If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:   
   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2014-03-12   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   March 12, 2014   
   Editor: Ward Silver, NOAX   
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
    *  Polar Path Fun - Russian DX Contest   
    *  State Your Preference - VA, OK, LA QSO Parties   
    *  CWops - Let's Play Two!   
    *  Sporadic E Gets an App   
    *  Towering Beauty   
    *  Updated IARU HF and 10 GHz Writeups   
    *  K1TTT 30th Anniversary Station Builder's Notebook   
    *  Wireless Charging Standard   
    *  The Boundary Problem, Part Three   
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO   
      
   The Russian DX Contest is a great opportunity to do some contesting on both   
   modes this weekend and experience conditions around the spring equinox. The   
   equinox is a special time when the terminator between day and night areas   
   goes directly over both poles, leading to interesting gray line DX.   
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   Quick - before you forget! - upload some photos and stories about your ARRL   
   DX experiences to the ARRL Soapbox website. Conditions were great, logs were   
   full, memories were made - why not share them?   
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   A good accuracy rate in the previous issue.   
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   March 15-16   
      
   North American Sprint--Phone   
      
    *  CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Tests (Mar 12)   
    *  Feld-Hell Leprechaun Sprint   
    *  BARTG HF RTTY Contest   
    *  Russian DX Contest   
    *  Virginia QSO Party   
    *  Run For the Bacon--CW (Mar 17)   
    *  CLARA and Family HF Contest (Mar 18)   
      
   March 22-23   
      
    *  NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint--CW (Mar 20)   
    *  FOC QSO Party--CW   
    *  Oklahoma QSO Party   
    *  Louisiana QSO Party,   
    *  QCWA Spring QSO Party   
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   CWops contests are doubling down (or is that doubling up?) in March. Hank   
   W6SX announces, "In addition to our regular tests on 12 and 26 March, we   
   will have special CWTs on 5 and 19 March. The Special 5- and 19-March CWTs   
   will celebrate the completion of CW Academy's January/February semester from   
   which sixty eager hams will graduate." For these contests, Hank requests   
   that we limit our code speed to 20 wpm or the speed at which a station   
   calls. Relax, exchange names, take time to explain the exchange if needed,   
   and make a special effort to work the new operators. Sending a QSL wouldn't   
   hurt either! We can also let our club members know of this special   
   opportunity to get into a CW contest at their speed.   
      
   Chris W2PA spotted this blog entry about a 1978-vintage space probe   
   returning to Earth, but NASA doesn't have a radio that can talk to it. Could   
   the ham radio community play a useful role here?   
      
   DX Engineering has been busy lately, acquiring Cycle 24 Antenna Products.   
   Cycle 24's product line includes the TX38 Yagi which is the official triband   
   antenna being used by all stations in the upcoming WRTC-2014. The antenna is   
   lightweight at 30 pounds but features eight full-sized elements (two   
   elements each on 20 and 15 meters and four elements on 10 meters). The   
   product line extends to heavy-duty galvanized parts such as saddle clamps   
   and U-bolts for antenna construction along with the EA4TX ARS-USB Rotator   
   Controller Interface.   
      
   JK Antennas and 2X Arrays are combining their design and manufacturing   
   processes. JK Antennas produces long-boom mono-band and duo-band antenna   
   designs while 2X Arrays develops proprietary antenna design processes   
   ranging from electrical optimization to physical model electrical testing   
   and tuning. The 2X Arrays antenna line will now be manufactured at the JK   
   Antennas facility in Connecticut. (Thanks,Matt W1MBB)   
      
   In another example of ham radio setting the stage for innovation, Ann   
   Makosinski, daughter of Arthur and Sandra Ann Makosinski (VE7FAB and   
   VE7EEL), created a novel LED flashlight powered by heat from the hand   
   holding it. The project won for her age group in the 2013 Google Science   
   Fair. Requiring no batteries or other power sources, the flashlight can   
   provide light in areas without electricity or other reliable and affordable   
   power sources. (Thanks, Jim KOUPW)   
      
   As long as we're on the subject of portable power, on the 145th birthday of   
   the periodic table, the Better-Batteries-Through-Chemistry Department has   
   come up with a material that combines polymerized sulfur with a form of   
   benzene into a co-polymer. Batteries made with electrodes using the new   
   material have extremely high specific energy. Research is continuing to find   
   variations on the material that offer longer life and higher numbers of   
   charge/discharge cycles.   
      
