We are having the event at the Enid HamFest again this year to show innovation and ingenuity in portable operations. The Go Kit Challenge has been championed in the North Texas Region and we are using a similar style and rules.
There are three categories that are judged by our peers:
Portable Open Category, anything goes in this station setup. HF - Microwave-WinLink-JS8CALL! This can be thought of as the POTA operator OR the World Domination Station.
QRP Category, LOW POWER is to show off the light weight and low power stations frequently used for SOTA. This is to show what an amateur can do with 5w CW or Digital and/or 10w SSB.
Mobile Category, the folks that like to show the drivable or trailer able, portable/mobile rigs. This could be a rolling Field Day Trailer that doubles for Emergency Service assistance or maybe an Overlanding Rig.
28 and up, is the group that shows off the Technician Class Portable Operations. 10m Band and higher frequencies for these operators. Watts are not restricted except by regulation, but we have learned the CW can even be used on the HTs if firmware is updated.
Participants in the Oklahoma Go Kit Challenge will be given a cup and label, so that other participants can feed them with peoples choice tickets. Seeing that this is a ‘For Fun’ event one ticket per category will be given to all participants who register, and these can be placed in any participants cup. One ticket per category is so all participants can have an opportunity to support each category of station.
One official will come by and verify the setup is functional by making contacts. Operators can work stations with any mode or modes they desire showing that the ‘station’ operates and completes the task they are demonstrating, with ‘Good Amateur Practices’. This is to be a fun event, so if a contact cannot be made, then the judge will be available for a contact later… If the judge doesn’t verify any contacts, then the station isn’t qualified(due to Solar weather or meteorological events beyond anyone’s control a judge may use discretion to verify a station). In the instance a station isn’t able to qualify, tickets collected by that station will be redistributed among other stations.
This is a great way to show off our portable, mobile, or AUXCOMM stations. This is for learning and showcasing our ability as Amateur operators to go out and operate our way, without shore power! Please join us to show the rest of our community our moveable gear setup!