FISTS Down Under Inc.

FISTS Down Under Inc. VK - Chapter Flight of the Galahs (FOG) is a six-hour event held on Sunday, 22nd September, 2019. It is open to all radio amateurs.

LONG STORY SHORT

To play, get a Flight of the Galahs (FOG) number, go portable on the 22nd September, make as many contacts as possible between 0000 and 0600 UTC, run QRP to gain more points and submit your log to possibly win a prize.

NOW THE DETAIL

CONTEST PERIOD (UTC)

0000 to 0600

6 hours is the time frame for the entire event, if someone wants to operate for just 2 hours then that's great but the event only run between 0000 – 0600 UTC.

WHO CAN PLAY?

Both home-based and portable operations are encouraged.

WHAT QUALIFIES AS A GALAH?

Participants who operate portable from field locations ( eg. WWFF / SOTA etc ) are designated as Galahs. A field location can be ANY location which is not in your usual shack or at home. It could be in the park down the street or a WWFF park or a SOTA hill top. Operators get to their operating site principally under their own power by walking, biking, boating, car or by any other means. The distance travelled to the site is at the Galah’s discretion. Galahs add /G to their signal reports. (NOTE: Home-based stations DO NOT add /G to their signal reports.)

HOW TO OBTAIN A GALAH NUMBER

If you plan to operate the 2019 FOG portable – in other words, from a field location – you’re invited to request a Galah identification number (FOG). Instructions for obtaining a Galah number are in the next section, below, headlined "Apply for a Flight of the Galahs Number."

There is no limit to the number of Galahs however, only one Galah number per callsign. You may apply for, and receive, a Galah number at any time up to and including September 21st, prior to the event.

GROUP OPERATION

Group operations are welcome in the Flight of the Galahs. You may operate under a single call and report a single score, or under multiple calls and report multiple scores. In any event, you are limited to operating a single transmitter at a time.

POWER OUTPUT

In consideration of the band conditions, maximum FOG power output is 20 watts however, QRP operation is encouraged and will be rewarded. All participants must operate within their Licence conditions.

USE OF POWER SUPPLY

If you are activating either a WWF or SOTA filed location then the rules of WWFF and/or SOTA apply. If you are operating for example from the school oval behind your house, you can use whatever power source you have available.

EQUPMENT

An operator can use whatever equipment he/she deems suitable for the occasion. Be that a table, chair, fridge (to keep beer cold) or whatever comes in handy. The use of computer generated morse (CW) for either sending of receiving is NOT allowed. Any mechanical key or electronic keyer may be used.

OPERATION

We will be operating CW on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters.

SAMPLE CONTACT

Galah station VK2GAZ / G33 who is portable:

VK2FDU de VK2GAZ/P

UR RST 559/G33

Home station VK2GAZ

VK2FDU de VK2GAZ
UR RST 559/5W

The /G33 or /5W is given in the signal report NOT after the callsign.

EXCHANGE

/G: If you are a Galah, your exchange is RST and your Galah number. Eg. 549/G12
Home Stations: If you are home-based, your exchange is RST and power. Eg. 549/5W

Here are examples of exchanges:

Galah VK2FDU / G (Galah No. 21) sends:

579/G21

Home-based station VK2FDU sends:

579/5W

Operating in the FOG

Everyone in the event can work anyone else in the event. In other words:

· Home-based stations can work other home-based stations and Galahs.

· Galahs can work other Galahs and home-based stations.

SCORING

Here are the details:

Each contact is worth one (1) point except QRP operated stations which score two (2) points.

The same station can be worked on different bands for additional QSO points and multipliers.

Contacts with Galah stations generate a multiplier of three (3) for Non QRP stations OR four (4) if you are a QRP station. NOTE: If you worked, for example VK2FDU who is a Galah station on two bands, it counts as two Galah contacts.

Here’s an example of how your score will be calculated:

Say, you make 15 FOG contacts on 80 meters.
You make 12 FOG contacts on 40 meters.
In that combined total of QSOs (27), you contacted 14 Galahs. NOTE: If you worked, for example VK2FDU who is a Galah station on two bands, it counts as two Galah contacts.
To determine your multiplier, multiply 14 Galahs times 3 for Non QRP stations or multiply 14 Galahs times 4 for QRP stations.

Using the FOG Scoring Formula for non QRP Stations

Contacts: 15 + 12 = 27 (1 Point per Contact)

G Multiplier: 14 X 3 = 42

Total: 27 QSOs X 42 (G Multiplier) = 1,134 Total points

Using the FOG Scoring Formula for QRP Stations

· Contacts: 15 + 12 = 27 (1 Point per Contact)

· G Multiplier: 14 X 4 = 56

· Total 27 QSO’s X 56 (G Multiplier) = 1,512 Total Points

COMMENDATIONS

Separate but equal commendations will be awarded to the highest Galah and Sloth (home based operator) scores, together with commendations for the highest scoring Foundation Call both Galah and Sloth.

SUBMITTING YOUR FOG DATA:

Send your FOG Reports via email to:

vk2fdu.auz@gmail.com

REPORT FORM:

Your:

Full name
Callsign
Operating a QRP station (Y) or (N)
Location of FOG operation
Total number of contacts (all bands)
Total number of Galah contacts (all bands)
Comments about your FOG experience
Log sheet with Time, Call, Name, RST (Received) & (Given)

A copy of the Report Form and Log Sheet is available HERE

Photographs of your adventure are welcome and encouraged, they may even end up in the Club Newsletter.

RESULTS:

Results and comments will be reported on the FISTS Down Under Inc. website.

SAFETY:

As with all events and contests, please keep safety in front of mind when conducting operations in the field. Such things as weather, power lines, terrain, dehydration, and fatigue can be lethal. Above all, we want all participants to have a fabulous and safe experience.

PORTABLE STATIONS

Apply for a Flight of the Galahs (FOG) Number

HOW TO OBTAIN A Galah NUMBER

If you plan to operate the FOG portable – in other words, from a field location (eg. WWFF / SOTA etc ) – you’re invited to request a Galah identification number. Here’s how:

1. CHECK THE DATABASE: An online database has been set up to show assigned Galah numbers.
Please visit the database HERE

The following GALAH numbers will not be allocated:
5, 44, 73, 88,

2. OFFER THREE OPTIONS: Check the database for eligibility, HERE Then send an email to:

vk2fdu.auz@gmail.com with:

Your Callsign

Your First Name

The field location you anticipate to be operating from

Your Top 3 Choices for FOG Numbers

3. YOUR FOG NUMBER ASSIGNMENT: Check the database, HERE after submitting your top three choices to see which number you have been assigned. The number listed in the database is your official FOG number.

FOG numbers will be allocated on a first in first served basis.

73, Garry VK2GAZ #14151

FISTS Down Under Inc.

VK Chapter – Contest Manager

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