Nedeľné popoludnie patrí už mnoho rokov medzi pravidelné termíny stretnutia priaznivcov telegrafie v rámci českého Nedělního Závodu. Ide o krátky, dynamický CW a competition organized every week, which is intended for a wide range of radio amateurs - from beginners to experienced contestmen. Thanks to its short duration, simple rules and Sprint system, it represents an ideal opportunity for regular training in pile-up work, improving the speed of station operation and checking the technical condition of your own equipment.
Although the race itself only lasts 30 minutes, the high activity of the participants and the different way of managing the traffic require good concentration and well-thought-out tactics. The Sunday Race is one of the competitions that can offer very intense traffic and a lot of connections even in a short time.
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What is Sunday Race?
Nedělní Závod je pravidelný telegrafný pretek organizovaný každú nedeľu na pásme 80 m. Súťaž prebieha výhradne druhom prevádzky CW v úseku od 3535 do 3560,5 kHz. Počas zimného času sa koná od 15:00 do 15:30 UTC, počas letného času od 17:30 do 18:00 UTC. Celý pretek je rozdelený na dve samostatné 15-minútové etapy, with no break between them. This format allows a new valid connection to be established during the second stage with a station that was already connected to in the first stage.
The competition is open to stations operating with a power of up to 100 W, and stations in the QRP category with a power of up to 5 W are also evaluated separately. Stations classified in the QRP category use the suffix /Q after their callsign, which is important not only for classification in the correct category, but also for scoring opposing stations.
Overview of basic conditions
| Operation type | CW |
| Band | 80m (3535-3560.5kHz) |
| Duration | 30 minutes |
| Number of stages | 2 × 15 minutes |
| Categories | LOW (up to 100 W), QRP (up to 5 W) |
| Exchange | RST + connection sequence number |
| Multipliers | are not used |
Sprint System – the basis of race dynamics
The most striking feature of the Sunday Race is the use of the Sprint system. Unlike classic contests, the goal is not just to continuously call a call on one frequency. After the connection is terminated, the operator must react according to the current situation on the band. He can start calling his own call or immediately search for another station. The choice of strategy depends on the operator's experience, the current occupancy of the band and whether a suitable working frequency has been obtained.
The division of the race into two stages brings another interesting element. The connection to the station made during the first stage can be repeated as a new valid one after the start of the second stage. QSO. To motivuje účastníkov priebežne sledovať čas a po zmene etapy opäť aktívne vyhľadávať už predtým odpracované stanice.
The organizer also allows the creation of so-called pile-up stations. If significant interest is created around one station, the connection with such a station is given a bonus in terms of points. The pile-up station itself also receives a bonus for the long-term evaluation. This is an interesting element that supports high activity even among more experienced operators.
Scoring and checking diaries
The scoring system is intentionally simple. Each valid call is worth one point. Higher points can be earned for a call with a station operating in the QRP category or with a favored station, which is the three stations with the lowest points in the LOW category from the previous round. The highest points are earned for a call with a declared pile-up station. The result is determined by simply adding up the points earned, as no multipliers are used.
| Connection type | Points |
| Current valid QSOs | 1 |
| QRP station (/Q) | 2 |
| Discounted LOW station | 3 |
| Pile-up station | 5 |
The organizer pays considerable attention to checking the logs. If a station does not send its log, the connection can only be recognized if its call sign appears at least three times in the logs of other participants. The rules also address situations caused by incorrect call sign writing, for example, when omitting the suffix /Q or when confusing similar call signs. The goal is to maintain the highest possible objectivity of the evaluation and eliminate points obtained illegally.
Contest logs are submitted via the organizer's web interface. The deadline for submission is Monday 12:00 local time, with results usually published during Monday afternoon. The organizer also points out that the code submitted is identical to the CQ WPX race, which makes it easier to set up most commonly used contest logs.
