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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2013-12-18   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   December 18, 2013   
   Editor: Ward Silver, NOAX   
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
    *  How Far is Far - Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge   
    *  Key Contests - Straight Key Night, Rookie Roundup, Straight Key Sprint   
    *  Innovantennas Acquires Force 12 Line   
    *  "Ham's Eye View" Blog Series   
    *  Screwdriver Across the Terminals? No Problem!   
    *  School Club Roundup - Ready for Finals?   
    *  Poor Ham's Scalar Network Analyzer   
    *  Isolation by Design   
    *  Conversation   
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO   
      
   This coming Sunday's ARRL Rookie Roundup is designed to get you started on CW   
   and you'll find lots of other newcomers trying out their keys. And, it's a   
   great warmup for the annual Straight Key Night, whether you are an OT (Old   
   Timer) or a Rookie. If you've ever wondered why DX contests aren't scored by   
   distance, why not give the Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge a try? That   
   "temporary" antenna for the ARRL 160 Meter Contest is still up, isn't it? Of   
   course it is!   
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   There are no bulletins in this issue.   
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   Eric K9GY's photo in the previous issue was a "selfie" and not from N6AN say   
   both of them.   
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   December 21-22   
      
    *  ARRL Rookie Roundup--CW   
    *  NAQCC Milliwatt Sprint--CW (Dec 18)   
    *  Russian 160 Meter Contest (Dec 19)   
    *  Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party (Dec 20-Jan 1)   
    *  Feld-Hell Rudolph Hell Sprint   
    *  OK DX RTTY Contest   
    *  Croatian CW Contest   
      
   December 28-29   
      
    *  ARRL Straight Key Night (Dec 31-Jan 1)   
    *  SKCC Straight Key Sprint (Dec 26)   
    *  DARC XMAS Contest (Dec 26)   
    *  RAC Winter Contest   
    *  Iron Ham Contest   
    *  Stew Perry Top Band Distance Challenge--CW   
    *  RAEM Contest--CW   
      
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   A few weeks ago the team behind InnovAntennas acquired the legendary Force 12   
   antenna company and have moved the factory from Bridgeport, TX to Grand   
   Junction, CO into a facility shared with InnovAntennas America. InnovAntennas   
   Ltd in England is now manufacturing Force 12 products for the European market.   
   The Grand Junction facility is in full swing and we are shipping building and   
   shipping antennas. Watch for a complete update of the Force 12 website by the   
   end of the year. Updated versions of classic Force 12 antennas as well as   
   all-new models will be produced. Stay tuned! (Thanks, Bill AA7XT)   
      
   A company in England has produced a device that can shut down a car with   
   pulses of RF. No word on the exact frequency range although it is said to be   
   "a small radar transmitter." Could this be considered an "anti-rover"?   
      
   Referees for the 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship have been selected   
   and a list posted on the competition's home page! The selected referees come   
   from all over the world and more than 30 countries, a tribute to the event's   
   past and present organizers noted by Chief Judge, Dave Sumner, K1ZZ. During   
   the competition, a referee will be on site at each of the 59 competing   
   stations to verify compliance with the rules and make decisions on any rule   
   questions by the teams. The referees must be top-level contesters because they   
   must simultaneously listen to the audio from both operators for the entire 24   
   hours of the WRTC2014 competition. Managed by Dan Street, K1TO, the 143   
   applications received were evaluated according to many factors, including   
   geographical areas, language skills and SO2R ability. WRTC2014 takes place in   
   the Boston area on July 12-13, 2014.   
      
   You may be interested in the results of the recent Jamboree on the Air and   
   there is a full report and summary video on the JOTA website of K2BSA.   
   Overall, the number of stations participating in the USA increased by 33% to   
   271. The number of Scouts reported on the air declined by 25% to just under   
   14,000. The number of stations that registered prior to the event hit a new   
   record of 419, quite a few just didn't provide a report after the event. So   
   the organizers expect that the number of Scouts actually continued to   
   increase. (Thanks, National JOTA Organizer and Chairman National Radio   
   Scouting Committee, Jim Wilson K5ND)   
      
   There are special prizes for the upcoming World Wide Iron Ham Contest -   
   winners in the Single-Op All-Band and Multi-Op categories will win a round   
   trip to and accommodations at WRTC 2014! Sponsored by the Araucaria DX Group,   
   the Iron Ham uses CW, Phone, and RTTY in a 24-hour format. (Thanks, Oms PY5EG)   
      
   Another advance combining nanotechnology and graphene is expected to create   
   antennas, albeit very tiny ones, that could operate on WLAN frequencies,   
   enabling nano-scale devices to communicate with each other. The    
   lectromagnetic properties of graphene fibers are apparently quite different   
   than metallic wires, leading to some interesting applications.   
      
