2023 6cm Activity Ladder

1. Introduction. The main object of the 6cm Activity Ladder is to promote ATV activity on 5.6GHz. Anyone interested in ATV, whether they are members of the British Amateur Television Club or not, are welcome to take part.

2. Eligibility. BATC Contests are open to all licensed radio amateurs who are equipped to transmit pictures by analogue or digital Fast Scan. There is no receive only section.

To encourage all Microwave activity, entries from stations running FM voice on 5665MHz will be accepted for the ladder contest from October 1st 2023 to December 31st 2023.

3. Dates and Times. The competition will run from 0000hrs UTC on 1st January 2023 to 2359hrs UTC on the 31st December 2023.

4. Location. Operating locations must be within the terms of your licence. If operating away from your main station, please get the permission of the landowner. Any (legal) location may be used, but contacts between two licensees operating from unchanged locations may only be claimed a maximum of twice per week. For example, if you have a daily sked, you may claim for it twice per week. It is essential that you adhere to any local and national COVID virus movement and assembly restrictions in force.

5. Frequencies and Modes. This Ladder is restricted to the 6cm band, using either FM voice, FM ATV or digital ATV modes. Contacts using Narrow band voice (SSB), CW and data modes are not valid for the activity ladder.

6. Power. Output power must not exceed that set out in the terms of your licence.

7. Exchange. Both a CALL SIGN and a FOUR-FIGURE code number must be conveyed and received by another station. Reception of the transmitted signal can only be via the RF link. Reception via a streamer is not permitted.

For a video contact only, confirmation of reception is required by transmitting the sum of the code numbers (not the actual transmitted number) on the talk-back channel. Stations are encouraged to use amateur radio for talkback, but use of mobile phones or internet is permitted.

Please note that the contest number should be four random chosen digits. The digits shall neither be the same (e.g. 2222) nor consecutive (e.g. 4567 or 5432).

8. On-line logging. Use the 6cm Activity Ladder page on the BATC website here: https://batc.org.uk/6cm-ladder and fill in the boxes for each contact as appropriate. The website will calculate the points awarded for the contact and add them to your total. You can add contacts made since the 1st January 2023 retrospectively. Entries will only be accepted via the on-line Activity Ladder web page.

9. Disputes. The decision of the contest manager and/or the BATC Committee is final.

10. Spirit of the Contest. Don’t leave your video transmission on any longer than necessary and don't hog the ATV calling channel 144.75 MHz; move off to another channel once the contact is established. Contests mean activity and good fun, join in and, even if you only work one or two stations, please use the Ladder to record your activity.

11. Declaration of Interest. Although acting as contest manager, I reserve the right to take part.

12. Contact Address. Queries can be submitted to: C. Reynolds, 49 Westborough Way, Anlaby Common, East Riding of Yorkshire HU4 7SW. Email: contests@batc.tv

Clive Reynolds G3GJA / G8EQZ BATC Contest Manager 30 Novevember 2023