80 metres Counties Contest

The IRTS 80 metres Counties Contest takes place on
Thursday 1st January 2009. Rules for this contest were
published in the October-November 2008 issue of Echo
Ireland - they are also available for download at
www.irts.ie/rules

In previous years, during this contest there has been a
lot of contest activity around 3.680 MHz, a popular
frequency for those chasing Worked All Ireland squares.
This frequency is however outside the contest-preferred
parts of the 80 metres band. To encourage all
participants in the Counties Contest to adhere to the
Band Plan, we have amended the contest rules to make it
a requirement that the IARU Region 1 Band Plan should
be observed. We have also provided that CW contacts in
this contest should only be made in the recognised CW
end of the band.

While 3.775 MHz to 3.800 MHz is within the SSB
contest-preferred segment of the band, the Band Plan
also indicates that priority should be given to
intercontinental operation in this segment. Given that
the Counties Contest is largely a local contest, we
have indicated therefore that no operation should take
place above 3.775 MHz.

In summary, the frequencies available to contesters in
the 80 metres Counties Contest are: CW 3.510-3.560 MHz;
SSB 3.600-3.650 and 3.700-3.775 MHz