   Is urban electro-smog getting you down by raising the noise floor up? Brian   
   KDOTLO sent in this story of a truly quiet place in which the only acceptable   
   RF emissions are from hams -- the National Radio Quiet Zone in Green Bank,   
   West Virginia. It's quite a job keeping unwanted signals off the air, as we   
   all know too well. You can learn more about ham radio and quiet zones on   
   W3BE's blog, W3Beinformed.   
      
   And speaking of listening really, really hard -- this story has the listening   
   directed toward Earth instead of the usual other way 'round. It turns out that   
   yes, the Juno spacecraft did hear ham signals during its October flyby on the   
   way to Jupiter. You can see more in this video from NASA as hams turn the   
   table on a satellite, sending HI spaceward rather than listening for HI from   
   on high. (Thanks, Don NK6A)   
      
   Getting those operating events on the refrigerator in advance is crucial to a   
   successful-not-stressful contest season, but what if the paper calendar has   
   been replaced by an online version? This Instructables project shows how to   
   use a Raspberry Pi computer module to control a wall-mounted Google Calendar   
   that will never go out of date!   
      
   Steve VE7SL reports that, "After building similar stations over the past few   
   months, myself and Markus VE7CA completed our first lightwave contact on 655   
   nm yesterday evening just shortly after sunset. Both systems use a single   
   Luxeon heat-sinked LED (Deep Red)." Both systems used about 1 watt of input   
   power and inexpensive plastic Fresnel lenses. BPW32 lensless PIN diodes were   
   used as the detectors. The path was about 34 miles across the Georgia Straight   
   between West Vancouver and Mayne Island. "All in all, great fun!" says Steve -   
   VHF+ contesters take note!   
      
   The Contest Club of Finland (CCF), OH DX Foundation (OHDXF), and Estonian   
   Radio Amateur Union (ERA�ø) invite everyone to the traditional Contest/DX   
   Meeting that will be held this year in Tallinn, Estonia instead of on a   
   Finland-to-Sweden cruise ship as usual. In addition to an interesting agenda   
   and meeting a lot of friends you are also invited to visit ES5TV/ES9C contest   
   station on Sunday. (Thanks, Tonno ES5TV)   
      
   Three great stories can be found in the December 2013 issue of the Potomac   
   Valley Radio Club newsletter. First is an explanation by Pete N4ZR of the beta   
   version of AR Cluster Version 6, the first DX cluster node software to   
   incorporate user-configurable RBN spot quality filtering. Next comes a story   
   about the Deutsches Museum exhibit on the history of radio by Eric W3DQ.   
   Finally, if you've wondered about who W4KFC was and why he holds such status   
   in the world of contesting, Pip WB4FDT recounts some of the highlights of   
   Vic's ham radio career. Good reading!   
      
   Here's something interesting in the world of digital ham radio - a D-STAR Ham   
   Access Point, D-HAP! In the words of its creators, "We combined a Raspberry   
   Pi, a DVAP Dongle, WiFi, a USB power supply, a whole bunch of connectors,   
   almost 2 hours of CNC time, and about 3 hours on the bench. Then we squished   
   until it was about the size of a book." Squished! (Thanks, Ray N9JA)   
      
   The Voice of Russia, formerly known as Radio Moscow during the USSR era, will   
   cease shortwave broadcasts as of January 1, 2014. From the 1950s through the   
   1980s, the station, as Radio Moscow, was a virtual beacon for short-wave   
   listeners (SWLs), many of whom gravitated into amateur radio. Voice of Russia   
   currently broadcasts to 160 countries in 38 languages for 151 hours per day on   
   short and medium waves, on FM, via satellite, and via the Internet. Earlier   
   this year shortwave transmissions were cut to 26 hours a day in all languages,   
   down from more than 50 hours a day in 2012 VOR, which claims to be the first   
   radio station to broadcast internationally, will continue to broadcast online   
   and via three medium-wave transmitters. (Thanks, John K1AR)   
      