   In a twist on the customary repeater directory. Radio Amateurs of Canada has   
   turned to the online service RF Finders to create a "live" repeater   
   directory. (Thanks, Ken KOPP)   
      
   Here's what you really want to know in a product review - knob feel!   
   (Thanks, Kirk K4RO)   
      
   Goetz DJ3IW writes with news of changes to the former DRCG Long Distance   
   Contest (LDC). The contest has been renamed to: DRCG-WW-RTTY contest and   
   will be held in three 8-hour sections on the second full weekend of June.   
   You can find all of the rules on the contest's website.   
      
   A busy reader, Eric W3DQ sent two interesting articles. The first, on the   
   mysterious "numbers stations" describes these odd signals and their ability   
   to continue "baffling the boffins" as our U.K. friends might say. Closer to   
   home, the iconic KRKD broadcast towers in downtown Los Angeles are getting a   
   makeover.   
      
   The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has created a new   
   online aurora prediction tool called OVATION. The software was created at   
   the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab. OVATION is driven by   
   real-time solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field information from the   
   Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) satellite. The model is based on more   
   than 11 years of data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program   
   (DMSP) from which an empirical relationship between the solar wind   
   conditions and the aurora location and intensity was developed. (From ARRL   
   Propagation Bulletin ARLP009)   
      
   Two unexpected Silent Key announcements came our way this past week. The   
   first, NQ4I team member Mark W4SVO died on Monday March 3rd. Mark was a   
   dedicated low-band enthusiast who designed much of the 80/160 meter skyhooks   
   at NQ4I. Elsewhere, Mike N1IW, a frequent member of the record-setting C6ANM   
   contest team died after a long battle with cancer. Mike was also a WRTC-2014   
   volunteer. Entirely too many Silent Keys lately - I hope my readers will   
   avoid that designation. (Thanks, Rick NQ4I, Bill NE1B, and Dave KM3T)   
      
   Pete N4ZR reports that "for RBN node-ops and anyone else interested, Bob   
   N6TV's Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) stats are now available on the RBN blog.   
   They include Skimmer rankings by number of spots and SNR, as well as   
   most-spotted stats."   
      
   Web Site of the Week - VHF+ activity in Europe is quite high, especially in   
   contests, leading to advances like the LFA antennas and MSRX software   
   decoder for WSJT. Allard PE1NWL reports another development with promise for   
   US operators. The free Android app "EsSense" allows much more active   
   monitoring of E-Skip DX when you're away from the rig. With the summer   
   E-skip season coming up, this is a great way to keep in touch with what's   
   going on across the spectrum.   
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   You're clicking on everything that moves on the band map, yet your   
   multiplier totals are still lagging. On a typical Sunday afternoon, a friend   
   poses the following illuminating question:   
      
   1) CQ   
   2) Tune the bands   
   3) Point-and-click at garden-variety stations on the band map   
      
   Which one of these three techniques is almost guaranteed not to yield a new   
   multiplier?   
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   Don't you wish your tower looked like this artistic structure in Turkey?   
   (Thanks, Steve K6AW)   
      
   It only takes the ISS 90 minutes to go around the world at 17,000 mph+ so   
   where are they now? And where are they going to be? The ISS Astroviewer will   
   tell you along with an idea of what they can see below them! Hey, are those   
   your antennas?   
      
   Two very useful automatically updating online maps include the popular Grey   
   Line map that shows sunlight and darkness slowly moving across a Mercator   
   projection of the world. A brand-new azimuthal-equidistant representation   
   from XKCD displays the continents on a fixed time scale with helpful hints   
   about "Business Hours" and "Rude to Call".   
      
   One more mention of maps, the University of Texas has a particularly good   
   collection of maps in their library. And just where is that international   
   date line anyway? No question now! (Thanks, Steve K6AW)   
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   A new version 1.5 of the 2013 IARU HF Championship writeup has been released   
   to remove some WRTC-2014 test stations from the leaders and winners tables   
   for which they were ineligible. Version 1.1 of the 10 GHz and Up Contest   
   results picks up the second-place score of KD6W that was left out of the   
   original results.   
      
   The ARRL Contest Branch is getting caught up on certificates. 2012 IARU HF   
   Championship certificates have been shipped directly to W/VE hams with   
   non-W/VE stations receiving theirs via the appropriate IARU Member Society   
   (the usual case). 2012 Phone Sweepstakes plaques should be arriving, as   
   well. (Thanks, ARRL PR Manager, Sean KX9X)   
      
   The JIDX (Japan International DX) 2013 CW Contest results have been   
   published. If you have any inquiries, please let JE1CKA, the JIDX contest   
   chairman, know about the question.   
      
