methods, oscilloscopes, generators, etc, typically referenced to a local frequency standard (TCXO or ovened oscillator).
Ultra Category for measurements directly referenced to an atomic standard or GPS disciplined oscillator located at the participant's QTH. This does not include off air calibration to WWV, etc, during the contest.
Branch Award certificate to the branch with the lowest average of the three best competitors. If you wish to support your branch, state you branch number and name on your entry form.
Certificates will be provided to all entries with an average deviation of 100 Hz or better.
If you make readings during this activity, but do not wish to have your results published, or if you wish to comment please drop the contest organizers a line so we know how many people were interested.
73 de John ZL4JY