Slovenský zväz rádioamatérov organizuje OM Activity contest (OMAC), which for many years has been among the most stable and popular events of Slovak and Czech radio amateurs. The competition, focused on the activity of individuals in the 80-meter band, has clear and transparent rules that give equal chances to all participants - from experienced operators with powerful equipment to fans QRP prevádzky s minimálnym výkonom.
OMAC sa skladá z dvanástich mesačných etáp, pričom každá sa koná druhú sobotu v mesiaci. The first part, dedicated to telegraphy (CW), takes place from 06:00 to 06:59 local time, the second - phone (SSB) - follows from 07:00 to 07:59. It competes exclusively in the band 80 metrov, v úsekoch 3520–3560 kHz pre CW a 3700–3775 kHz pre SSB.
Súťaž je určená výhradne pre OM a OK stanice, which establish connections only between themselves. The condition for participation is that the broadcasting station is located on the territory of the Slovak or Czech Republic. OMAC is therefore a specific national activity that supports connections between radio amateurs of both countries and strengthens their long-term cooperation.
You will read in the article
Categories and scoring
Contestants can participate in six categories - combined (CW + SSB) or separate (only CW or only SSB), each of which is divided according to performance into QRO (do 100 W) a QRP (do 5 W). To umožňuje férové porovnanie výkonov aj medzi účastníkmi s rôznymi technickými možnosťami.
Každé platné spojenie je ohodnotené jedným bodom, but if the connection is made with the same station on both modes (CW and SSB), the operator gets celkom tri body. Násobičmi sú posledné písmená volacích značiek protistaníc, pričom maximálny počet násobičov je 26. Celkový výsledok sa teda vypočíta ako súčet bodov vynásobený počtom násobičov.
Log submission and evaluation
Each participant is obliged to send his diary do siedmich dní po skončení etapy prostredníctvom webového rozhrania na stránke sq.szr.sk. Denník musí byť vo formáte Cabrillo and include an affidavit of compliance with the rules and permit conditions. This electronic system simplifies the processing of results and eliminates errors.
Výsledky jednotlivých etáp sú zverejňované do siedmich dní po ich skončení, a to priamo na stránke súťaže. Do celkového hodnotenia ročníka sa započítava deväť najlepších etapových výsledkov out of twelve, which also leaves room for operators who cannot compete every month.
Fairness and control
OMAC kladie dôraz na férovosť a transparentnosť. Spojenia sú uznávané len vtedy, ak sú obojstranne potvrdené in the contest journals and contain the correctly received code. To prevent unauthorized counting, connections with unsent logs are only acknowledged if the call sign of such a station appears at least v piatich denníkoch iných účastníkov.
Súťažiaci môže byť z mesačnej etapy vyradený, if it violates the competition conditions or permit regulations, or if it has more than 30% errors or fictitious connections in the diary. Repeated violations can lead to diskvalifikácii z celého ročníka, o ktorej rozhoduje KV komisia SZR.
The importance and benefit of the competition
OM Activity contest nie je len o bodoch a výsledkoch. Je to predovšetkým dlhodobá aktivita, which maintains an active life in the 80 m zone throughout the year. It allows radio amateurs to practice discipline, speed and accuracy in telegraphy or phone operation. Thanks to the short duration of the stages - only two hours a month - the competition is available to everyone, even for those who do not have the possibility of longer broadcasts.
Many participants also appreciate the social dimension of OMAC. The competition has become a platform where old acquaintances and new enthusiasts meet, and where healthy competition is created between individuals and regions. The regular participation of Slovak and Czech operators strengthens the tradition of joint races and builds a community of radio amateurs with an emphasis on the quality of connections, not just quantity.
New year - new challenge
Each new year of OMAC brings an opportunity to measure one's strengths, improve one's own results and support activity on the band. The continuous evaluation system allows you to track progress throughout the year and motivates regular participation.
Slovenský zväz rádioamatérov tak opäť vytvára priestor pre súťaženie v priateľskej atmosfére, s dôrazom na technickú zdatnosť, čestnosť a kolegiálnosť. OM Activity contest zostáva jednou z najdôležitejších domácich KV súťaží – a zároveň pripomienkou, že aj v digitálnej dobe má klasické rádioamatérstvo stále svoje nezastupiteľné miesto.
73! And may the new year of OMAC bring many nice connections, good signals and fair play on the air to all operators.