   The 2014 Locust QSO Party (honoring W6ISQ) results are now posted. Contest   
   sponsor, Rick K6VVA, notes that "this year will make it approximately $1,000   
   (USD) in NCJ subscriptions and/or renewals have been awarded to Category   
   Winners in this annual CW operating event.   
      
   The popular score and statistics website by Valery R5GA is currently   
   off-line but not permanently. Via NA3M, Valery writes "There are some   
   technical issues to be solved and sites will be working again. I will   
   continue supporting both sites until I find someone who will be helping me   
   or who will be doing it instead of me."   
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   The World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF) is pleased to present on   
   March 19th at 9 PM the popular "Contesting Tips for Little Pistols" webinar   
   by Dan Zeitlin K2YWE. Dan will share his collected wisdom and lessons   
   learned for the little pistol. Some of the topics covered include:   
      
    *  Elements of Success   
    *  Contest Basics - a refresher   
    *  Strategy   
    *  Station and Software Considerations   
    *  Operating Tips & Best Practices   
      
   If you are unable to watch live, the webinars are generally archived. This   
   will make a dandy club program for new hams interested in contesting.   
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   Dave K1TTT has released the 30th anniversary edition of his 700-page+ book   
   on building a superstation, including lots of pictures of towers and   
   antennas as well as other stuff. The e-book version is free, but you have to   
   pay for printing and shipping for the paperback version.   
      
   Jay WXOB has published an app note on the Array Solutions website that shows   
   how to tune up a 160 meter vertical that carries lots of AM broadcast RF on   
   the antenna.   
      
   Cleaning off the outside of aluminum antenna elements usually just requires   
   a non-scratch abrasive pad and some elbow grease. But what about the inside   
   of the tubing? You know - where the serious gunk resides? This Instructable   
   project shows how to make a spindle that can hold sandpaper in a drill to do   
   the job in a trice! And another that keeps those many screwdriver bits handy   
   in a "Bit Ball."   
      
   If flat surfaces are in short supply at your house, another Instructables   
   project just for you is this Electronics Lab In A Box and a "flip-board"   
   tool storage idea. As long as you're on the Instructable website, why not   
   contribute your own how-to and show the ham radio flag a little bit? After   
   all, Hints and Kinks have been part of ham radio for a long time!   
      
   The tiny surface-mount parts have even tinier markings. What value are they?   
   Color codes won't help you out here but assuming you can use a magnifier to   
   read the code, this online calculator will translate that into a component   
   value for you. (Thanks, Dan NB1C)   
      
   Dave N6AN does the component calculator one better with this simple rule for   
   capacitors: "pF is the sound capacitors make when they burn up. uF is the   
   sound made by whoever has to replace them and mF if there are many of them."   
   Aren't you glad to know this?   
      
   If you are amazed at the price-performance ratio of oscilloscopes these   
   days, you're not alone! For those of you considering a new 'scope, Circuit   
   Cellar offers this four-part article on Evaluating Oscilloscopes. While   
   you're there, check out Steve Lubbers' "piling system" in his Design   
   Dungeon. I'm sure it will look familiar to many readers!   
      
   Here's an interesting new part - this Mini-Circuits low-noise amplifier   
   (LNA) is specified for use from 500 MHz to 5 GHz, with 21.5 dB gain and a   
   noise figure around 1.3 dB. That sounds like a good ham project just waiting   
   for a designer!   
      
   Lots of action in the WiFi world lately - you may have heard of new   
   high-speed extensions to the existing high-speed version, 802.11n. This   
   Microwaves and RF article spells out the details about the coming 6 Gbps and   
   60 Gbps protocols.   
      
   Mike VE3GFN reports that Kenwood has posted a firmware update for the TS590S   
   transceiver. This corrects several bugs associated with using SPLIT, whereby   
   the VFO B setting might not be the actual frequency upon which you are   
   transmitting! Oops. There are lots of details about the popular transceiver   
   on G3NRW's "Kenwood TS590 Resource Page."   
      
