DEFINITIONS:
For the purposes of this document describing the 70 MHz
CCI award programme the following terms shall have the following meanings.
“WAC”: means ‘Worked All Continents’, an award programme
of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) which recognises amateur radio
achievements in respect of communications with amateur stations located in the
six continents of the world.
“DXCC”: means ‘DX Century Club’, an award programme of
the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) which recognises amateur radio
achievements in respect of communications with listed territories and entities
around the world.
“DXCC Entity”: means an entry in the current DXCC list of
territories and locations.
“IOTA”: means ‘Islands On The Air’, an award programme of
the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) which recognises amateur radio
achievements in respect of communications with listed island groups around the
world.
“IOTA Reference”: means an island group within the IOTA
programme.
GENERAL IRTS issues CCI certificates to amateur radio
stations around the world concerning international amateur radio communications
in the 4m band.
The purpose of the CCI award programme developed by Dave
Court, EI3IO is to recognise and promote DX achievements by amateur radio
operators licensed to use frequencies in the range 69 – 74 MHz, (4 metres). In
general the 4m band is limited to a relatively small but growing number of
countries, mainly in Region 1 (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) and Region 2
(North America) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). 4m stations
are or have been active in over 50 territories in Africa, Asia, Europe and
North America.
A second objective is to stimulate an interest in the 4m band
in countries which are not authorised to transmit in the range 69 – 74 MHz, by
encouraging cross-band working to frequencies in the vicinity of 50.285 MHz and
28.885 MHz, which are recognised centres of cross-band activity.
IRTS reserves the right to amend the qualification
criteria for the three levels of CCI award.
AWARD:
Three award levels, CCI, CCI century and CCI century plus
are offered, based on the number of points obtained through:
In band two-way working of amateur and associated
experimental radio stations located in continents, countries and islands in the
4m band or
Cross band working of amateur and associated experimental
radio stations located in continents, countries and islands in the 4m band by
two way in-band working, and for stations not authorised to use 4m, cross-band
working to 4m from 6m or 10m, or a combination of cross-band and in-band
working.
The awards will be designated In-Band or Cross-Band.
QUALIFICATION:
Qualification for a CCI award is based on an examination
of a log extract and accompanying certification by the IRTS Awards Manager,
which certifies that the applicant has made 70 MHz QSOs with amateur stations
in the required number of continents, countries and islands. All log extracts
must show the mode, must mention the 4m or 70 MHz band and if a cross-band QSO,
in addition 6m (50 MHz) or 10m (28 MHz). Furthermore, the log extract must
clearly show the DXCC entity and applicable IOTA reference, if an island. The
following information should be helpful in determining the continent of a
station located adjacent to a continental boundary. North America includes
Greenland (OX). Asia includes, Cyprus (5B, ZC4). Europe includes the Azores
(CU). Africa includes the Canary Islands (EA8), Ceuta & Melilla (EA9),
Italian Islands (IH9 & IG9) and Madeira (CT3).
The rules for obtaining the award build on existing
awards (WAC, DXCC and IOTA).
Point System1 2
A combination of WAC continents, DXCC countries and IOTA
island groups which are not in the DXCC country list in their own right form
the basis of the award. A continent is valid for 10 points (once only), an IOTA
island reference which is not listed as a DXCC entity is valid for 2 points and
a DXCC entity is valid for 1 point.
Example 1 An applicant works MJ3ABC (Island of Jersey) in
IOTA reference EU-013. If this was the first European station worked 10 points
would be gained as well as 1 point for Jersey (DXCC entity 122); a total of 11
points. As Jersey is already in the DXCC list its status as IOTA EU-013 is not
applicable.
If MJ3ABC had been located on Les Minquiers Islands in
IOTA reference EU-099, which is not in addition a named DXCC entity, stations
working MJ3ABC would gain 2 points as an IOTA reference, plus another 10 points
if this was the first QSO with the European continent.
