Contest Rules

Fulton County Amateur Radio Club (FCARC) in association with Fulton Lodge No. 248 Free & Accepted Masons, Grand Lodge of Ohio

• Modes of Operation: SSB only.
• Amateur Radio Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters.
• Please honor all band plans. All contacts must be in the Phone portion of the bands.
• Stations may be worked once on each band.

• MML - Multi-Op Multi-Transmitter located at one Masonic Lodge
• MSL - Multi-Op Single-Transmitter located at one Masonic Lodge
• SL - Single Operator located at one Masonic Lodge
• OUT - Operator (Single or Multi) outside of a Masonic Lodge (low or high power)

• Stations operating from a Masonic Lodge send their call sign, their Lodge Name and Number, and Jurisdiction.

• Stations NOT operating from a Masonic Lodge send their call sign and State or Province.

• DX stations outside of W/VE send call sign and "DX".

• QSO POINTS - Each complete non-duplicate contact is worth one point.
• MULTIPLIERS - Multipliers are the number of Lodges worked (1 per lodge across any band, working the same lodge on 80 and 40 still is only a single multiplier), the Lodge you are working from counts as a multiplier also.
• FINAL SCORE - Multiply QSO points by the total number of multipliers.
• NO PAPER LOGS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
• Summary sheets can be submitted using a webform here: http://cqmorelight.com/summary
• Your log must be submitted as a Cabrillo format (not a copy, or a picture of the Cabrillo log, but the actual log file). No ADIF, no CVS, no Text files - send in a standard Cabrillo file only. You still need a Summary Sheet included, even with a Cabrillo file.
• Logs can be of Cabrillo, ADIF, CSV, text, or even Excel, provided they include the QSO details: UTC Time, Band, Call Sign, and Exchange/Report
• Note: ONLY Cabrillo logs will be accepted - no more paper logs can be submitted. The scoring mechanism requires only Cabrillo logs.
• Files from word processing, spreadsheet programs or “bin” type logging program files are not valid or usable.
• Any electronic file that is not submitted in required format will not be eligible for competition and awards.
• A paper printout for a log that has been generated by a computer in lieu of the actual data file in the required format is not an acceptable substitute.
• Paper logs that are entered into a logging program or computer after the contest are considered electronic logs and must be submitted via e-mail in Cabrillo format according to the previously stated quidelines.

• Call signs and exchange information must be received, confirmed and logged by both stations for a complete contest QSO.
• No cross-mode contacts and no credit for contacts made through repeaters or satellites.
• Please honor all band plans. All contacts must be in Phone (SSB) and in the Phone portion of the bands.
• No station may claim simultaneous operation of the same call sign in more than one Masonic Lodge,
• No individual shall make a QSO utilizing more than one call sign.
• Multi-Operator entries may only use one call sign during the contest.
• When operating from a Lodge Temple hosting multiple Masonic Organizations, please pick a single Lodge Name and Number to represent. Example: Defiance Lodge Temple hosts Omega 564 and Sherwood 620, radio operators must choose one of those lodges to represent under their call sign for the duration of the contest.
• If you have multiple operators, ensure the current operator holds the same class license as the call sign being used. If not, a control operator that holds the higher license must be present - this is an FCC regulation.
• A scoring summary sheet MUST be included with all logs (http://cqmorelight.com/summary)
• Soliciting for contacts is encouraged to promote more contacts being made during the contest. You can ask a station to meet you on a different band in order to make an additional contact.
• Use of spotting networks is allowed. Since the use of mobile smart phones and wi-fi is now commonplace, looking up spots on clusters is easy to do. This will encourage additional contacts for everyone during the contest.
• Remote operations are not allowed. Remote operations are defined as an operator having a transmitter at one location (example: in a Masonic Lodge) and is controlling it remotely from another location (example: from home). Or an operator has a receiver in a different location than the transmitter where the operator is located. For this contest the operator(s), transmitter(s) and receiver(s) must be in the same location.
• If you are multi-op, you can get assistance from other humans in your operation. We encourage the monitoring of packet or spotting systems during the contest so additional awareness of the contest can be made to encourage participation during the contest.
• Obviously, cheating isn't allowed. This includes operating more than 8 hours and trying to make it look like you operated only 8. It means running more power than you are supposed to in your category. Using other means such as QRZ.COM to fill in those missing or questionable call signs is not allowed. This is a RADIO contest and you should put in your log what you heard during the contest - not what you found on the internet afterwards.
• Decisions of the Masonic Lodges On The Air Contest Committee are final.

• A scoring summary sheet MUST be included with all logs showing entrant's call sign, operating location, and claimed score. (http://cqmorelight.com/summary)
• Logs must clearly indicate UTC time (not local time), Band, Mode, Call Sign Contacted, State/DX, or Lodge Number received for all QSOs as applicable.
• Send E-mailed log(s) with a completed summary sheet(s) (if you did not use the online Summary form) to LOGS@cqmorelight.com and must be sent in no later than 14 days after the end of the contest. Logs arriving after the 14 day entry window will be considered check logs.
• Operating aids (rules, summary sheet, text file summary sheet, and other information) are available for downloading in PDF format from the: Masonic Lodges On The Air web site at: www.cqmorelight.com.
• By submitting a Masonic Lodges On The Air (MLOTA) contest log, and in consideration of the efforts of the MLOTA Committee to review and evaluate that log, an entrant unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that he/she has:

1. read and understood the rules of the contest and agrees to be bound by them,
2. operated according to all rules and regulations that pertain to amateur radio for the station location,
3. agreed the log entry may be made open to the public, and
4. accepted that the issuing of disqualifications and other decisions of the Committee are official and final.

• Final results will be posted on the MLOTA web site.

• No Summary Sheet included with entry - or it is filled out incorrectly
• Not Legible - If the judges cannot read your writing, we can’t verify your entry
• Log missing - UTC times not listed - band or proper exchanges missing
• Log and Summary sheet arrive past the due date