Traveling Cup of the Sunday Race
In addition to the regular evaluation of individual rounds, the Sunday Race also includes a competition for the Sunday Race Travel Cup (PPNZ). The winner is the participant who achieves the highest number of valid contacts in one race. Only correctly confirmed QSOs are included in the result, while incorrect contacts are excluded from the evaluation. In the case of an equal number of contacts, the earlier date of achieving the record is decisive.
The traveling cup is traditionally awarded during the amateur radio meeting in Holice, or by mail or by agreement with the organizer. If the same participant manages to win the cup the following year, it becomes his permanent property. The decisive date is always the last Sunday Race before the meeting in Holice.
The rules set in this way motivate participants not only to participate regularly, but also to continuously improve their operator work techniques. Since the number of valid connections is decisive, great emphasis is placed on accurate signal reception, correct logbook keeping, and efficient work throughout the entire thirty-minute race.
Cup for LOW and QRP categories
A separate award is also given to stations operating in the LOW and QRP categories. The conditions are similar to those of the Travelling Cup, but only participants in these performance categories are evaluated. The winner is the station that achieves the highest number of valid contacts in one race. In the event of a tie, the earlier date of achieving the record is again decisive.
Unlike the main evaluation, bonus points earned for pile-up stations are not counted in this cup. The organizer thus emphasizes primarily operator skills, appropriately chosen strategy and efficient use of available power. Even stations operating with a few watts of power have a real opportunity to achieve very high-quality results.
Setting up contest logs
The organizer points out that the code transmitted is identical to the CQ WPX contest. Most modern contest logs therefore allow for easy setup without the need to create your own contest definition. As an exchange, RST is used, supplemented by a three-digit connection sequence number. Čas všetkých spojení musí byť zapisovaný v UTC s presnosťou ±1 minúta.
When using programs N1MM Logger+, Win-Test, DXLog alebo TR4W je vhodné zvoliť typ súťaže CQ WPX CW. Vďaka tomu program automaticky generuje správny formát poradových čísiel aj Cabrillo Before the race itself, it is advisable to verify that the sequence number starts with the value 001 and continues throughout the entire stage without interruption.
Since the Sunday Race consists of two fifteen-minute stages, there are two common ways of keeping a log. The first is to keep one continuous log throughout the entire thirty-minute race. The second method is to create two separate logs, with a new file for the second stage opened after the first stage. Both approaches are functional, the key is to submit the log correctly according to the organizer's requirements. With the second method, care must be taken to correctly connect or export both stages before sending.
Some experienced contestmen use separate logs mainly because it is easier to check repeated connections after a stage change. With one common log, it is easier to track the total number of connections and the ongoing development of the race. The choice of working method is therefore primarily a matter of personal preference of the operator.
Practical recommendations
Despite the simple rules, the Sunday Race is one of those competitions where the right tactics can significantly affect the final result. During the first stage, it is worth working as many active stations as possible, while after the start of the second stage, it is advisable to systematically search the entire race zone again. This is because a large part of the stations are ready to establish a second valid connection immediately after the stage change.
QRP stations represent valuable connections from a scoring perspective, so it is worth noting them even when the band is heavily occupied. Connections with favored LOW stations or with a declared pile-up station can also be advantageous, for which a higher number of points can be obtained. Therefore, a successful operator continuously monitors not only free working frequencies, but also the current activity of individual stations.
The accuracy of the callsigns is also important. The organizer pays considerable attention to checking the logs, and incorrectly entered callsigns or omission of the /Q suffix may lead to the connection not being recognized. A quick check of the log before sending it can prevent unnecessary loss of points.
Conclusion
Sunday Race patrí medzi súťaže, ktoré dokazujú, že kvalitný contest does not have to last several hours. During thirty minutes, it offers enough space to improve operator habits, train in working in the Sprint system and regularly verify the technical condition of the radio station. Simple rules, regular dates and a friendly atmosphere make this competition an excellent opportunity to actively use a Sunday afternoon. An interesting motivational element is also the traveling cups, which recognize not only the absolute winners, but also successful operators in the LOW and QRP categories.