I have created a new event for FISTS and newer CW ops.
PROVISIONAL: LISTEN FOR LEARNERS 2018
DESCRIPTION The idea is for older hands to work newcomers. We encourage members with less than ONE years' membership of FISTS to call during the periods stated. This is not an award; it's a simple challenge.
DATES and
TIMES Every day, February 2018. Times : 0000, 0300, 0600, 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100. All times Zulu. FIVE minutes calling period.
BANDS Operation only on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, & 10m bands.
FREQUENCIES FISTS Centres of Activity. Please spread around both calling and listening.
EXCHANGE The minimum exchange is:
FISTS member number (if applicable).
GENERAL New members of less than 1 year in FISTS to call CQ FISTS (LFL if you wish). Established members, 1 year or more, to listen during the periods H15 to H20 and H45 to H50 and reply to newcomers. Established QSOs are not expected to cease and if you forget the activity and call CQ, never mind. Members can submit reports of numbers worked, soap-box comments etc. etc. The aim is simply to get a density of newcomers calling and of old hands listening so that newcomers get a decent QSO from an 'understanding' operator! To benefit all operators, if calling traffic volume is high please try to QSY. Newcomers remember, the CoA is only a CENTRE. Feel free to call around.
Please email David G4YVM with any questions: link text
SCORING Points awarded 1 per QSO to beginners and 1 per QSO exceeding 15 minutes to older hands (of more than 1 years' membership). POINTS AWARDED FOR MEMBER:MEMBER QSO ONLY.
LOGS Send in your entry no later than the 7th of April and include your callsign, name, and email address (if you have one).
Log formats:
You must put this in your log's 'Comment' (or similar) field: LFL
The free FISTS Log Converter program
http://fists.co.uk/flc for Windows is recommended for creating and submitting logs quickly and easily.
Excel, Calc, CSV (comma-separated values), or TSV (tab-separated values) files. The first row/record in the file must include these exact column names although they don't need to be in this order:
QSO_Date, Call, Freq, Time_On, Time_Off, FISTS, Mode, Points, Comment
Example:
2018/03/01,G4LHI,7.027,15:05,15:23,2219,CW,1,LFL
'QSO_Date', 'Time_On', & 'Time_Off' are UTC.
'Freq' is in MHz and must be a decimal number only, e.g. 7.027
'FISTS' must either be blank or contain a FISTS member number only, e.g. 8385
'Mode' must be CW
'Points' can contain a number or be left blank, e.g. 1
'Comment' must include LFL, e.g. Nice QSO LFL
ADIF files. These can be ADI (text) files or ADX (XML) files and must include the fields named above.
Other file formats may be acceptable - please ask.
If you don't have access to email, you can use official FISTS Activity paper log sheets; please ask and we will post you a set.
The email address for entries is link text.