Monday, March 23, 2020

Safe Contesting Suggestions from CQ


If you're "sheltering in place" or otherwise stuck at home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, the CQ World Wide WPX SSBContest this coming weekend (March 28-29) is the perfect way to have some fun and keep connected with the outside world.

However, we want to make sure you practice "safe contesting," especially if you're planning a multi-operator effort. A few suggestions:

- Consider staying at home and operating single-op (except for family stations), especially if local jurisdictions are limiting or prohibiting group gatherings
- Consider remote multi-op with operators "traveling" to your station via the internet instead of in-person (if you're equipped for it and if your ops will all be legal)
- If you're too far along in planning an in-person multi-op operation, please follow "social distancing" recommendations, including:
  • setting up operating positions at least six feet (two meters) apart;
  • not sharing microphones/headphones/computer keyboards without first wiping them down with disinfectant wipes;
  • staggering meal breaks to keep from having everyone together at one time;
  • not sharing sleeping/napping spots,
  • not touching your face, and of course,
  • washing your hands for at least 20 seconds between every contact (well, maybe not quite that often, but you get the idea).

We want all of you not only to enjoy this contest but many more to come as well!

73, stay healthy, and good luck in the contest,
Your friends at CQ

PS - If you haven't already seen our previous e-mail, you can get two free digital issues of CQ (March and April) just by sending a request to <FreeIssues@cq-amateur-radio.com> (See note below). Plus, you can take advantage our spring subscription special to sign up or renew at a big discount at <https://tinyurl.com/tadwavy>.

Note about our free issue offer: Please be patient, as requests are being processed manually by limited staff working from home; and if you've already put in a request, please don't send a repeat as that slows the process for everyone. Thanks & 73.
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