   "2014 will be a GREAT year for Contest University (CTU)!" says CTU President,   
   Tim K3LR. "In the USA for the first time - there will be two different Contest   
   University all-day sessions during 2014...with no overlap or repeated papers.   
   The first USA CTU will be the Dayton Contest University on Thursday May 15,   
   2014 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Space at CTU USA Dayton will be limited - and   
   Crowne Plaza hotel rooms are already fully booked. The second USA CTU will be   
   held at the historic 2014 ARRL National Centennial Convention in Hartford, CT   
   on July 17, 2014. The CTU Centennial will be an all-day event with six CTU   
   presentations in one class room. Registration for the ARRL Centennial CTU will   
   be handled through the ARRL.   
      
   It can be confusing trying to setup and operate a multi-single category with   
   the subtle differences in rules between the CQ World Wide and ARRL DX   
   Contests. Here is an article about multi-single stations in both contests.   
      
   Going on this month and ending on the last day of the year, RAEM Activity Days   
   celebrate the 110th Anniversary of the birth of Ernst Krenkel, a legendary   
   polar radio operator, the first President of the Federation of Radio Sport of   
   the USSR, and a Hero of the Soviet Union. Numerous Russian stations with   
   special calls are active until 2359Z on December 31st. (Thanks, Daily DX)   
      
   Web Site of the Week - A good three-part series on the Internet and ham radio   
   has been published by EDN's "A Ham's Eye View" blogger and contester, Doug   
   K1DG. Part 1 introduces the relationship. Remote operation is covered in Part   
   2 and Part 3 gets into Internet-ham radio "parallel universes."   
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   Why contest? Anthony AB9YC says, "I'm looking forward to my next a-ha moment   
   when I can smile, and say to myself, "I am getting this!"   
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   Dick K4XU sent a link to this video in which he is demonstrating a new   
   MicroSemi 1200-watt amplifier module. These devices are the active ingredient   
   in the Elecraft KPA500 and the new THP 2.5K amplifier.   
      
   The webinar on station improvement by Hank W6SX, has been posted to the WWROF   
   website where you can find it via the Webinars link. Hank's presentation is of   
   particular interest to "Little Pistols" and those who are space limited. He   
   has added a link to the elevation plot and for locating the Ladder Snaps in   
   the presentation. (Thanks, Ken K4ZW)   
      
   If you have new Technician licensees in your club or shack, here's a   
   full-color band chart for Techs published by the ARRL.   
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   Provisional results for the October 2013 School Club Roundup have been   
   published on the new results web page created by WA7BNM. The soapbox comments   
   are great, particularly the characterization of contesting as "speed dating"   
   by the NQ9P team. February's SCR is a great opportunity for individuals and   
   clubs to bring radiosport to students. Thanks also to the SCR sponsor, the   
   Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club.   
      
   Now that all log submission deadlines have passed, you can see all of the Raw   
   Scores for the CQ Worldwide SSB and CW Contests. These scores are computed   
   from the submitted logs before log-checking. If you notice any problems,   
   contact the contest manager.   
      
   Final scores for the 2013 Missouri QSO Party have been released by the   
   sponsors, the Boeing Employees Amateur Radio Society (BEARS).   
      
   Claimed Scores for the 2013 Ukrainian DX Contest are also available online.   
   (Thanks, Leo UT7CL)   
      
   Contest managers - please drop the editor a note to let the readers know when   
   your results are published!   
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   With RTTY contesting increasing in popularity and the ARRL's RTTY Roundup   
   coming up in January, one of the premier RTTY contesters, Don AA5AU, has   
   written several tutorials to help you to get started such as this one,   
   primarily aimed at Writelog users, but that can be applied to most logging   
   software and a more generic MMTTY tutorial. N1MM-specific information for   
   MMTTY and an overall N1MM digital operation setup guide is also available. Jim   
   AD4EB has also written a guide to the basics you can find on the Tennessee   
   Contest Group website. When you're finally all set up and ready for the   
   contest, AA5AU has a set of suggested exchange messages for NAQP written for   
   Writelog but easily convertible to N1MM or other software. (Thanks, Chad WE9V)   
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   Being intrepid homebrewers and experimenters, George N2APB and Joe N2CX are   
   always on the lookout for simple measurement equipment that can be used on our   
   benches. Several months ago N5IB and W5JH teamed up develop the Poor Ham's   
   Scalar Network Analyzer, a useful-and-inexpensive way to sweep an RF signal   
   through a Device-Under-Test (DUT) and read and plot the power coming back from   
   the DUT. The discussion (among many others) is available on the Chat With the   
   Designers website as episode #66 from December 10th.   
      
