I've always understood "off-times" to only occur between QSOs. Starting
late or finishing early are not constrained by an off-time limit, e.g., 60
minutes. However, the total amount of "time off" or non-operating time does
include late starts and early finishes, e.g, 12 hours for WPX. Tricky
semantics.
Ed - W0YK
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> Zivney, Terry L.
> Sent: Monday, 16 March, 2009 09:40
> To: cq-contest@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] WPX FAQ - Single op off times
>
> >From the CQ WPX FAW site:
>
> Single operators must take 12 hours off during the contest.
> How are off times calculated?
>
> Single operator entries are permitted a maximum operating
> time of 36 hours. Off times must be a minimum of 60 minutes.
> The 60 minute period is defined the same as the 10-minute
> rule described above. If your last QSO before an off time is
> at 09:27, you may not make another QSO until 10:27.
>
> Off times can be of any length. For example, you can have
> breaks of 1 hour, 4 hours, and 7 hours. Or you can take all
> of your off time in one 12 hour break. If you take a break
> that is less than 60 minutes, this time will count as operating time.
>
> Any QSOs in your log after 36 hours of operating time will be
> removed without penalty during the log checking. The rules
> no longer require you to submit the list of off time periods
> in your log. The log checking software will do the off time
> calculations.
>
> _________________________
>
> This means that if you start the contest at 0059z that you
> cannot count the first 59 minutes as off time.
> Similarly, if you make your last QSO at 2301z you cannot
> count the last 59 minutes as off time.
> You need to remember this when taking your off times in the
> middle of the contest.
>
> However, the last section from the FAQ above seems to suggest
> the following counter examples:
>
> example 1:
> operate from 0000-2359z - 24 hours operating time off time
> from 0000-1130z - 11:30 off time operate from 1131-2359z -
> more than 12 hours operating time so last 29 minutes QSOs
> removed with no penalty to bring down to 36 hours total
> operating time.
>
> example 2:
> operate from 0000-2359z - 24 hours operating time off time
> from 0000-1130z - 11:30 off time operate from 1131-2330z -
> Finish 36 hours allowed operating time.
> But now the last 29 minutes are too short to be an off time
> - see second section in FAQ - minimum 60 minutes off time.
>
> Terry Zivney, N4TZ/9 aka KS9K
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