{ "contest": { "id": "pears-national-vhf-uhf", "name": "PEARS National VHF/UHF Contest", "sponsor": "Port Elizabeth Amateur Radio Society (PEARS)", "sponsor_home": "https://mysarl.org.za/contest-resources/", "country": "ZA", "summary": "South Africa's big VHF and UHF weekend: two 22-hour sessions from 1600 UTC on the second Friday of January, analogue and digital from 6 m to 23 cm.", "modes": [ "CW", "SSB", "FM", "Digital" ], "bands": [ "6m", "2m", "70cm", "23cm" ], "exchange": "A signal report and locator, per the contest's channel plan.", "power_categories": [], "log_format": "", "log_deadline_days": null, "log_submit_url": "", "timezone": "", "local_rolling": false, "eligibility": { "scope": "entity_list", "entities": [ "ZS", "V5", "A2", "Z2", "C9", "7P", "3DA" ], "verified": true, "note": "'open to all licensed amateurs in the RSA, including non-members of the SARL, as well as amateurs from the neighbouring states.' PEARS says 'neighbouring states' rather than naming them; the list here is the same one SARL names for its own HAMNET contest." }, "active_from": null, "active_until": null, "note": "TWO SESSIONS, NOT ONE 44-HOUR BLOCK, and the distinction is the sponsor's own: PEARS scores them separately and says so. They are back to back -- the second 'commences immediately after' the first ends at 14:00 UTC Saturday -- so a single 44-hour occurrence would draw the same bar on the rail and lose the fact that they are two scored periods. The anchor is the 2nd FRIDAY of January, which is how PEARS phrases it. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.", "verified": true, "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf", "rules_url_pattern": "", "rules_url_archived": "", "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19", "source_note": "2026 SARL Contest Manual Version 1.1 (2025-12-15), mysarl.org.za, 'The PEARS National VHF/UHF Contest': '1.1. The PEARS National VHF and UHF contest will take place from 9 to 11 January 2026 and is open to all licensed amateurs in the RSA, including non-members of the SARL, as well as amateurs from the neighbouring states.' '1.3. This is a 44-hour dual contest for analogue and digital modes, which is divided into 2 sessions that will spread out activity over the contest period and reflect changes of propagation.' '2. Dates and Times The first 22-hour session of the VHF and UHF contest starts at 16:00 UTC on Friday 9 January and closes at 14:00 UTC on Saturday afternoon 10 January (2nd Friday and Saturday of January). The second 22-hour session commences immediately after 14:00 UTC on Saturday 10 January and ends at 12:00 UTC on Sunday 11 January 2026 (2nd Saturday and Sunday of January).'" }, "rule": { "plain": "Second Friday of January", "raw": { "type": "nth_weekday", "month": 1, "n": 2, "weekday": 4 }, "start": { "day_offset": 0, "time": "1600" }, "end": { "day_offset": 2, "time": "1200" }, "sessions": [ { "start": { "day_offset": 0, "time": "1600" }, "end": { "day_offset": 1, "time": "1400" } }, { "start": { "day_offset": 1, "time": "1400" }, "end": { "day_offset": 2, "time": "1200" } } ] }, "next": [ { "contest_id": "pears-national-vhf-uhf", "name": "PEARS National VHF/UHF Contest", "start": "2027-01-08T16:00:00Z", "end": "2027-01-09T14:00:00Z", "start_wall": null, "end_wall": null, "local_rolling": false, "timezone": "", "duration_hours": 22, "modes": [ "CW", "SSB", "FM", "Digital" ], "submodes": [], "bands": [ "6m", "2m", "70cm", "23cm" ], "bands_note": "50, 70, 144, 432 and 1296 MHz, each split into SSB/CW, digital and FM channels -- for example 144.200-144.250 SSB/CW, 144.250-144.300 digital, 144.350-144.400 FM. The 70 MHz (4 m) band is in PEARS's list but has no token in this catalog's band vocabulary, so it is recorded only here.", "sponsor": "Port Elizabeth Amateur Radio Society (PEARS)", "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf", "verified": true, "note": "TWO SESSIONS, NOT ONE 44-HOUR BLOCK, and the distinction is the sponsor's own: PEARS scores them separately and says so. They are back to back -- the second 'commences immediately after' the first ends at 14:00 UTC Saturday -- so a single 44-hour occurrence would draw the same bar on the rail and lose the fact that they are two scored periods. The anchor is the 2nd FRIDAY of January, which is how PEARS phrases it. