2024 RULES

TIDBITS:

CQ BOO is the time tested CQ for the Zombie Shuffle.

Proposed in 1998 by Marshall Emm, N1FN (SK)

REBIRTH RULE: You may work the same station on a band every two hours so you

don't get bored while on the prowl. Your logging app may not like it, but we don't mind.

CODE SPEED: This is not a 35wpm event. It's a fun event irregardless of your

code speed or how rusty you may be. We want to work you as bad as you want

to work us – paddles or straight key. Most Zombies will match your code speed.

SCORE SUBMISSIONS:

Download the Summary Sheet above and submit to: na5n@zianet.com

with Zombie in the subject by November 15, 2024 (3 weeks after the event).

LOGS: You do not need to submit your log – just the summary sheet. QRP Zombies may be at the bottom of the gene pool - but at least we're honest!

PHOTOS: Feel free to send a selfie or photo or two along with your summary sheet of you or your station, providing it conforms to the stringent high standards of the Zombie Shuffle.

WHEN: FRIDAY Afternoon and Night, OCTOBER 25, 2024 (local US/VE time)

WHERE: Primarily intended for North & South American time zones.

TIME: From 1500 local time to local midnight. Afternoon start to enjoy the higher bands. Participate an hour or two, here and there, whatever you can spare, or all 9-hours if you have the stomach for it.

BANDS: 80–10M non -WARC Bands only -- Somewhere around the QRP watering

holes: 28.060, 21.060, 14.060, 7.030, 7.040, 7.106, 3.560, or anything else that works.

Use of sked pages, QRP spotting or QRP-L announcements are allowed.

MODE: CW only, QRP (5W or less)

EXCHANGE: RST, SPC, Zombie Number, Zombie Name
   RST – Signal report (like 599, though QRPers appreciate honest reports)
   SPC – State/Province/Country (ex. CA, TX, ONT, Transylvania, etc.)
   ZOMBIE NUMBER - Your assigned Zombie number

or your telephone 3-digit Area Code

(Bonus stations will send "3333" as their Zombie number)

ZOMBIE NAME - Pick a unique, scary, spooky, or goofy name of your choosing to

send in the exchange as your OP name for an extra measure of

Zombie fun. (please, no political names - they're scary enough).

See 2023 Results for ideas on names used last year.

YLs are welcome to use ELVIRA.

ZOMBIE EVENT PHILOSOPHY: There is no point to the Zombie Shuffle whatsoever except to get on the air and have some goofy fun with fellow Zombies and QRPers. Even with only 2-3 QSOs, you can earn a fairly large score to brag to your co-workers and QRO buddies. If you haven't been on the air for awhile, or you are a new CW ham, your fist is “rusty,” or your code speed is slow, this is the “contest” to put a few contacts in the log. Note that the scoring is based largely on SERENDIPITY rather than operating skill. Band conditions and propagation are not the best at night, so operators are not cracking out 35wpm. Around 13-18 wpm is typical. Don't be afraid to ask a station to QRS (slow down) or to repeat their exchange if you miss it. Most will match your speed. They want to work you as much as you want to work them. And remember, they're a Zombie too! We want you to stay on the air and have fun in spite of crummy bands – so you can work the same station on a band after a two hour wait (every 2 hours if you wish). So get out your straight key, keyer, bug, or spark gap and do your CW thing.

Every year, we get summary sheets from a few that says "These were my first CW QSOs ever," or "my first CW contacts in 20 years." It's an honor to give a ham their first CW QSOs. That's what it's all about.

72, Paul NA5N and Jan "Elvira" NØQT
GRAND ZOMBIE & GRAND WITCHESS & CONTEST CORONER

WHY ZOMBIE SHUFFLE?:

Because Zombies don't sprint.

THE ZOMBIE SHUFFLE is an annual afternoon/evening event for QRPers to get on the air, have some fun, and rack up a really big score in spite of what your CW or operating skills may be. It is held the Friday nearest Halloween each year and to avoid the ARRL CW Sweepstakes contest.

Afternoon start time to take advantage of the higher bands before nightfall.

The Zombie Shuffle is administered strictly through the QRP-L mailing list and this website.

The First Zombie Shuffle was held on Oct. 30, 1998 with the launch of

the NorCal-20 QRP transceiver kit.

CHANGES THIS YEAR:

Nothing, really. Pretty much the same old pointless get-on-the-air lame QRP silly radio event as always.

Click photo to enlarge

The first Zombie Shuffle was in October 1998. The following year, 1999, Doug Hendricks KI6DS and Jim Cates WA6GER (SK) had Zombie Shuffle lapel pins made and given to all participants submitting a log for an SASE. The pins were funded by KI6DS, WA6GER, and NORCAL.

About 100 pins were given out. They were seen on the ball caps of many QRPers for years ... and a few still to this day (like my NA5N hamfest ball cap).

For those that have one, they are the original QRP Zombies.

BONUS STATIONS

Select stations will be bonus stations. They will be sending "3333" for their Zombie Number in the exchange, and thus worth 3,333 points each and a multiplier for each bonus station worked.

If you would like to be a bonus station, email NA5N

Confused? The Summary Sheet calculates the score for you.

Still confused? Congratulations — you're a Zombie!

SCORING

2024 Summary Sheet – calculates the score for you.

Summary Sheet (in .xls MS Office format)

Summary Sheet (in .ods Open Office format)

Can't download Summary Sheet on your mobile device?

GO HERE

If you prefer mail, send to:

Paul Harden, NA5N, 72 Polvadera Heights Road, Lemitar, NM 87823

If you don't have a Zombie number, email Grand Witchess Jan n0qt@zianet.com to request one (or if you've forgotten yours). If you've been issued a Zombie Number in the past, it is good for life, or death, whichever comes first.

Example Exchanges:
599 KS 1027 Elvira (A Zombie named Elvira in Kansas, Zombie number is 1027)
549 AR 3333 Igor (A bonus station in Arkansas using the name Igor)