Tennessee QSO Party 2023 Rules
CONTEST PERIOD
1800z Sunday, September 3 until 0300z Monday, September 4, 2023
OBJECT
Stations outside of Tennessee work as many Tennessee stations in as many Tennessee counties as possible. Stations in Tennessee work everyone.
BANDS
All amateur bands are valid, with the exception of 60, 30, 17 and 12 meters.
MODES
- Phone-SSB (no repeater QSOs)
- CW
- Digital (Any digital mode that supports the required exchange)
EXCHANGE
RS(T) and Tennessee County, U.S. state, Canadian province/territory, or DXCC entity. (All radio equipment, including antennas, must be located within the county, state, province/territory or entity given in the exchange).
- Tennessee stations may work anyone
- Outside Tennessee stations work only Tennessee stations
- Stations may be worked once per band/mode
- Mobiles may be worked again if they change counties
CATEGORIES
- Fixed
- Single Op
- High, Low & QRP
- CW, SSB, Digital & Mixed
- Multi-Op
- High, Low & QRP
- CW, SSB, Digital & Mixed
- Single Op
- Mobile
- Single Op
- High, Low & QRP
- CW, SSB, Digital & Mixed
- Multi-Op
- High, Low & QRP
- CW, SSB, Digital & Mixed
- Single Op
- High power is more than 100W transmitter output
- Low power is 100W transmitter output or less
- QRP is 5W transmitter output or less
All Out-of-State entries compete in the Fixed categories.
All Tennessee portable operations compete in the Fixed categories.
Mobile stations must be self-contained and capable of legal motion while operating. Motion is optional. Single-Op Mobile may use a driver, but that person may not assist in the operation of the radio equipment.
SCORING
QSO Points:
3 points per QSO regardless of mode.
Repeater QSOs DO NOT count (this includes packet digipeaters). However, direct station-to-station packet contacts do count.
On all acceptable bands, CW and other digital modes count separately. For example, you can work W9WI on 3540 kHz CW; 3585 kHz Baudot RTTY; and 3820 kHz SSB, for three contacts on 80 meters. All digital modes besides CW are equivalent. If you work W9WI on 14085 kHz Baudot RTTY you cannot work him again on 14070 kHz FT8 for point credit.
Multipliers:
Out-of-State Stations – Multipliers accumulate on a per band basis. Multipliers are Tennessee counties (95 max/band). For example, if you work all 95 Tennessee counties on 40M and again on 20M you earn 190 multipliers.
Tennessee Stations – Multipliers accumulate on a per band basis. Multipliers are:
- Tennessee counties (95 max/band)
- U.S. states (49 max/band – do not count Tennessee as a state, District of Columbia counts as Maryland)
- Canadian provinces/territories (13 max/band: British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador, Yukon, NWT and Nunavut).
- DXCC entities (see ARRL DXCC list – less USA, Canada, Alaska & Hawaii — Do not count USA nor Canada as countries; Alaska & Hawaii count as states only).
Tennessee Mobile Stations – Tennessee mobiles may claim one multiplier for any Tennessee county from which they complete at least 10 QSOs if they do not earn a multiplier for that county otherwise.
Bonus Points:
All entrants may claim 100 bonus points for each QSO with TCG headquarters station K4TCG.
Tennessee mobile operators may claim 500 bonus points for each Tennessee county from which they complete at least 10 QSOs. All bonus points are added after the geographic multiplier.
CLUB COMPETITION
The Tennessee QSO Party offers club competition. There is no residency requirement for club participation, nor is there any requirement for entrants within a club to live in (or operate from) any particular geographic radius. A club need not have any formal structure; however, at least two members must submit scores. Entrants wishing their scores to count towards club competition must ensure the name of their club appears on their entry. (most contest software will take care of this automatically)
Clubs whose members are all inside Tennessee will participate in one competition; those whose members are all outside the state will compete with other outside-Tennessee clubs. If a club submits entries from both inside and outside Tennessee, they will be treated as two separate clubs.
The Tennessee Contest Group is not eligible for club competition.
WHERE TO LOOK
- CW: 1815, 3540, 7040, 14040, 21040, 28040
- Digital: 3585, 7085, 14085, 21085, 28085
- SSB: 1855, 3820, 7240, 14280, 21390, 28390
- VHF/UHF: 50.195, 144.195, 146.55, 223.50, 446.0
Where to listen for TN Counties by band & time:
- Check 15 meters on the half-hour.