   Trying to dissolve the "junk" between sections of telescoping aluminum tubing   
   can certainly try one's patience! Patrick NJ5G suggests a method of keeping   
   the joint immersed in the solvent or penetrating solution without having to   
   stand there and watch it! "Stand the tubes vertically with the smaller   
   diameter tube on top. Form a lump of modeling clay around the larger diameter   
   tube just below the overlap point. Now you can pour in your favorite solvent   
   and immerse the joint. If your favorite solvent dissolves the modeling clay   
   then use silicone caulk instead of clay." He notes that heating and or cooling   
   the joint may help, as well.   
      
   What is a good cable to use for full-power coax jumpers in the station? RG-213   
   cable can be awfully stiff and unwieldy so Jeff N5TJ recommends RG-142, a   
   Teflon-insulated equivalent of RG-58 cable. He notes that it is "great to   
   solder and won't melt!"   
      
   Have you wondered about the RF characteristics of the one-sided M”bius strip?   
   In this Microwave Journal article from the November 2013 issue, Drs Ulrich   
   Rohde (N1UL), Poddar, and Sundararajan tackle the math in the article "Printed   
   Resonators: M”bius Strip Theory and Applications."   
      
   Brian K1LI reports that W6PQL has also designed an amplifier controller board   
   with similar functions to those on the VK4DD board mentioned in the previous   
   issue.   
      
   Five more useful projects, this time for the workbench appeared in the stream   
   of ideas from the Instructables website:   
      
    *  Disc center finder   
    *  Easy and cheap loudspeaker boxes   
    *  Multi-directional ratchet-bar clamp system   
    *  Web-controlled 8-channel powerstrip   
      
   And if you would like to do some science and don't mind building your own   
   equipment, here is a great source of information about that from Tom K1KI.   
      
   Why do commercial amplifiers often use several smaller value capacitors in   
   parallel instead of one larger cap? Ian, GM3SEK responds that "The main reason   
   for using smaller values is to share out the RF current between several   
   capacitors. As the heat losses and temperature rise are proportional to   
   I-squared, using two capacitors of half the original value will reduce the   
   drift by a factor of 4, or three capacitors will reduce it by a factor of 9.   
   However, it is also important to use capacitors with a low temperature   
   coefficient (NP0 ceramic caps or large silver micas) and it's true that these   
   are more easily obtainable in smaller capacitance values." Morel 4X1AD also   
   notes that two small ceramic HV caps are usually much cheaper than one high   
   current ceramic cap as was used in the past.   
      
   Todd N4JRZ contributes this reference to a website that explains how to   
   convert a Cushcraft A3 tribander Yagi to cover 12 meters and 17 meters. Not a   
   bad project for an older antenna looking for a new job!   
      
   While preparing to make a group purchase for several local clubs, Jim K9YC   
   discovered that Fair-Rite now makes a 1.4-inch ID #31 clamp-on (part number   
   2631181381). It's 2.5 inches long, and is the equivalent of five of the   
   1.4-inch ID, 2.4-inch OD #31 toroids. The big clamp-on is available for less   
   than half the cost of the equivalent five toroids! The clamp-on core is large   
   enough to hold 7 turns of RG8/RG213-size coax without removing the connector,   
   as well.   
      
   Technical Web Site of the Week - Frank W3LPL recommends the Pyle PHE300   
   2-Channel Hum/Noise Destroyer as an inexpensive and extremely effective   
   solution to sound card-related hum and noise problems. He notes, that it's "so   
   inexpensive it isn't worth the time and effort to build your own transformer   
   isolation box." Another option is using optoisolators and Craig K9CT   
   recommends the optically-isolated FSK keying interface made by W3YY. This is a   
   generic board and can be used for lots of applications in which a simple   
   isolated signal path is required.   
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   New Science   
      
   When the CW Skimmer software was released by Alex VE3NEA, I remember thinking   
   it had the potential to be a game-changer. As it turns out, "skimmers" are   
   changing the game but in more ways than we had anticipated and in more games   
   than we expected.   
      