   Technical Web Site of the Week - Wireless charging sounds like another   
   potential source of QRM. You can keep track of this technology by referring   
   the Qi Inductive Power Standard. The operating frequency is stated to be   
   below 200 kHz, by the way.   
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   The Boundary Problem, Part Three   
      
   Last time, we examined how the current categories are constructed, based on   
   a "standard" set of definitions. The table below shows the categories   
   beginning with the minimal Single-Operator, Single-Band.   
      
   Category   
      
   Station   
      
   Operator   
      
   Information   
      
   RF   
      
   Data   
   SOSB   
      
   No Skimmer   
      
   One   
      
   One band - no limit - one signal   
      
   No external data   
      
   SO   
      
   No Skimmer   
      
   One   
      
   All bands - no limit - one signal   
      
   No external data   
      
   SOU   
      
   Skimmer OK   
      
   One   
      
   All bands - no limit - one signal   
      
   External data and public Skimmer OK   
      
   MS   
      
   Skimmer OK   
      
   Unlimited   
      
   All bands - six/hour - one signal   
      
   External data and public Skimmer OK   
      
   M2   
      
   Skimmer OK   
      
   Unlimited   
      
   All bands - six/hour - two signals   
      
   External data and public Skimmer OK   
      
   MM   
      
   Skimmer OK   
      
   Unlimited   
      
   All bands - no limit - six signals   
      
   External data and public Skimmer OK   
      
   Beginning with SOSB, there is a steady expansion of what is allowed in each   
   of the defining characteristics for the station, operators, and information.   
      
   When viewed from the perspective of this set of definitions and choices,   
   confusion over the term "assistance" vanishes. It's all about information   
   and what crosses the boundaries, controlled by limits on the equipment,   
   bands, information, and number of operators.   
      
   There are a surprising number of possible categories based on combinations   
   of these characteristics. How many? In the Station column you may use CW   
   Skimmer or not (two choices) and under Operator you may have one or any   
   number of operators inside the station boundary (also two choices). RF   
   information choices consist of 2 bands, 2 limits on band changes, and 3   
   types of limits on signals - a total of 2 x 2 x 3 = 12 combinations.   
   External data information is either allowed or it isn't for two more   
   choices. Overall, there are 2 x 2 x 12 x 2 = 96 combinations, just from this   
   simple set of choices.   
      
   Out of these 96, most current contest rules support just the six categories   
   shown in the table, although some allow a station CW Skimmer in SOAB and   
   some don't. Of the non-implemented categories, some don't make a lot of   
   sense (Multi-multi, Single-band for one) but surely there are some other   
   nuggets of interest to be mined from this rich vein?   
      
   Rick, N6XI wrote to describe a Tag-Team SOAB category in which a sequence of   
   operators play by the SOAB rules. "That is, a group of ops taking turns   
   operating a station, single-signal, with unlimited band changes, so the one   
   op in command at any time can take advantage of SO2R (or, for the   
   RTTY-inclined, SOnR). Instead of limiting band changes, limit operator   
   changes." I can imagine the operator change limit varying from 10 minutes   
   ala the California QSO Party to an hour or even 24 hours.   
      
   I'm sure other variations of useful categories come to mind and might make   
   perfect sense for a favorite contest or one your club sponsors. You can even   
   define your own categories and challenges for a contest as long as the QSOs   
   are valid within the sponsor's definitions. Other hierarchies of categories   
   can be built based on these and similar choices, too.The important thing is   
   to build the categories on clear definitions and boundaries. From new   
   categories (and new definitions, as well) will come entirely new contests!   
      
   Where does this lead? I believe the major challenges are two-fold; first,   
   what equipment is allowed inside the station boundary? How automated can   
   operation become and still have the outcome depend on operator skill and   
   station-building ability? (This is why we have contests, don't forget...)   
   What are the differentiating factors between types or classes of technology?   
      
   The second major challenge is the use and application of data. We're rapidly   
   approaching the point at which things we traditionally think of as part of a   
   physical radio can be located anywhere if sufficient bandwidth and   
   resolution exist to implement the desired function. "Virtual equipment," if   
   you will. With fiber-optic data service, why not offload your DSP filtering   
   or signal decoding to a cloud-based vendor of digital algorithm services?   
   It's already easy to use multiple remote receivers entirely over the   
   Internet.   
      
   Operators using remote control might have a set of equipment that looks very   
   much like a traditional station, but performing the actual control functions   
   via a digital control link. Consider the TS-480 with a control head,   
   microphone, key, and headphones in one location and the RF circuitry   
   somewhere else at the end of an Ethernet cable. Is the station control point   
   truly inside the station boundary? Does it matter if the human operator   
   can't tell the difference between everything being in one place and having   
   some of the equipment elsewhere?   
      
