This is not a traditional Amateur Radio Contest, most awards are not about how many contacts you make! Although winning awards and striving to be the Capital City GOAT is very much encouraged, the best part of the contest will be that Contestants and Spectators will get to see a large assortment of antennas. The awards and rules were designed with this in mind. Creativity is encouraged, so if you can think of a creative way to win a particular award while staying within the confines of the rules, go for it! If there isn't a rule that specifically says you can't do something, the judges will very likely allow it. Any decision made by judges on the day of is however final.
Location:
Sacramento Area, Exact site to be determined. There will be dirt/grass for stakes. The availability or use of trees will be based on the site selected.
Awards For:
Required to be resonant on 1 to 3 bands (SWR less 2:1 on resonant bands & greater than 4:1 on others)
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- Most Avant-garde, any ham band (Judged by Crowd)
- Most Original, any ham band (Judged by Crowd)
- Longest Horizontal
- Tallest Vertical
Requires Length greater than 12 feet, and a Detectable SSB Voice Signal on Northern Utah WebSDR - Server #1
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- Most Versatile; able to be setup on pavement, use no trees or existing structures, and be erected within 10 minutes
- Quickest Set-Up
- Most Bands on one antenna, and must be able to change band within 3 minutes.
- Most Stealth
- Lowest Wattage
- Lowest Frequency
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- Furthest QSO
- Most QSOs
Indiviudalized
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- Highest Frequency, using one band, less than 5 watts, and make one FM Voice QSO with a station greater than 50 feet away
- 2026 Capital City GOAT, Most Awards received by one person (GOAT: Greatest of All Time)
Rules:
- Unless otherwise stated, SSB voice shall be used, and contestants are free to use any HF Ham Band(s) of their choosing.
- No antenna tuners allowed.
- Each antenna may only win one award.
- Commercial antennas are allowed.
- Contestants can only enter one antenna per category. They may compete in as many categories as antennas they and their buddies can erect within 50 minutes total. -- "Most Versatle" and "Quickest Set-Up" antennas are not included in this time restriction, as they will be setup during the time of judging/evaluation.
- Maximum of 100 watts.
- You may use one of our 6-160 meter radios, or provide any radio of your choosing.
- You may use our RG8X coax, or provide any feedline of your choosing. Feedpoints above ground level will necessitate using your feedline. When not in use, please coil your coax to minimize trip hazards.
- Ties shall be broken based on having the Coolest Challenge Coin; see below picture for examples
* Rules and awards on the website are subject to change until 2 weeks before event.
** The number of antennas entered into the contest by one ham, or the award categories themselves may have to be cut back depending upon how many total entries there are, and the amount of time that will be needed to evaluate the antennas. Please do not let this discourage you you from errecting multiple antennas! We have no idea how many people will be bringing antennas, and your antennas may be what are needed to have a successful event!