- Check 10 meters on the hour.
- Check 6 meters at 1815, 1915, and 2015z.
- Check RTTY at 10 minutes after each hour.
AWARDS
- Certificates will be awarded to the three highest scoring Tennessee entrants in each category.
- Certificates will be awarded to the highest scoring entrant from each category in each U.S. state, Canadian province or territory and DXCC entity.
- Certificates will be awarded to the first-place Tennessee club, and the first-place outside-Tennessee club.
- A certificate will be awarded to the highest-scoring in-state mobile operated entirely by amateurs who don’t reside in Tennessee.
- Plaques and other prizes may be awarded at the discretion of TCG.
- All award certificates will be emailed as PDF files unless a printed version is requested. Be sure your current, accurate email is with your Cabrillo file entry.
Bonus station K4TCG and the TCG itself are not eligible for awards. Other awards may be given.
LOGS
Indicate band/mode, time, call worked, and QTH. Please include your call sign, category, club (if any), and county (if you’re in Tennessee). Don’t forget your mailing address; you might win something! Mobiles must indicate county changes.
Logs should be submitted online in Cabrillo format at https://tnqp.contesting.com/ . The site will validate your log and email you a confirmation.
Logs must be received by 13 September 2023. Thanks!
All logs must be submitted in Cabrillo format through the above website.
Visit tnqp.org for more information on the Tennessee QSO Party.
Tennessee QSO Party 
What provisions are being planed for the overlap of TNQP 2014 and W1AW/4. (TN)
I’m typing up the new rules as we “speak” – W1AW/4 will be a one-time second bonus station.
Hate to be extremely technical, but the rules state that are that High is more than 100 watts and Low is less than 100. If I’m running 100, I will assume Low since it cannot be High, but technically, neither is it Low, by definition.
Yes, getting technical there. Transceivers on the market are advertised as 100 watts. The purpose is to keep barefoot transceiver people in one group and the amplifier people in another. While you can and maybe do actually get 101 watts out of your radio, nobody will audit you on that. Unless you are running an amplifier, go with low power as your station category. Thanks for asking.
You mean for the W1AW/4 thing? Talk to Ned, k1gu@arrl.net.
Dear Friends!
I have plane to take part on TN QSO Party also this year. I will be on all band, CW SSB RTTY. Please looking for me and please 20/15m (if condx will be good) also at the begenning of the contest . Later I will be also on the 40/80m.
I will be looking for mobiles on CW and also try SSB CQ on all bands. I hope many stations from TN answer on my CQ … 🙂
REGARDS Laci OM2VL
Iused the new FJP loggig SW. A bit confusing with the rovers. I ended logging them as /m or /r so the DUP software wouldn’t kick them.
I plan to enter the contest.
73,
Charles,
W2CSI,
http://WWW.w2csi.com
Are there any special provisions for digital (D-Star, System Fusion) contacts if they are on simplex?
Lots of fun, I still need to get an 80m loop up for 80/40, but got good reports on using the shield side of my WARC trap dipole as a longwire, ha!
AB4LX
I will be active from Anderson County at my home QTH. Bill K4LTA
The Williamson County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (WCARES) will be operating phone and CW stations with the callsign N4FR. Our operating position is the beautiful new Williamson Co. EOC on Beasley Dr. in Franklin, TN. We hope to work many of you Sunday.
Phil, W4PHS
I may have some limited mobile SSB operating from Grundy county.
Grundy tends to be one of the more sought-after counties. You’ll be popular down there.
The Rover/Expeditionary type of operation is not mentioned.
Is an expeditionary station where the antenna must be erected and taken down at every site to be considered a mobile or a fixed station with multiple entries and multiple scores? I note that all Tennessee portable operations are required to operate in a fixed status according to Rule 2 paragraph B.
We don’t explicitly prohibit it….
I am a bit confused regarding Exchange and Scoring info on the website.
Exchange says, “Stations may be worked once per band/mode”.
