Go Box Contest & Demonstration

At The Cleveland Hamfest

Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds

September 26th, 2010

Download Contest Flyer in pdf HERE

Ohio ARES® Tenth District is proud to sponsor the first annual Go Box Contest & Demonstration.  The concept is to have radio amateurs "show off" their portable base station, a.k.a. Go Box.  The demonstration will give radio operators ideas to develop, build, and enhance their own go box.

Not sure what a go box is?  The Tenth District definition of a Go Box: A portable base station consisting of a transceiver and power source.  Note, for the purposes of this contest and demonstration, the power source does not have to be in the same container with the transceiver.

There are two classes of go boxes for this contest.  Homebrew and commercial.  If you built your go box then is homebrew.  If you bought your go box then it is commercial.  Check out the examples below.

The complete rules of the contest are listed at the bottom of this page.  Contact the DEC for more information.

Here are two examples of homebrew go boxes without power sources onboard.

Here are some examples of homebrew Go Boxes with power sources in the same container.

Here are some examples of commercial go boxes.  The one on the left is from iportable and the one on the right is from tac-comm.

CONTEST RULES

The 1st Annual Tenth District Go Box Contest and Demonstration will be held from 9:30am to 12:30pm on September 26th at the Cleveland Hamfest.  All are welcome to participate.  You do not have to be a member of ARES® or any particular club to participate.  All participants must have a paid hamfest ticket to enter and participate.

1.1.  Entries.  All entries must be in working condition at the hamfest.  This means you must be able to operate the go box station much like you would at a public service event.  What about the antenna?  A dummy load or antenna system will be provided to demonstrate the station is in operation during judging.  There are bonus points available for those who use their own antenna system.  See Rule 1.3 and 1.3b.

1.2.  All go box entries must have the following present:

• container.  The container can be commercially made like a tool box, suit case, tackle box, or ammo can.  It can also be made of wood, plastic, or metal.
• transceiver.  Any transceiver will be accepted as long as it transmits on the amateur bands.  The transceiver can be single band, dual band, and/or multiband.  The radio can be a mobile or base station.  HT's or handi-talkies will be permitted for demonstration but are not eligible for prizes.  It can be from an amateur radio manufacturer or commercial radio manufacturer.  It can be homebrew like Elecraft or software defined radio like the FLEX-5000.
• power source.  The power source must be on site with the go box.  It does not have to be onboard with the radio.  It can be commercially made or homebrew.  Power source examples include a deep-cycle marine battery, AC to DC power supply, or battery box.  Bonus points will be awarded to those who power their station from generator or natural resources.  See Rule 1.3e.
• microphone.  The microphone must be included in your go box.  If no microphone present during judging then you must be a CW operator.  See Rule 1.3c.
  
• hamfest ticket.  Hamfest tickets must be shown during judging.

1.3.  Bonus Points.  One bonus point will be awarded for each of the following:

• ARES® or RACES sticker affixed somewhere on the station.
• APRS capable.  APRS is automatic position reporting system.  This is a great tool for served agencies.
• External Speaker.  your own external speaker must be made available during judging.
• Back of set antenna.  This is an antenna that screws directly onto the SO-239 of the transceiver without any feedline.  It must be attached during judging to receive this bonus.

1.3a.  Bonus Points.  10 bonus points will awarded for each of the following:

• ARRL or SKYWARN™ sticker affixed somewhere on the station.
• Spare fuses.  Your own spare fuses must be made available during judging.
• Headphone.  Your own headphones must be made available during judging.
• Digital capable.  Having a digital capable station only make the operator more versatile.  A PC, soundcard interface, or TNC must be included with the station.  All required connections must be included for demonstration in order to receive this bonus.  Digital includes all soundcard modes such as PSK31, MT63, SSTV, and RTTY.  This also includes Winlink2000, NBEMS, and WINMOR.  This does NOT include APRS.

1.3c.  Bonus Points.  30 bonus points will be awarded for each of the following:

• CW operator.  CW has been known to always get the message through.  Having a CW key with the station does not make you a CW operator.  Therefore, CW proficiency will be expected in order to earn these bonus points.  Stations must have their own CW key/paddle and connections present during judging.
• Use of Anderson Powerpoles.  The Powerpole is the standard for ARES®.

1.3d.  Bonus Points.  40 bonus points will be awarded for each of the following:

• Generator Power.  This bonus is for those who run their station at the hamfest with their own generator.

1.3e.  Bonus Points.  50 bonus points will be awarded for each of the following:

• Power by natural resouces.  This includes wind, solar, and water.  Natural resource power may be needed during times of emergency or disaster.  This bonus will be awarded to participants who operate their station on natural resource power.  The bonus will also be awarded to those who use natural resource power for charging their existing power source.
• Amateur radio license (copy or original) affixed somewhere on go box station.

2.1.  Classification.

• Homebrew.  Homebrew stations may use tool boxes, tackle boxes, suit cases, ammo cans, or similar to house or enclose the go box station.
• Commercial.  This classification is for commercially made devices to house or enclose the go box station.  Examples include the iportable, tac-comm, MFJ-706, and similar.

2.2.  Prizes.  All prizes have been donated by the District Emergency Coordinator.  All entries will receive a participation ribbon.

• 1st place commercial and 1st place homebrew.  Each winner will receive a $25.00 gift certificate to Amateur Electronic Supply (AES).  The gift certificate is good for two years and may be used at any AES store.
• 2nd place commercial and 2nd place homebrew.  Each winner will receive a bag of 30A Powerpoles.
• 3rd place commercial and 3rd place homebrew.  Each winner will receive a special event certificate suitable for framing.
• Honorable Mention commercial and homebrew.  Each winner will receive a special ribbon suitable to keep with your station.

2.3.  Disqualification.

• ANY ATTEMPT BY A PARTICIPANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY CIRCUMVENT, DISRUPT OR DAMAGE ORDINARY AND NORMAL OPERATION OF THIS CONTEST OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, ARES® TENTH DISTRICT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DISQUALIFY THE OFFENDING PARTICIPANT.

2.3.  Subject to Change.

• ARES® Tenth District reserves the right to amend, modify or remove any of the rules without notice.