The Ontario QSO Party is open to all amateur radio operators regardless of license class and shortwave listeners world-wide.

Dates and Times: Held on the third full weekend of April each Year. For 2009, the contest periods are 1800Z April 18 to 0500Z April 19, and 1200Z to 1800Z April 19.

Objectives: For Ontario stations to contact as many amateur radio stations as possible on as many bands as possible world-wide. For stations outside Ontario to make as many contacts with Ontario amateur radio stations as possible.

Frequencies: All Bands 160-2 meters with the exception of the WARC bands.

Suggested Frequencies for Mobiles/QRP:
HF SSB: 1.870, 3.735, 7.070, 7.260, 14.130, 14.265, 21.260, 28.360
HF CW: 1.830, 3.530, 7.030, 14.030, 21.030, 28.030
VHF/UHF SSB: 50.130, 144.205
VHF/UHF FM: 52.540, 146.550

Suggested Manner of Operation: Work HF SSB on the hour, work HF CW on the half hour.

Use of FM: Operators can not use repeaters for either contest contacts or for soliciting contacts. Please keep the FM Simplex calling frequency of 146.520 MHz. clear.

Categories:

FIXED STATIONS

• Multi-operator multi-transmitter

• Multi-operator single-transmitter

• Single Operator QRP (Mixed mode; under 5 watts),

• Single Operator Mixed Mode - Low Power (Under 150 Watts)

• Single Operator Mixed Mode - High Power (150 Watts to Legal Limit)

• Single Operator Phone only - Low Power (Under 150 watts)

• Single Operator Phone only - High Power (150 Watts to Legal Limit)

• Single Operator CW only - Low Power (Under 150 Watts)

• Single Operator CW only - High Power (150 Watts to Legal Limit)

ROVER/MOBILE

• Multi-operator

• Single-operator

A mobile station is a station that moves between multiplier areas operating from a vehicle (either stopped or in motion) only using antennas that have the capability of being used while in motion. All antennas must be on the vehicle and contacts may be made either while moving or parked.*

A rover station is a station that moves between multiplier areas. Antennas may be mounted off the vehicle when stopped but contacts can be made with vehicular antennas when in motion.*

* Please note that for all intents and purposes rover/mobile are treated the same in the OQP. They are NOT separate categories.

Mobile and rover stations are encouraged to sign "/M", "/R", or the equivalent on phone so that other operators can anticipate their moves to a new multiplier area.

Exchange: Ontario stations send signal report and their county abbreviation as per the multiplier list.

Non-Ontario stations send signal report and province, state, or DXCC country or abbreviation.

Scoring: Ontario stations work everyone. Non-Ontario stations work Ontario stations only. Mobile/Rover stations may be worked again when they change multiplier areas.

Score 1 QSO point for each station worked on phone per band. Score 2 QSO points for each station worked on CW per band. You may work a station TWICE per band: once on phone and once on CW.

Score 10 QSO points for each contact made with CCO club station VA3CCO, ODXA club station VE3ODX, and RAC Ontario club station VA3RAC.

All stations claim 1 multiplier point for each Ontario county worked on each band. See multiplier list. Ontario county list

Ontario stations also claim 1 multiplier point for each Canadian province/territory, U.S. state and DXCC country worked on each band.

Total Score = Total QSO points x total multiplier points.

Mobile/Rover Bonus: Mobile/Rover stations add 300 bonus points for each Ontario multiplier activated. To earn the mobile/rover bonus a station must make at least three contacts with three different stations from the multiplier area.

Use of DX spotting networks:

There are no penalties for using DX spotting networks.

Awards:

See the Awards page for details.

Log Submission: Entries should be postmarked no later than May 31, 2009.

Log submit page: Go to log submit

Mailing address: Contact Us page

If you cannot submit via email, use the mailing address on the Contact page.

Entry forms: Ontario QSO Party Summary Sheet

Results: Results will be posted on the CCO website as they come in. Final results will be published on the web site and may also be published in "The Canadian Amateur" depending on available space.

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