   The most obvious change was simply the sheer speed advantage that it conferred   
   compared to human operator. Even giving the human operator the best possible   
   outcome in every situation, assuming perfect timing sync as a new signal was   
   tuned in, and so forth, CW Skimmer could extract call signs from 100 kHz of   
   band about 15 times faster. But that was thinking too small, only considering   
   the software as an accessory for one operator.   
      
   The Reverse Beacon Net started out as a way for individual stations to see how   
   they were being heard there instead of what they could hear here. Novel,   
   indeed, but not really all that different from a regular QSO except that the   
   RBN can give you real signal reports with resolution of 1 dB. As more and more   
   skimmers are added to the network, something very interesting has begun to   
   happen.   
      
   Multiple CW Skimmer stations around the world are now working together,   
   listening to all the bands, all the time - 24/7/365. There are currently a few   
   dozen around the world, mostly in North America and Europe but more are being   
   added all the time and all continents are represented. While not calibrated to   
   the accuracy of a laboratory instrument in most cases, we are now watching a   
   worldwide propagation monitoring network come to life! In a couple of years,   
   no matter where you are, one or two CQs or TEST transmissions will generate a   
   snapshot of propagation from your location to every populated region on the   
   planet...in about 10 seconds. This is simply unprecedented - consider the   
   effects on just two areas of amateur technology.   
      
   First and most obviously, propagation can now be assessed in real-time to a   
   degree completely unavailable before. Furthermore, the data is logged and   
   available for analysis. This forms a crucial and previously-missing link   
   between propagation models and propagation as it actually occurs. To be sure,   
   HF propagation testing was done many years ago in academia and by the military   
   but the breadth and depth of the RBN data is completely new. For example, in   
   the K1TO-NP3A chart you can clearly see the 10 meter band opening to Europe   
   from the two different areas as the world turns.   
      
   Coupled with validated QSO databases such as public contest logs and   
   solar-geomagnetic data from NOAA databases, amateurs can begin to look for   
   "interesting" propagation that models miss. Other propagation assessment   
   tools, like K1JT's WSPR protocol and its companion network, WSPRNet, can be   
   added to the mix. Perhaps someday, data from Logbook Of the World - the   
   world's largest database of validated point to point communications data -   
   will be available, as well.   
      
   Another great use of automated reception reports is in antenna and antenna   
   system design. No longer limited to test range data (at best), hams can now   
   ask and answer questions such as, "What is the right height for my antenna for   
   the path to..." and "Does my new design perform better or worse than..." and a   
   million other questions for which answers are rarely precise and usually   
   completely unavailable. Who can look at the comparisons and not be struck by   
   the different signal levels of the stations?   
      
   We have been given a gift, the power of which we are just being to sense. When   
   new types of data become available for analysis and are combined with new   
   forms of visualization, we know that good things happen. Unexpected things.   
   Explanations of mysteries. Better still, new explanations for what we thought   
   we understood. Best of all, we will ask new questions!   
      
   The world of Amateur Radio is changing, in part due to these new tools. I look   
   forward to new science being "done" by amateurs, resulting in new   
   understandings of the world in which live and an exciting future.   
      
   73, Ward NOAX   
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   18 December through 31 December 2013   
      
   An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral in PDF format is   
   available. Check the sponsor's Web site for information on operating time   
   restrictions and other instructions.   
      
   HF CONTESTS   
      
   NAQCC Milliwatt Sprint--CW, from Dec 18, 0130Z to Dec 18, 0330Z. Bands (MHz):   
   3.5-14. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and NAQCC mbr nr or power. Logs due: 4 days.   
      
   Russian 160 Meter Contest--Phone,CW, from Dec 19, 2100Z to Dec 19, 2300Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8. Exchange: RS(T), serial, square ID (see website). Logs due:   
   Jan 20.   
      
   Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Dec 20, 0001Z to   
   Jan 1, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144. Exchange: Serial or ARLHS number.   
   Logs due: Jan 31.   
      
