What - The Maine 2 meter FM Simplex Challenge is a ham radio contest primarily designed to give 2 meter operators a chance to compete on an even basis, and have fun doing it.

When - Saturday, March 15, 2025, and runs for 4 hours, beginning at 12:00 PM local time.

Contacts are limited to FM Simplex on the 2 meter band.

Participants may be entered as either fixed or mobile, (but not as both).

Exchange - Exchange items include your call sign, the name of the city, village, town, or township you are operating from, and your power level. Rovers and mobiles must be within the city limits of whatever city they claim to be operating from. If you are operating from a served agency station, you should also include this with your exchange. Specify which agency you serve, for example, "SKYWARN," "EOC," or "Red Cross." On the log sheets, however, there will only be a place to notate whether or not the station is operating from a served agency.

City or Town - This is simply the name of the city or town you are operating from. If you do not live within the city limits, use the name of the town or municipality to which mail or a package would be addressed.

For mobile entries, use the name of the city or town you are in, or the closest city or town.

Power levels are defined as follows:
• QRP - 5 watts or less
• Medium Power - greater than 5 watts, but less than 100
• High Power - 100 watts or more

Entry Categories - There are two entry categories: Fixed and Mobile. You may enter only one category for the contest. If a station gives out more than one multiplier during the contest, that station will automatically be entered into the mobile category.

A “Fixed” station or “Fixed” location means that the participant must operate the entire duration of the contest from one specific location. This category would also include setting up a temporary, portable station at a remote location, “Field-Day” style.

A Mobile / Rover  station - a participant operates from a vehicle, with the option of activating more than one multiplier during the duration of the contest. Mobile stations must indicate each location they are operating from on their log sheets.

Scoring -  Each station you work is worth 1 point, however, if you work an official station associated with an EOC, SKYWARN, Red Cross, or other served agency, and it’s operating from that location, it’s worth 2 points. These stations must identify that they are operating from a served agency’s ham station, and indicate it on their entry.

A station can be worked only once, (unless it is mobile). A mobile station may be worked more than once only if it moves to a different city, village, town, or township.

Multipliers: After you add up your QSO points, you can get multipliers. For every different city, village, town, or township you contact, multiply your QSO points times that number.

Awards: Winners certificates will be awarded to the top scorers in each category and power level. A seperate certificate will be awarded for the top scoring "overall" station.

Other: Depending on your location, some of the suggested frequencies may be shared by Echolink nodes across the state. This does not mean that these frequencies are off-limits to contesting, but we do ask that you give priority to users of these services, AND also refrain from using Echolink in any way to advance your score in the contest. If there is any evidence of this, your log will be dismissed.

Club Competition

Clubs are defined as any ARRL or RAC affiliated radio organizations, ARES groups, or school clubs.

Members must specify which club they belong to on their summary sheet if their score is to count toward the club competition.

All members must be "members in good standing" according to the rules and requirements of their club.

The club competition winner will be determined by adding the total scores of all entries from that club.