H Night commemorates the return of some Amateur Radio privileges after World War 2.
On the evening of 8 December 1945, Amateurs were permitted once more to operate on the 80 metre band (and other allocated spectrum just below today's 6 metre band).
H Night is a way to commemorate this moment in time by getting on air, on the 80 metre band, at 19:30 on the 8th of December each year.
And those wanting more information download this PDF: H Night Preamble
Band: 80 metres
Mode: Amplitude Modulation (AM), Phone only - that is a carrier and both sidebands.
Date: 8 December each year
Time- 7.30 pm to 10:00 pm NZDST - five (5) half-hour periods.
Work individual stations once in each period, unless they are able to change radios, and operate in another category, e.g. use a ZC1 for fifteen (15) minutes then change to a modern radio for fifteen (15) minutes.
There will be a special event station ZL6H.
Work this station for the first time for five (5) points… subsequent contacts claim the points for the type of station that ZL6H is.
Transmitting Categories-
Vintage - radios of all valve, in the signal path.
Hybrid - radios with some valves, at least in the final stage.
Modern - solid state, DSP etc.
SDR - radios that are fully software defined, Flex, K3 etc.
Home Brew - where Tx, Rx or both have been fabricated in the home workshop.
QRP - less than or equal to 5 watts carrier power.
Exchange a signal report and type of equipment you use e.g. ‘59 ZC1’. Suggest you use the following extensions when calling, and claim the points for each station worked-
/V = Vintage - 3 points
/H = Hybrid - 2 points
/M = Modern - 1 point
/S = SDR - 2 points
/W = Homebrew - 2 points
/Q = QRP - 3 points
Working ZL6H - 5 points (first time worked only, then claim points as for type of station ZL6H is… for example 1 point for a modern ZL6H)
Points will be awarded for each station contacted, based on the equipment THE STATION YOU CONTACT uses.
Suggested calling frequencies: QRP 3750 kHz and QRO 3850 kHz, giving older receivers a chance to hear weak signals.
Short Wave Listeners (SWL) section
Points awarded will be the same as for transmitting stations i.e. determined by the type of transmitter the station you hear is using. Use the appropriate multiplier for your style of receiver. Remote receivers please use Modern category.
SWL Category multiplier:
Vintage: All tube line up in receive path. Multiplier 2.0
Modern: Any solid state receiver. Multiplier 1.0
SDR: software defined receivers e.g. Soft Rock, SDR play etc. Multiplier 1.5
Please send logs to Rob Carter, ZL2IW rob.zl2iw@gmail.com with a summary of your equipment used and category you wish to be in.
Good luck on the night, and most of all-have fun!