Scoring says, “On all acceptable bands, CW and other digital modes count separately. For example, you can work W9WI on 3540 kHz CW; 3585 kHz Baudot RTTY; and 3820 kHz SSB, for three contacts on 80 meters. All digital modes besides CW are equivalent. If you work W9WI on 14085 kHz Baudot RTTY you cannot work him again on 14070 kHz PSK31 for point credit”
Appears to be a “conflict” between those two statements, ie ‘once per band/mode vs working same station on same band using multiple modes’.
Which is going to be the “real rule” or am I missing something???
Glenn, sorry about your confusion. You may work stations three times per band. You may work them on phone, on CW, and on one digital mode per band. You may not work them on more than one digital mode per band. If you work me on 40 m PSK31, then again on 40 m Baudot RTTY, only one of those will count. Does that answer your question? – Greg, K4KO
HI Greg. Tnx for the reply. Got it. n4mj
We’ll operate mobile as KY4L/m with me operating and Dan/KX4CH driving. If I’m the only operator, but I want Dan also listed on any awards, do I submit as single-op or multi-op?
Sorry about the delayed response…
I’d submit it as multi-op. You have multiple licensed operators in the vehicle; nothing says a participating operator has to actually make any QSOs:)
(I would also consider bringing a pair of HTs, stop in a safe place in each county & work each other on VHF/UHF. That’d add a pile of QSOs & mults!)
We are new to contesting, but looking forward to tomorrow. I was hoping to get some clarification on multi-single op, etc.. My wife and I both intend to operate, with one radio, alternating with breaks every hour or so… We expect that we should use our calls, but aren’t real sure how to log this… do we submit separate logs? I can’t find a good explanation online. Are we just two separate single ops? Thanks for any help.
Clint, NW4CD
Clint, there are two ways you can do it.
If you each use your own callsign, you’ll need to keep & submit two separate single-op logs.
Alternatively, you can both use her callsign. (or both use your callsign) You’d then submit a single multi-op log.
Frankly I’d probably do it the first way. That way, you can both work the same station on the same band & mode.
Good luck!
Would I be permitted to participate in a distributed multi-op for a club for maybe 1 or 2 hours and also enter with my own call for the remaining time? Bill W4XK
Yes, I don’t see anything in the rules that would prohibit that — go for it!
Doug, that is totally allowed. Assuming of course you keep separate logs.
Any chance those of us without logging software can submit paper logs. If not I will be glad to operate QRP and help others.
On various contests often the rules are unclear in my remote situation. I have no interest in competing for awards just giving folks contacts and want to be sure they count. I have many remotes stations that I am authorized to use both in the US, Haiti and KP4 land. From discussing with CQ and ARRL folks seems clear if I was a participant for awards I could enter a separate log for each location. What is very murky and unclear is can I give folks contacts from different remote locations. My LOTW is set up for each of them and for my KP4/ call.
If needed I would operate from just one remote location. But I enjoy the various options but the concern is showing up in logs in different states to not raise any concerns as just want to give contacts not try and win anything – that would obviously be an unfair advantage if combined remotes
Dave WØJKT in Phoenix but surrounded by 3 mountains and a huge hill so not practical to have a good home station as discussed in detail on my QRZ page.
Was looking at the rules. Specifically at “RS(T) and Tennessee County, U.S. state, Canadian province/territory, or DXCC entity” and wasn’t clear about digital modes FT4/8. because they do exchange signal report, but not RS(T) signal reports.
The rules state that TN mobile stations can work other stations again if they change counties. There is no mention of rover/portable stations being able to do this. In fact, there is no mention of portable stations at all. My station does not meet your definition of a mobile station. IF I manage to get out on this holiday weekend, and do portable operations in multiple counties, can I work the same as a mobile station, including bonus points for each county activated?
I will be operating the same way you are. In past years I have operated as a fixed station at multiple locations— this year going for 5 counties and signing as W3TB/county. Probably about 2 dozen QSOs before driving on to the next. I can’t drive and operate at the same time. As for the extra points, I add them at the end as needed, because the N1MM logger doesn’t provide that for me.
See you there and have fun.
There is no prohibition of doing so either especially as you move counties. I do that. And I am adding 2 more counties to my route.
Probably your logger program will not object as you change counties. The H function in N1MM+ will help you to avoid your logger thinking you are doing a duplicate QSO.
See ya on the bands