Getting Started
- The Director creates a contest on the setup page, entering the contest name, callsign, timing, stations, and operators. A Director PIN is required — keep this private.
- After creating, a 6-character Contest Code is generated. Share the page URL or code with operators so they can join.
- Operators enter their callsign on the join screen. They must already be on the operator list — the director can add them later via Edit Roster.
The Schedule Grid
- Rows are UTC time slots. Columns are stations. Empty cells show an estimated Q/h rate and a green heat bar based on band propagation.
- Directors click any cell to open the assignment modal and assign an operator, mark a break, or clear a slot.
- Operators can tap empty cells to claim a shift and tap their own shifts to release them. All changes appear live for everyone connected.
- The live indicator (coloured dot next to the contest code) shows your real-time connection status.
Auto-Fill
- The ⚡ Auto-Fill button assigns operators to all empty slots using a skill-aware, fairness-balanced algorithm.
- Expert operators are assigned to highest-rate slots first; Beginners cover low-rate periods.
- Auto-fill respects Max Consecutive Shifts and Min Off Shifts — when no operator is eligible a slot is simply left available for manual assignment.
- Slots below the Dead Band Threshold are marked CLOSED — operators can still claim them but will see a warning.
Bands & Rate Goals
- Each station is assigned a band. The scheduler includes a propagation model that estimates Q/h rates by band and UTC hour, adjusted for solar conditions.
- The Rate Goals table lets the director set target Q/h values by band and hour, separate from the propagation model. Use ⚡ Use Suggested to populate from the built-in model, or import your own values via CSV.
- Additional station types — RUN1, RUN2, MULT1, MULT2, IN-BAND — are available in the band dropdown for non-HF or role-based stations.
Operator Schedules Tab
- Switch to the 👤 Operator Schedules tab for a personal hour-by-hour view of each operator's shifts, including which station and band they are working.
Editing the Roster
- Directors can add or remove operators at any time using the 👥 Edit Roster button in the schedule header. New operators can claim shifts immediately after being added.
- Removing an operator from the roster does not automatically clear their assigned shifts from the grid.
⚠ Data Retention: Contest data — including the schedule, stations, and operators — is automatically and permanently deleted five days after the contest ends. Export or print your schedule before then if you need a record.