Subj : Flight of the Bumble Bee 2024
To   : All
From : n2qfd
Date : Tue Jul 16 2024 03:49 pm

https://ars-qrp.com/FOBB/FOBB.html

Overview & Rule Summary

FOR THE ADVENTURE RADIO SOCIETY
Flight of the Bumblebees
Sunday, July 28, 2024
1700 to 2100 UTC


What is the ARS Flight of the Bumblebees and how can I participate?



The Adventure Radio Society Flight of the Bumblebees is a four-hour event held annually on the last Sunday of July.

It is open to all QRP CW operators

there is not any membership requirement.

The Bumblebees are the stations that are out in the field who are sought after.

CONTEST PERIOD BY TIMEZONE (Local Times)

 1300 to 1700     Eastern DST
1200 to 1600       Central DST
 1100  to 1500    Mountain DST
1000 to 1400       Pacific DST
 0700 to 1100     Hawaii DST

This contest period accommodates multiple US time zones simultaneously.
No matter where you live, there will be time for Bumblebees to travel to a field
operating site, set up their station, operate the contest, and travel home.

WHO CAN PLAY?

Both home based stations and portable operations are encouraged.

PLAYING IN 2024 FOBB

Everyone in the contest can work anyone else in the contest. In other words:
Home based stations can work Bumblebees and other home based stations.
Bumblebees can work home based stations and other Bumblebees.

However, this event really is all about working as many swarming Bumblebees as
possible. Finding and working Bumblebees is the most rewarding thing to do for a
Home Station.

WHAT QUALIFIES AS A BUMBLEBEE?

Participants who operate portable from field locations are designated as
'Bumblebees'. They get to their final operating site principally under their own
power by walking, biking, boating, and so on. The distance traveled to get to
the site is at the Bumblebee's discretion. Bumblebees will add /BB to their
calls. (NOTE: Home based stations do not ever add /BB to their callsign.)

BUMBLEBEE NUMBERS

If you plan to operate the 2024 FOBB as a portable field station you're re invited
to request a Bumblebee Number. Click Here For Instructions for Obtaining a
Bumblebee Number. There is no limit to the number of Bumblebees.

POWER OUTPUT

To keep with its minimalist theme, Maximum FOBB Power Output is 5 watts. This
Maximum Power Limit applies to Home Stations also.

OPERATION

We operate CW on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters, around standard QRP frequencies.
Call CQ BB or listen for calling stations. Here are the recognized standard QRP
frequencies: https://qrper.com/resources/qrp-calling-frequencies

EXCHANGE

If you are a Bumblebee, your exchange is RST, state/province/country, and your
Bumblebee Number. If you are Home-Based Station, your exchange is RST,
state/province/country, and your Power.

Here are examples of exchanges:

Bumblebee NE6SW/BB (Bumblebee No. 81) sends:
579
CA
BB 81 or NR 81

Home based station WN1DWL sends:
579
MA
5W

How do I know that I worked a Bumblebee? Bumblebees will put a /BB after their
Call, and/or will give you a BB Number. Keep track of how many Bumblebee you
work that total will be needed.

WHAT COUNTS?

You can work each Bumblebee or Home Station once on each Band. Working the same
Bumblebee on a different band counts as an additional Contact and as an
additional Bumblebee Worked. So, try looking for Bumblebees on all of the bands
that are open during this event.

ENTERING YOUR RESULTS

To report your results, go to 3830scores.com, and select the `ARS FOBB` (on the
Left side). Be certain to properly select `Home` or `Bumblebee` so that you end
up in the proper Results List. You will enter your [Total Contacts] that you
made and the [Number of Bumblebees] that you worked. ([Total Contacts] includes
both Bumblebees and non-Bumblebees) ([Number of Bumblebees] that you worked is
self explanatory). If you are a Bumblebee, put a General Description of your
Field Location into your Soapbox Comments. Soapbox comments may also include
your power, equipment, antennas, band conditions, outdoor conditions, outdoor
experiences, and anything else about the event that you wish to comment on. If
you are a Home Station, Soapbox comments may include your power, equipment,
antennas, band conditions, and anything else about the event that you wish to
comment on.

SCORE CALCULATION and RESULTS REPORTS

Total Scores will be Automatically Calculated using this Formula:
[Total Score] = [Total Contacts] x [Number of Bumblebees] x 3 Separate Reports
will be available for both the `Home` and the `Bumblebee` entrants. Current
Results will be available on 3830scores.com immediately. Once everyone has
entered their results, you will be able to see how well you did within your
group. All of the Comments are available by clicking on the 3830scores.com
Summaries-->Comments selection.

SAFETY:

As with all ARS events, please keep safety in front of mind when conducting
operations in the field. Such things as weather, power lines, terrain,
dehydration, and fatigue can be lethal. Above all, we want all participants to
have a fabulous and safe experience.

Here is a nice video from Bumblebee WG0AT in 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=A0-0-pMH8Y4

Looking forward to working you during the Flight of the Bumblebees.

73, Jody - K3JZD on behalf of Russ Carpenter - AA7QU and Richard Fisher - KI6SN
The Adventure Radio Society Pioneers

Last Updated: 15JUL24

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