Example 2 An applicant works OZ9XYZ located near Billund
in Jutland (Jylland). Jutland is connected to the European mainland so it can
count as 1 point for Denmark (DXCC entity 221).
If OZ9XYZ had been located in Copenhagen on the island of
Sjaelland, IOTA reference EU-029 it would count for 2 points, even though
Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark.
1 The Azores has 3 IOTA references and is a single DXCC
entity. For the purposes of the CCI award EU-003 will be considered as the DX
entity and will count as 1 point for the Azores. IOTA References EU-175 and
EU-089 will count for 2 points. The criteria invoked here is EU-003 hosts the
Azore’s principal city.
2 Cape Verde has 2 IOTA references and is a single DXCC
entity. For the purposes of the CCI award AF-005 will be considered as the DX
entity and will count as 1 point for Cape Verde. IOTA Reference AF-086 will
count for 2 points. The criteria invoked here is AF-005 hosts Cape Verde’s
capital city.
Two other examples are provided in footnotes 1 and 2. In
the case of query concerning the points applicable to any territory please
contact the IRTS Awards Manager ( Awards at irts.ie ).
Points required for CCI awards
For the 70 MHz CCI in-band basic award 50 points are
required, 65 for a cross-band award.
For the 70 MHz CCI in-band century award 100 points are
required, 115 for a cross-band award.
For the 70 MHz CCI in-band century plus award 130 points
are required, 145 for a cross-band award.
A 70 MHz CCI century plus award can also be endorsed for
additional entities worked in steps of 20 e.g. +20, +40, +60 etc.
It is of course possible for stations licensed to
transmit in the 4m band to hold both cross-band and in-band CCI awards.
QSO VALIDATION3:
A claim for an in-band or cross-band CCI Award and
additional endorsements to a Century Plus award must be accompanied by a
certified log extract (see below), to include date, time, frequency (in the
case of a cross-band award), mode, station worked and claimed Continent and/or
Country and/or Island.
CONDUCT:
All QSOs must be made with licensed amateur stations
working in the authorised 4m allocation within the frequency range 69 – 74 MHz
or with other stations licensed or authorised to communicate with amateur radio
stations. Contacts made through repeaters or satellite transponders are not
permitted for CCI credit. However Earth-moon-Earth (EME) QSOs are acceptable.
In addition: All 4m operations should take place in accordance with the
regulations pertaining in that jurisdiction. All stations contacted must be
located on land. QSOs with maritime mobile and aeronautical mobile stations
cannot be credited. All stations must be contacted from the same DXCC entity.
All confirmations must be submitted exactly as received by the applicant.
It is a condition of the CCI award that the person
applying unreservedly agrees: To observe all pertinent regulatory requirements
for amateur radio in the country or countries concerned. To observe all rules
applying to the CCI award process. To accept the decisions of the IRTS awards
manager.
APPLICATIONS:
All applications shall be made electronically. An email
shall be sent to the Awards Manager ( Awards at irts.ie ) which clearly
indicates the category of in-band or cross-band CCI award requested (e.g.
Basic, Century or Century Plus or endorsements to a Century Plus award) and the
number of claimed continents, applicable IOTA references and DXCC entities to
qualify for the award. The email address of the applicant should also accept
incoming emails in case of a query. A log extract, shall be attached to the
email certified as a correct extract from the claimant's log by an officer of a
Radio Club or by two licensed radio amateurs. The log extract should also
include details of the Continents, Islands and DXCC entities claimed
3 You may wish to ensure confirmations also include a
QTH/Grid Locator as a 4m squares (MLA) award is also available.
for each QSO. The certification of the log extract may be
attached to the email as a JPEG image of a scanned document.
Please address all correspondence and inquiries relating
to CCI awards and all applications to the Awards Manager ( Awards at irts.ie )
FEES:
There are currently no charges levied for the issue of
CCI awards and endorsements.
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