2024

Object:

To promote the U.S. Islands Awards Program (USI) to amateur radio operators worldwide. To promote verifiable amateur radio contacts with stations located on islands in the United States and its Territories and Protectorates.

U.S. island stations work everyone. Non-island stations work only U.S. islands stations.

Single transmitter only, single or multiple operators. (Multiple operator island expedition may use additional call signs to maintain single transmitter rule).

The use of spotting tools like the Internet, DX Summit and Packet clusters are allowed.

One call sign per log entry. Valid email address must be included. All entries are considered mixed mode.

When:

Last full weekend in August.
1200z 24 August – 0300z 25 August 2024. 15 Hours.

Bands:

160-6 meters, excluding WARC (30m, 17m, 12m) and 60m channels. No repeater, Internet-sourced, MCW, VHF/UHF simplex or cross mode contacts allowed. If clear, normal island frequencies as outlined in general rules for the island programs are suggested. U.S. band plans must be followed.

Classes:

QRP (5 watts or less)
QRO (greater than 5 watts)

Categories:

Island Fixed:

For single or multi-operator stations with resident amateur operators with an established, fixed, home-QTH station.

Island Expedition:

For single or multi-operator stations who carry all equipment to a single island primarily for QSO Party “Field Day” style. Station shall be established and removed within a 30-day period including the QSO Party weekend.

Island Rover:

For portable or mobile stations single or multi-operator stations with a single transmitter where all equipment is moved to more than one island primarily for QSO Party operation. Rovers shall submit a log for each island with a summary of scores totaled from all islands.

Non-Island:

For fixed, portable or mobile stations within 49 US states (Hawaii and all U.S. Territories and Protectorates would be an Island Fixed entry) and DX.

Modes:

Phone; CW; Digital (all entries are considered mixed mode)

Exchange:

Call, RST, QTH (State or Grid, USI# or DX). Island numbers MUST be shown in logs to collect 5 QSO points.
A logged exchange with a qualifying expedition can be, (example) “WInew” if, during the contest, the expeditions haven’t reached the required 15 QSOs. Please try and edit the log with the final USI number, (example) “WI087L” before submitting your log. 
IOTA designators do not qualify as a proper exchange. Log “DX” for any DXCC.
A grid exchange for digital modes is allowed.  Grids must be converted to State, Territories and Protectorates or DX in log submission.

Scoring:

U.S. Island QSOs 5 points
CW QSOs 2 points
Digital QSOs 2 points
Phone QSOs 1 point

Island Rover; score each island as independent log and add scores together.

Stations may be worked once per band, per mode.

Multipliers:

Awarded once per mode.
States and Islands (S/I) worked is a multiplier, once per mode regardless of band. DX does not count as a multiplier. Grid is not a multiplier and must be converted to S/I in the log.
Included island multipliers are all the U.S. Protectorates and Territories. See below. 
Rovers count each S/I multiplier as new for each island.
A single state/USI QSO counts as 2 multipliers, one for the state and one for the island.

Final claimed score is the total number of QSO points multiplied by the total number of S/I multiplies.

US States (50)
U.S. Territories and Protectorates (6)
American Samoa (Aunu’u AS001, Ofu AS002S, Olosega AS003, Rose Atoll AS004S, Swains AS005S, Ta’u AS006S, Tutuila (AS007S)
Guam (GU003S)
Northern Mariana Islands (Rota NI001, Saipan NI002S, Tinian NI003S)
Puerto Rico (Main island PR006S and all other PRUSI)
U.S. Virgin Islands (Hassel VI001, Little Hans Lollik VI006, Lovango Cay VI007, St. Croix VI002S, St. John VI003, St. Thomas VI004S, Water (VI005S)
U.S. Minor Outlying Islands (Baker OI001S, Eastern (Midway I.) OI003, Howland OI004S, Jarvis OI005S, Johnston Atoll OI006S,  Kure Atoll OI008S, Palmyra Atoll OI010S, Sand (Johnston Atoll) OI013S, Sand (Midway I.) OI011S, Navassa OI009S, Wake Atoll OI012S)

Other Requirements:

Island stations bear the responsibility of having written owner permission to be on private land. It is suggested to notify the “authority having jurisdiction” (NPS, state/local parks, game warden, etc.) before operating on public land, including parks. Participation in the U.S. Island QSO Party is not a waiver of any land management rules or laws There is no need to submit copies of permission with an entry, but stations should retain records in station logs for at least one year.

Reporting:

Official entry/scoring form must be submitted. Only one call sign may be used per entry. Cabrillo file format logs are required. Valid email must be included for all entries. Logs shall indicate the Class (power) and category. If an island station, indicate island number(s) and name(s) on the logs. If multi-operator, provide all operator calls. Include a mailing address with the submission. Rovers may include a summary sheet in the text area of an email with log attachment.

Grids in the digital modes must be converted into State to be a valid QSO.

Awards:

The decision of the Contest Manager is final. Claimed scores may be corrected for errors.

Award Sponsorship is available. We would gladly accept your support. Contact CM for details.

Contest Manager:
Jay Chamberlain NS4J
27 Fox Run Lane
Fredericksburg, VA 22405 USA
e-mail: ns4j@usislands.org
Entry Deadline:
Official entry/scoring form must be submitted. Entries must be complete, legible, conform to the rules above, and submitted to the contest manager no later than the last day of September 2024 in order to qualify. Entries cannot be returned. 

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Page Last Updated on May 24, 2024 @ 14:13 utc by ADMIN