1. Aim
The RaDAR contest is an event aimed at promoting the use of Rapidly Deployable Amateur Radio stations. This contest is for all licensed radio amateurs. A choice is made prior to the contest to participate in one of the defined categories. The points system is so structured as to encourage portable operation especially moveable stations.
2. Date and Time
First Saturday of April and first Saturday of November starting at 14:00 UTC and ending at 18:00 UTC (16:00 SAST to 20:00 SAST (4 hours = Approximately 2 during the day and 2 at night)
3. Bands and Modes
All amateur bands, besides the WARC bands, are allowed including cross band contacts via amateur radio satellites.
QSOs via terrestrial repeaters will NOT be allowed.
Modes – CW, SSB, AM, FM or any digital mode.
4. Suggested HF Calling frequencies
| Band | CW | Phone |
| 160m | 1836 kHz | 1845 kHz |
| 80m | 3560 kHz | 3690 kHz |
| 40m | 7030 kHz | 7090 kHz |
| 20m | 14080 kHz | 14240 kHz |
| 15m | 21080 kHz | 21350 kHz |
| 10m | 28060 kHz | 28360 kHz |
5. Recommended digital modes frequencies
Refer to the SARL contest manual (GR 16)
6. Exchange
Call sign, Name, Report (RST), QTH and grid locator. Note the grid locator can change as RaDAR operators are allowed to move position at any time. The grid locator of 6 digits is acceptable but should preferably be accurate to 10 digits. If the grid locator is not known, then some other information that could describe the location, e.g. Mabula Lodge, 40 km west of Warmbaths
7. Scoring
1 point per QSO
1 QSO per mode, per band / satellite, per call sign.
8. Categories and multipliers
The following multipliers are applicable to determine the final score.
Category multiplier:
X 1 – RaDAR Fixed station (At home or in another building)
X 2 – RaDAR Field station (Portable away from home)
X 3 – Moving RaDAR station, Car / Motorcycle / Bicycle – Minimum 5km
X 4 – Moving RaDAR station, on foot – Minimum 1km
Note: Moving RaDAR stations can move at any time but are required to move to the next destination after five contacts have been made from the present location. The move needs to cover the required distance before further contacts are allowed to be made.
Power multiplier:
The power multiplier that applies is determined by the highest power output of any of the transmitters used during the contest.
5 watts or less the power multiplier is 6.
6 to 50 Watts, the power multiplier is 4.
51 watts or greater, the power multiplier is 2.
9. Bonus points (All categories)
5 Points (Equivalent to five QSOs) for a minimum of one satellite or any digital mode QSO involving a computer. (For clarity: Thereafter 1 point per Satellite / Digital modes QSO)
10. Log Sheets
The SARL RaDAR Contest manager – Eddie ZS6BNE
E-mail entries – edleighton@gmail.com
The closing date for logs is two weeks after the contest date.
Note: A photo of the station (JPG format) MUST accompany every log entry.
ZS6BNE's Blog 