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.", "exchange": "A signal report and locator, per the contest's channel plan.", "country": "ZA", "rules_url_archived": "", "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19", "can_enter": false, "eligibility_scope": "entity_list", "eligibility_reason": "Entry limited to ZS, V5, A2, Z2, C9, 7P, 3DA. K stations may be worked but cannot submit an entry.", "works": "everyone", "practical": "", "log_due": null, "uid": "pears-national-vhf-uhf-20270108T1600@contestcal", "start_date": "2027-01-08", "mode_families": [ "CW", "SSB", "FM", "Digital" ], "band_families": [ "6m", "VHF+" ], "duration_bucket": "12-24" }, { "contest_id": "pears-national-vhf-uhf", "name": "PEARS National VHF/UHF Contest", "start": "2027-01-09T14:00:00Z", "end": "2027-01-10T12:00:00Z", "start_wall": null, "end_wall": null, "local_rolling": false, "timezone": "", "duration_hours": 22, "modes": [ "CW", "SSB", "FM", "Digital" ], "submodes": [], "bands": [ "6m", "2m", "70cm", "23cm" ], "bands_note": "50, 70, 144, 432 and 1296 MHz, each split into SSB/CW, digital and FM channels -- for example 144.200-144.250 SSB/CW, 144.250-144.300 digital, 144.350-144.400 FM. The 70 MHz (4 m) band is in PEARS's list but has no token in this catalog's band vocabulary, so it is recorded only here.", "sponsor": "Port Elizabeth Amateur Radio Society (PEARS)", "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf", "verified": true, "note": "TWO SESSIONS, NOT ONE 44-HOUR BLOCK, and the distinction is the sponsor's own: PEARS scores them separately and says so. They are back to back -- the second 'commences immediately after' the first ends at 14:00 UTC Saturday -- so a single 44-hour occurrence would draw the same bar on the rail and lose the fact that they are two scored periods. The anchor is the 2nd FRIDAY of January, which is how PEARS phrases it. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.", "exchange": "A signal report and locator, per the contest's channel plan.", "country": "ZA", "rules_url_archived": "", "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19", "can_enter": false, "eligibility_scope": "entity_list", "eligibility_reason": "Entry limited to ZS, V5, A2, Z2, C9, 7P, 3DA. K stations may be worked but cannot submit an entry.", "works": "everyone", "practical": "", "log_due": null, "uid": "pears-national-vhf-uhf-20270109T1400@contestcal", "start_date": "2027-01-09", "mode_families": [ "CW", "SSB", "FM", "Digital" ], "band_families": [ "6m", "VHF+" ], "duration_bucket": "12-24" }, { "contest_id": "pears-national-vhf-uhf", "name": "PEARS National VHF/UHF Contest", "start": "2028-01-14T16:00:00Z", "end": "2028-01-15T14:00:00Z", "start_wall": null, "end_wall": null, "local_rolling": false, "timezone": "", "duration_hours": 22, "modes": [ "CW", "SSB", "FM", "Digital" ], "submodes": [], "bands": [ "6m", "2m", "70cm", "23cm" ], "bands_note": "50, 70, 144, 432 and 1296 MHz, each split into SSB/CW, digital and FM channels -- for example 144.200-144.250 SSB/CW, 144.250-144.300 digital, 144.350-144.400 FM. The 70 MHz (4 m) band is in PEARS's list but has no token in this catalog's band vocabulary, so it is recorded only here.", "sponsor": "Port Elizabeth Amateur Radio Society (PEARS)", "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf", "verified": true, "note": "TWO SESSIONS, NOT ONE 44-HOUR BLOCK, and the distinction is the sponsor's own: PEARS scores them separately and says so. They are back to back -- the second 'commences immediately after' the first ends at 14:00 UTC Saturday -- so a single 44-hour occurrence would draw the same bar on the rail and lose the fact that they are two scored periods. The anchor is the 2nd FRIDAY of January, which is how PEARS phrases it. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.", "exchange": "A signal report and locator, per the contest's channel plan.", "country": "ZA", "rules_url_archived": "", "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19", "can_enter": false, "eligibility_scope": "entity_list", "eligibility_reason": "Entry limited to ZS, V5, A2, Z2, C9, 7P, 3DA. K stations may be worked but cannot submit an entry.", "works": "everyone", "practical": "", "log_due": null, "uid": "pears-national-vhf-uhf-20280114T1600@contestcal", "start_date": "2028-01-14", "mode_families": [ "CW", "SSB", "FM", "Digital" ], "band_families": [ "6m", "VHF+" ], "duration_bucket": "12-24" }, { "contest_id": "pears-national-vhf-uhf", "name": "PEARS National VHF/UHF Contest", "start": "2028-01-15T14:00:00Z", "end": "2028-01-16T12:00:00Z", "start_wall": null, "end_wall": null, "local_rolling": false, "timezone": "", "duration_hours": 22, "modes": [ "CW", "SSB", "FM", "Digital" ], "submodes": [], "bands": [ "6m", "2m", "70cm", "23cm" ], "bands_note": "50, 70, 144, 432 and 1296 MHz, each split into SSB/CW, digital and FM channels -- for example 144.200-144.250 SSB/CW, 144.250-144.300 digital, 144.350-144.400 FM. The 70 MHz (4 m) band is in PEARS's list but has no token in this catalog's band vocabulary, so it is recorded only here.", "sponsor": "Port Elizabeth Amateur Radio Society (PEARS)", "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf", "verified": true, "note": "TWO SESSIONS, NOT ONE 44-HOUR BLOCK, and the distinction is the sponsor's own: PEARS scores them separately and says so. They are back to back -- the second 'commences immediately after' the first ends at 14:00 UTC Saturday -- so a single 44-hour occurrence would draw the same bar on the rail and lose the fact that they are two scored periods. The anchor is the 2nd FRIDAY of January, which is how PEARS phrases it. