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

N2QFD{Queen City BBS}:// "Does this need to be said? Does this need to be said by me? Does this need to be said by me right now?" - Craig Ferguson

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: Queen City BBS (21:1/154)