   Decisions about what combinations and constraints are desirable will be up   
   to contesters and contest sponsors. One thing is clear - technology is not   
   about to slow down for us and seems to be accelerating, in fact. I can   
   envision the day in which the definition of the station boundary changes to   
   "A 500-meter circle, inside which the conversion between electromagnetic   
   waves and data is performed." And everything else can be anywhere else.   
      
   Even when that comes to pass, an RF signal will still have to make its way   
   from station to station and hams will still listen to the world turning as   
   the hours pass. The mysteries and challenges of ionospheric and tropospheric   
   propagation will always be a part of ham radio and that is good enough for   
   me. Food for thought? Certainly. An age of experimentation and change is   
   upon us and there will be many changes. It's all a matter of boundaries.   
      
   73, Ward NOAX   
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   12 March through 25 March   
      
   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   
      
   North American Sprint--Phone, from Mar 16, 0000Z to Mar 16, 0359Z . Bands   
   (MHz): 3.5-14. Exchange: Both call signs, serial, name, and S/P/C. Logs due:   
   7 days. Rules   
      
   CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Tests--CW, from Mar 12, 1100Z - See website. Multiple   
   time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Twice monthly on 2nd and 4th Wed, 28 to   
   38 kHz above band edge. Exchange: Name and member number or S/P/C. Logs due:   
   2 days. Rules   
      
   Feld-Hell Leprechaun Sprint--Digital, from Mar 15, 12 PM to Mar 15, 2 PM.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on 3rd Saturday. Exchange: RST, S/P/C,   
   Feld-Hell member nr. Logs due: 7 days. Rules   
      
   BARTG HF RTTY Contest--Digital, from Mar 15, 0200Z to Mar 17, 0200Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: 3-digit serial and 4-digit time. Logs due: May 1.   
   Rules   
      
   Russian DX Contest--Phone,CW, from Mar 15, 1200Z to Mar 16, 1159Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T), serial or oblast abbr. Logs due: See web.   
   Rules   
      
   Virginia QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 15, 1400Z - See website.   
   Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50-440, CW 1.805, 50 kHz+ band   
   edge; Phone 1.845,3.86,7.26,14.27,21.37,28.37; 50.130, clg freq 144/220/440   
   MHz. Exchange: Serial and VA county/city or S/P or "DX". Logs due: Apr 15.   
   Rules   
      
   Run For the Bacon--CW, from Mar 17, 0200Z to Mar 17, 0400Z. Bands (MHz):   
   1.8-28. Monthly on 3rd Sunday night (local). Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Flying   
   Pig nr or power. Rules   
      
   CLARA and Family HF Contest--Phone,CW, from Mar 18, 1700Z - See website.   
   Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. CW 3.688, 7.033, 14.033, 21.033;   
   Phone 3.750, 3.900, 7.033, 7.200, 14.120-130, 14.288, 21.288, 28.488 MHz .   
   Exchange: RS(T), name, QTH, and if CLARA mbr. Logs due: Apr 15. Rules   
      
   NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint--CW, from Mar 20, 0030Z to Mar 20, 0230Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 3.5-14. Monthly on 2nd Tuesday or 3rd Wednesday local time   
   (alternating). Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and NAQCC mbr nr or power. Logs due: 4   
   days. Rules   
      
   FOC QSO Party--CW, from Mar 22, 0000Z to Mar 22, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28,   
   50+. Exchange: RST, name, FOC nr if member. Logs due: 7 days. Rules   
      
   Oklahoma QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 22, 1300Z - See website.   
   Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28, 50, CW 40 kHz above band edge;   
   Phone 3.860, 7.195, 14.260, 21.335, 28.470, 50.130 MHz. Exchange: RS(T) and   
   OK county or S/P/"DX". Logs due: Apr 23. Rules   
      
   Louisiana QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 22, 1400Z to Mar 23, 0200Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144, CW 1.84, 3.54, 7.04, 14.04, 21.04, 28.04; Phone   
   1.865, 3.865, 7.255, 14.255, 21.365, 28.465; VHF 50.095, 50.135, 144.05,1   
   44.21 MHz. Exchange: Call sign, RS(T), LA parish or S/P/C. Logs due: 30   
   days. Rules   
      