   Feld-Hell Rudolph Hell Sprint--Digital, from Dec 21, 0000Z to Dec 21, 2400Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Monthly on 3rd Saturday. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Feld-Hell   
   member nr. Logs due: 7 days.   
      
   OK DX RTTY Contest--Digital, from Dec 21, 0000Z to Dec 22, 2400Z. Bands (MHz):   
   3.5-28. Exchange: RST and CQ Zone. Logs due: Jan 15.   
      
   Croatian CW Contest--CW, from Dec 21, 1400Z to Dec 22, 1400Z. Bands (MHz):   
   1.8-28. Exchange: RST and serial. Logs due: 30 days.   
      
   ARRL Rookie Roundup--CW, from Dec 22, 1800Z to Dec 22, 2359Z. Bands (MHz):   
   3.5-28. Exchange: Both calls, name, check, S/P/XE or "DX". Logs due: See web.   
      
   SKCC Straight Key Sprint--CW, from Dec 26, 0000Z to Dec 26, 0200Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on the 4th Wednesday UTC. Exchange: RST, S/P/C,   
   name, SKCC nr or power. Logs due: 5 days.   
      
   DARC XMAS Contest--Phone,CW, from Dec 26, 0830Z to Dec 26, 1059Z. Bands (MHz):   
   3.5-7. Exchange: RS(T) and DOK or special station code. Logs due: 3 weeks.   
      
   RAC Winter Contest--Phone,CW, from Dec 28, 0000Z to Dec 28, 2359Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144. Exchange: RS(T) and province or serial. Logs due: Jan   
   31.   
      
   Iron Ham Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Dec 28, 1200Z to Dec 29, 1159Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RS(T) and CQ zone. Logs due: 3 days.   
      
   Stew Perry Top Band Distance Challenge--CW, from Dec 28, 1500Z to Dec 29   
   1500Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8. Exchange: 4-char grid square. Logs due: 30 days.   
      
   RAEM Contest--CW, from Dec 29, 0000Z to Dec 29, 1200Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28.   
   Exchange: Serial and lat/long in degrees. Logs due: Jan 25.   
      
   ARRL Straight Key Night--CW, from Jan 1, 0000Z to Jan 1, 2400Z. Bands (MHz):   
   3.5-28, 50+. Exchange: General QSO information. Logs due: Jan 31.   
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   ARRL Straight Key Night--CW, from Jan 1, 0000Z to Jan 1, 2400Z. Bands (MHz):   
   3.5-28, 50+. Exchange: General QSO information. Logs due: Jan 31.   
      
   Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Dec 20, 0001Z to   
   Jan 1, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144. Exchange: Serial or ARLHS number.   
   Logs due: Jan 31.   
      
   SKCC Straight Key Sprint--CW, from Dec 26, 0000Z to Dec 26, 0200Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on the 4th Wednesday UTC. Exchange: RST, S/P/C,   
   name, SKCC nr or power. Logs due: 5 days.   
      
   RAC Winter Contest--Phone,CW, from Dec 28, 0000Z to Dec 28, 2359Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144. Exchange: RS(T) and province or serial. Logs due: Jan   
   31.   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   18 December through 31 December   
      
    *  December 19 - NRAU 10m Activity Contest   
    *  December 19 - QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  December 19 - NAQCC-EU Monthly Sprint   
    *  December 20 - VU International DX Contest   
    *  December 21 - Homebrew and Oldtime Equipment Party   
    *  December 21 - QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  December 21 - NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint   
    *  December 22 - Run for the Bacon QRP Contest   
    *  December 22 - NCCC Sprint   
    *  December 24 - EPC Ukraine DX Contest   
    *  December 25 - ARRL Rookie Roundup, CW   
    *  December 28 - Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  December 29 - QRP ARCI Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint   
    *  December 31 - Kentucky QSO Party   
    *  December 31 - TOPS Activity Contest   
    *  December 31 - IPARC Contest   
    *  December 31 - All Austrian 160-Meter Contest   
    *  December 31 - TARA RTTY Melee   
      
   ARRL Information   
      
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   ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS   
      
   ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest   
   Calendar and SM3CER's Contest Calendar.   
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   Not only is the Universe stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can   
   think. - Werner Heisenberg   
      
   --- FMail/Win32 1.60   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.71)