The Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest 2023

The contest is dedicated to the memory of Yuri Gagarin, who realized the first human flight to space, on April 12, 1961.

To RT3A memory

RULES

1. Date: from 21.00 UTC on April 08th till 20.59 UTC on April 09th, 2023.

Stations of categories B2 and E2 may operate 12 of the 24 hours. The working time is counted from the moment of the 1st QSO. Off times must be a minimum of 60 minutes during which no QSO is logged. For all other participants, the working time is 24 hours.

2. Bands: 1.8, 3.5, 7.0, 14, 21, 28 MHz and radio amateur satellites.

3. Modes: CW and SSB.

4. Contest Call: CQ GC (CQ Gagarin Cup).

5. Categories:

  • A Single operator – Single band – Mixed (CW+SSB);

  • B Single operator – Multi bands + Satellite QSO (except for geostationary satellite) – Mixed (CW+SSB);

  • B1-CW Single operator – Multi bands (without satellites) – only CW;

  • B1-SSB Single operator – Multi bands (without satellites) – only SSB;

  • B1-MIX Single operator – Multi bands (without satellites) – Mixed (CW+SSB);

  • B2 Single operator – Multi bands + Satellite QSO (except for geostationary satellite) – Mixed (CW+SSB), working time is 12 hours;

  • B-SAT Single operator – only Satellite QSO (except for geostationary satellite);

  • C Multi operators – Multi bands + Satellite QSO (except for geostationary satellite) – Mixed (CW+SSB);

  • C1 Multi operators – Multi bands (without satellites) – Mixed (CW+SSB);

  • C-SAT Multi operators – only Satellite QSO (except for geostationary satellite);

  • D SWL – Multi bands;

  • E Single operator – Multi bands + Satellite QSO (except for geostationary satellite) – Mixed (CW+SSB), Low Power;

  • E1-CW Single operator – Multi bands (without satellites) – only CW, Low Power;

  • E1-SSB Single operator – Multi bands (without satellites) – only SSB, Low Power;

  • E1-MIX Single operator – Multi bands (without satellites) – Mixed (CW+SSB), Low Power;

  • E2 Single operator – Multi bands + Satellite QSO (except for geostationary satellite) – Mixed (CW+SSB), working time is 12 hours, Low Power;

  • G-SAT Single operator – only Geostationary Satellite QSO.

  • SPECIAL Stations operating from memorable places related to space and objects of the Russian space industry.

6. During the contest:

Participants of groups B, B2, C, E are allowed to conduct QSO through radio amateur satellites. These QSOs are counted as an additional band. Conducting a QSO through geostationary satellites is counted only in the G-SAT group.

Band plan for QO-100: 

Uplink area 2400.370 – 2400.490 MHz
Downlink area 10489.870 – 10489.990 MHz

The designation of the band in the log: 2.3G.

Categories A, B-SET, C-SET, E-SET can also make QSO as a checklog on other bands.

Only one signal on a band is allowed at any time, except for the SPECIAL group. The simultaneous satellite QSO and HF QSO for categories C is authorized.

Category C must remain on the same HF band for at least 5 minutes after the first QSO has been made.

Duplicates are counted on the different bands and the different modes. When working through satellites (not geostationary), QSO with the different modes and in the different orbits are counted.
That is, on each satellite orbit with the same correspondent, CW QSO and SSB QSO are counted.
When working through geostationary satellites, QSO with different modes (CW and SSB) are counted.

It is prohibited to use robotic software and hardware (bots, RPA, AI/ML-algorithms, etc.) for receiving test messages, transferring a call and control messages, logging contacts made without the participation of an operator.

Self-spotting is allowed:
– when changing the band;
– no more than once every 15 minutes.

7. Exchange: RST and ITU zone number. Special stations (see the list below) transmit a two-letter combination instead of the ITU-zone number.

8. QSO points:

  • QSO with own (P-150-C) country count – 2 points.
  • QSO with a different (P-150-C) country in the same continent – 3 points.
  • QSO with a different continent – 4 points.
  • Satellite QSO – 50 points.

QSO points on:

  • 1.8 MHz and 3.5 MHz multiplied by 3;
  • 7 MHz multiplied by 2;
  • 14, 21 and 28 MHz multiplied by 1.

For SSB QSO, points are additionally multiplied by 2.

For SWL:

  • Complete logging of one station only the callsign of the second station count 1 point.
  • Complete logging of both sides of a QSO – 3 points.
  • The same callsign may be logged only 1 time on each band.

9. Multipliers: Each different ITU zone worked on each band gives 1 point for multiplier. In addition, 1 point for a multiplier on each band by each mode is given by special stations operating from memorable places and objects of the Russian space industry according to the list below.

SWL have no multipliers.

List of special stations:

Callsign

Object

Two-letter combination

1 RJ1O Plesetsk Cosmodrome

KP

2 RT2C Mission Control Center

CU

3 RT3F Cosmonaut Training Center

CP

4 R5AG Aerospace Laboratory

AL

5 R108M The birthplace of Yuri Gagarin

RG

6 RG61PP The birthplace of Yuri Gagarin

YG

7 RT4D The landing place of Yuri Gagarin

MP

8 RG2X The birthplace of Russian Cosmonautics

RK

9 RC3XC Laboratory of Aerospace

LA

10 RW0A Reshetnev Siberian State University of Science and Technology SA
11 RW0J Vostochny Cosmodrome

KV

12 R2VA Parashute Design Research Institute

PC

13 U4MIR Cosmonaut Alexander Volkov

CV

14
R8TT
Orenburg Aviation School

AU

The list of special stations can be expanded. The organizers invite you to participate in the subgroup Special Stations from the Russian Federation and other countries working from places related to the exploration of world space.

10. Final scoreThe total number of QSO points on all bands times the total number of multipliers worked on all bands.

11. Awards: Big cups are awarded to participants who take first place in the world in groups B, C, E, B-SAT, C-SAT, Special.

Small cups are awarded to participants who take first places in the world in groups B1-SSB, B1-CW, B1-MIX, B2, C1, E1-SSB, E1-CW, E1-MIX, E2.

Medals are awarded to participants who take first places (separately for stations located in the European part of the Russian Federation, the Asian part of the Russian Federation and for foreign stations) in groups A, D, G-SAT.

Electronic certificates are awarded to participants who take the first three places in the world in groups A, B, B1, B2, B-SAT, C, C1, C-SAT, D, E, E1, E2, G-SAT .

Electronic certificates are awarded to participants who take the first three places in groups A, B, B1, B2, C, D, E, F in their country.

Electronic commemorative certificates are awarded to all participants who make at least 200 confirmed QSO or SWL in the competition.

12. Logs:

Logs in Cabrillo format are downloaded via the Web interface on the https://ua9qcq.com/hf-logs.php

The deadline for uploading logs is April 23rd, 2023.

13. Contacts: https://gccontest.ru/organizing-committee/

14. Site: https://gccontest.ru/

 

GC-2023 contest rules download