ARRL’s annual November Sweepstakes - Phone

The ARRL’s annual November Sweepstakes is the oldest domestic contest, beginning in 1932. It’s a competition between North American stations – individuals, teams, and clubs. For many US and Canadian hams, it is their first contest operation and remains a regular event on their yearly schedule for a lifetime. The contest is somewhat unique in that each station may only be contacted once and the number of different recognized locations is limited to the 80 ARRL and RAC sections. Working the 80 sections is called a "Clean Sweep" and allows the station to claim one of the coveted Clean Sweep coffee mugs – there are other awards, as well.
Phone: Third full weekend in November (November 19-21, 2011). Contest Period: Begins 2100 UTC Saturday and runs through 0259 UTC Monday.

For stations in the United States and Canada (including territories and possessions) to exchange QSO information with as many other US and Canadian stations as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands.

All stations may operate no more than 24 of the 30 hours.  Off-times must be a minimum of 30 minutes without operating. Listening time counts as operating time.

Your exchange is based on an ARRL radiogram header and has five parts:

• Serial – the number of this contact in the contest (1st, 10th, 121st, etc)
• Precedence – your category abbreviation as described above (A, B, M, Q, S, or U)
• Your call sign
• Check – the last two digits of the year in which you were licensed (i.e. – 02 for 2002)
• ARRL Section – the abbreviation for your ARRL or RAC section

For contest information see the 2011 Sweepstakes Operating Guide or contact the ARRL: contests@arrl.org or (860) 594-0232