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.", "exchange": "A signal report and locator, per the contest's channel plan.", "country": "ZA", "rules_url_archived": "", "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19", "can_enter": false, "eligibility_scope": "entity_list", "eligibility_reason": "Entry limited to ZS, V5, A2, Z2, C9, 7P, 3DA. K stations may be worked but cannot submit an entry.", "works": "everyone", "practical": "", "log_due": null, "uid": "pears-national-vhf-uhf-20280115T1400@contestcal", "start_date": "2028-01-15", "mode_families": [ "CW", "SSB", "FM", "Digital" ], "band_families": [ "6m", "VHF+" ], "duration_bucket": "12-24" }, { "contest_id": "pears-national-vhf-uhf", "name": "PEARS National VHF/UHF Contest", "start": "2029-01-12T16:00:00Z", "end": "2029-01-13T14:00:00Z", "start_wall": null, "end_wall": null, "local_rolling": false, "timezone": "", "duration_hours": 22, "modes": [ "CW", "SSB", "FM", "Digital" ], "submodes": [], "bands": [ "6m", "2m", "70cm", "23cm" ], "bands_note": "50, 70, 144, 432 and 1296 MHz, each split into SSB/CW, digital and FM channels -- for example 144.200-144.250 SSB/CW, 144.250-144.300 digital, 144.350-144.400 FM. The 70 MHz (4 m) band is in PEARS's list but has no token in this catalog's band vocabulary, so it is recorded only here.", "sponsor": "Port Elizabeth Amateur Radio Society (PEARS)", "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf", "verified": true, "note": "TWO SESSIONS, NOT ONE 44-HOUR BLOCK, and the distinction is the sponsor's own: PEARS scores them separately and says so. They are back to back -- the second 'commences immediately after' the first ends at 14:00 UTC Saturday -- so a single 44-hour occurrence would draw the same bar on the rail and lose the fact that they are two scored periods. The anchor is the 2nd FRIDAY of January, which is how PEARS phrases it. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.", "exchange": "A signal report and locator, per the contest's channel plan.", "country": "ZA", "rules_url_archived": "", "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19", "can_enter": false, "eligibility_scope": "entity_list", "eligibility_reason": "Entry limited to ZS, V5, A2, Z2, C9, 7P, 3DA. K stations may be worked but cannot submit an entry.", "works": "everyone", "practical": "", "log_due": null, "uid": "pears-national-vhf-uhf-20290112T1600@contestcal", "start_date": "2029-01-12", "mode_families": [ "CW", "SSB", "FM", "Digital" ], "band_families": [ "6m", "VHF+" ], "duration_bucket": "12-24" }, { "contest_id": "pears-national-vhf-uhf", "name": "PEARS National VHF/UHF Contest", "start": "2029-01-13T14:00:00Z", "end": "2029-01-14T12:00:00Z", "start_wall": null, "end_wall": null, "local_rolling": false, "timezone": "", "duration_hours": 22, "modes": [ "CW", "SSB", "FM", "Digital" ], "submodes": [], "bands": [ "6m", "2m", "70cm", "23cm" ], "bands_note": "50, 70, 144, 432 and 1296 MHz, each split into SSB/CW, digital and FM channels -- for example 144.200-144.250 SSB/CW, 144.250-144.300 digital, 144.350-144.400 FM. The 70 MHz (4 m) band is in PEARS's list but has no token in this catalog's band vocabulary, so it is recorded only here.", "sponsor": "Port Elizabeth Amateur Radio Society (PEARS)", "rules_url": "https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf", "verified": true, "note": "TWO SESSIONS, NOT ONE 44-HOUR BLOCK, and the distinction is the sponsor's own: PEARS scores them separately and says so. They are back to back -- the second 'commences immediately after' the first ends at 14:00 UTC Saturday -- so a single 44-hour occurrence would draw the same bar on the rail and lose the fact that they are two scored periods. The anchor is the 2nd FRIDAY of January, which is how PEARS phrases it. Sourced from the SARL Contest Manual, which carries this contest's full rules and names its organising body -- the venue in which South African clubs publish their rules, not a listing of them. See data/sources.md, 'Nine South African clubs, one manual'.", "exchange": "A signal report and locator, per the contest's channel plan.", "country": "ZA", "rules_url_archived": "", "rules_url_checked": "2026-08-19", "can_enter": false, "eligibility_scope": "entity_list", "eligibility_reason": "Entry limited to ZS, V5, A2, Z2, C9, 7P, 3DA. K stations may be worked but cannot submit an entry.", "works": "everyone", "practical": "", "log_due": null, "uid": "pears-national-vhf-uhf-20290113T1400@contestcal", "start_date": "2029-01-13", "mode_families": [ "CW", "SSB", "FM", "Digital" ], "band_families": [ "6m", "VHF+" ], "duration_bucket": "12-24" } ] }