   QCWA Spring QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 22, 1800Z to Mar 22, 1800Z   
   . Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50+. Exchange: Call,year lic'd,name,QCWA chap or   
   S/P/C. Logs due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   Feld-Hell Leprechaun Sprint--Digital, from Mar 15, 12 PM to Mar 15, 2 PM.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on 3rd Saturday. Exchange: RST, S/P/C,   
   Feld-Hell member nr. Logs due: 7 days. Rules   
      
   Virginia QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 15, 1400Z - See website.   
   Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50-440, CW 1.805, 50 kHz+ band   
   edge; Phone 1.845,3.86,7.26,14.27,21.37,28.37; 50.130, clg freq 144/220/440   
   MHz. Exchange: Serial and VA county/city or S/P or "DX". Logs due: Apr 15.   
   Rules   
      
   FOC QSO Party--CW, from Mar 22, 0000Z to Mar 22, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28,   
   50+. Exchange: RST, name, FOC nr if member. Logs due: 7 days. Rules   
      
   Oklahoma QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 22, 1300Z - See website.   
   Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28, 50, CW 40 kHz above band edge;   
   Phone 3.860, 7.195, 14.260, 21.335, 28.470, 50.130 MHz. Exchange: RS(T) and   
   OK county or S/P/"DX". Logs due: Apr 23. Rules   
      
   Louisiana QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 22, 1400Z to Mar 23, 0200Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144, CW 1.84, 3.54, 7.04, 14.04, 21.04, 28.04; Phone   
   1.865, 3.865, 7.255, 14.255, 21.365, 28.465; VHF 50.095, 50.135, 144.05,1   
   44.21 MHz. Exchange: Call sign, RS(T), LA parish or S/P/C. Logs due: 30   
   days. Rules   
      
   QCWA Spring QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 22, 1800Z to Mar 22, 1800Z   
   . Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50+. Exchange: Call,year lic'd,name,QCWA chap or   
   S/P/C. Logs due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   12 March through 25 March   
      
    *  March 13 - QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  March 14 - PN Quick CW Contest   
    *  March 14 - TESLA Memorial HF CW Contest   
    *  March 15 - Minnesota QSO Party   
    *  March 15 - AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening   
    *  March 15 - QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  March 15 - CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  March 16 - High Speed Club CW Contest   
    *  March 16 - UBA Spring Contest, CW   
    *  March 16 - SKCC Weekend Sprintathon   
    *  March 16 - North American Sprint, RTTY   
    *  March 17 - DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest   
    *  March 18 - ARRL School Club Roundup   
    *  March 18 - ARRL International DX Contest, CW   
    *  March 19 - Open Ukraine RTTY Championship   
    *  March 19 - RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW   
    *  March 20 - NRAU 10m Activity Contest   
    *  March 21 - YL-ISSB QSO Party   
    *  March 22 - Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  March 22 - North American Sprint, SSB   
    *  March 22 - QRP ARCI HF Grid Square Sprint   
    *  March 23 - EA PSK63 Contest   
    *  March 23 - Run for the Bacon QRP Contest   
    *  March 23 - UBA Spring Contest, 6m   
      
      
   ARRL Information   
      
   Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information   
      
   Join or Renew Today!   
      
   ARRL membership includes QST, Amateur Radio's most popular and informative   
   journal, delivered to your mailbox each month.   
      
   Subscribe to NCJ - the National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly,   
   features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA   
   Sprint and QSO Parties.   
      
   Subscribe to QEX - A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published   
   bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects, columns and   
   other items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.   
      
   Free of charge to ARRL members: Subscribe to The ARRL Letter (weekly digest   
   of news and information), the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and   
   emergency communications news), Division and Section news -- and much more!   
      
   ARRL offers a wide array of products to enhance your enjoyment of Amateur   
   Radio. Visit the site often for new publications, specials and sales.   
      
   Donate to the fund of your choice -- support programs not funded by member   
   dues!   
      
   Reprint permission can be obtained by sending email to permission@arrl.org   
   with a description of the material and the reprint publication.   
      
   ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS   
      
   ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest   
   Calendar and SM3CER's Contest Calendar.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update is published every other Wednesday (26 times each   
   year). ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their   
   Member Data Page as described at http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/.   
      
   Copyright (c) 2014 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved   
      
   www.arrl.org   
      
      
      
   )\/(ark   
      
   One of the great tragedies of life is the murder of a beautiful theory by a   
   gang of brutal facts. --Benjamin Franklin   
      
   --- FMail/Win32 1.60   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.71)