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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2014-07-30   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   July 30, 2014   
   Editor: Ward Silver, NOAX   
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
    *  Can You Move To...? - NAQP CW   
    *  On the Rove Again- ARRL UHF Contest   
    *  Now That's a Multiplier!   
    *  Innovative Advertising   
    *  All Hail Bob Heil   
    *  WRTC2014 - Final Stats   
    *  HFTA Caveats by N1CC   
    *  Tube or Not Tube - That Is the Question   
    *  A Tool for Opening Doors   
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO   
      
   Fire up your Morsemaking muscles and jump into the North American QSO   
   Party's CW edition this Saturday. It's a friendly name-and-state exchange,   
   you can work everybody on all bands, and the power limit is 100 watts. While   
   you're at it, pick up some DX, too, as the Worked All Europe contest will be   
   going on at the same time!   
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   There are no bulletins in this issue.   
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   The previous issue's photo of the W1L team in their tent was by N6TV and not   
   EY8MM.   
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   Aug 2-3   
      
    *  ARRL UHF Contest   
    *  North American QSO Party--CW   
    *  NS Weekly Sprint--CW (Aug 1)   
    *  Int'l Lighthouse-Lightship Contest   
    *  TARA Grid Dip Shindig--Digital   
    *  10-10 Summer Phone QSO Party   
    *  European HF Championship   
    *  South Africa DX SSB Contest   
    *  OK1WC Memorial Contest   
      
   Aug 9-10   
      
    *  CWOps Weekly Mini-CWT Tests (Aug 6)   
    *  Worked All Europe--CW   
    *  Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon   
    *  Maryland-DC QSO Party   
    *  Fall VHF Sprint - 50 MHz   
    *  NJQRP Skeeter Hunt   
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   Here's a cross-mode contact made during the IARU HF Championship that was   
   definitely out of the ordinary - right in the middle of the contest while   
   operating as N3BUO, Gary WA5FWC copied a CW SOS call in the SSB band on his   
   CQ frequency and dropped the contest to render help! "During the Saturday   
   evening of the IARU I received an SOS in CW in Spanish about a ship in   
   distress. The message said they were in danger of ditching in a raft as the   
   ship was losing power and the air time was short. I received what I   
   perceived to be coordinates off the Argentine coast about 565 miles. I   
   copied the info and a Mexican station translated and relayed this   
   information to the Maritime Mobile net which then contacted the Argentine   
   Coast Guard and Argentine authorities rescued the passengers." Strong work!   
   (Thanks, Dave N3BUO and Gary WA5FWC)   
      
   A new set of Thai Amateur Radio regulations went into effect on July 23rd,   
   granting Thai hams several new sets of frequency privileges, including a   
   secondary allocation on 6 meters and expansion of 160 and 80 meter operation   
   to 1.800 - 2.000 MHz and 3.500 - 3.600 MHz. Advanced licensees will be able   
   to use up to 1000 watts and more club and contest call signs will be   
   available, such as E2X. The Morse receiving test is retained, as well.   
   (Thanks, Champ E21EIC and Sam SM3DYU)   
      
   DX Engineering has added some new product lines. Along with the full set of   
   K4UEE DXpedition videos covering 2002-2012 and several DXpeditions of the   
   year, the full line of Coaxial Dynamics wattmeters and associated equipment   
   is also available. DX Engineering is also the exclusive dealer for the 2X   
   Arrays TX38 triband Yagi, used for all of the WRTC2014 stations.   
      
   Stu K6TU writes, "I am planning to release a new version of the Super Check   
   Partial (SCP) database files in early August 2014. I am requesting your logs   
   for input to the database files. To be included in this release, email   
   Cabrillo-formatted logs to Stu before August 8th. He can accept logs at any   
   time, so why not make that part of your post-contest log-handling process?   
   Whatever you send the contest sponsors, just cc: the SCP manager.   
      
   N2NC and team have added another year - 1974 - to the CQ WW online score   
   database. In addition, two new plaques have been added: In honor of the   
   recent passing of IT9ZGY, the IB9T/IR9Y team has sponsored the World   
   Combined SSB/CW 160M Score plaque. The CW Single Operator All Bands Oceania   
   plaque is a memorial to KH2D, sponsored by Ken Hoppe KH7R and Mani Albrecht   
   KH2FI. (Thanks, CQ WW DX Contest Director, Randy K5ZD)   
      
   The Radio Club of America (RCA) has announced its 2014 award winners. Among   
   the list are several hams (RCA is not just an amateur club) you might   
   recognize - congratulations to all!   
      
    *  The Barry Goldwater Award - Norman " Doug" Grant (K1DG )   
    *  The Jerry B. Minter Award - Dr. Albert D. Helfrick, PhD. (K2BLA)   
    *  The President's Award - John Facella, P.E., C. Engineer (K9FJ)   
    *  The Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Citation - Dr. John S. Belrose, PhD.   
       (VE2CV/VE3CVV)   
    *  The Young Achiever Award - Rohan Agrawal (KJ6LXV)   
      
   Victoria SV2KBS recommends the free CW practice program called CW Freak   
   which has been upgraded to CW Freak.NET by Satoshi JIOVWL. She says that   
   it's very similar to rufzXP with several competition lists and rankings plus   
   three different modes of operation - two for practice and one for   
   competitive copying. It requires the NET 2.0 system on your Windows PC and   
   is compatible with Vista through Windows 8.1 operating systems.   
      
   How was cable TV really invented? Well, it was an Astoria, Oregon ham radio   
   operator and broadcast station owner named Ed Parsons W7FKZ trying to   
   receive KRSC-TV (now KING) on channel 5 from Seattle in 1948! In this   
   article that tells a story to which we can all relate, Ed finally found a   
   "hot spot" on a building near his apartment, started watching television   
   from Seattle, and the rest, as they say, is history. (Thanks, Diane NH6HE)   
      
   Here are some more interesting electronic robotic construction kits for   
   young experimenters. The Tinkerbots website describes modules like the   
   "twister, pivot, motor, and grabber." What hands-on youngster could resist?   
   The resulting assembly is controlled with either an Android or iOS app. The   
   Modular Robotics company produces a similar line of Cubelets and the MOSS   
   robot construction system to get your designs rolling. Or grabbing, or   
   twisting, or...   
      
   There have been lots of stories about the "near hit" of a substantial   
   coronal mass ejection (CME) a couple of years ago that, depending on the   
   source, had it impacted the Earth squarely would have either just done a lot   
   of damage or ended life as we know it, take your pick. The commentary on the   
   Slashdot website usually takes news in technical directions rarely   
   encountered on the regular outlets and this story was treated no differently   
   - enjoy!   
      
   The August issue of Sky and Telescope contains a thought-provoking article,   
   "Toddlers at the Telescope" about giving young kids a chance to look at   
   celestial sights. It points out that without experience, the kids really   
   don't know what to expect or how to use the instruments. The article's   
   advice could help us make a child's first exposure to radio something more   
   enjoyable and interesting to them by working within their abilities. After   
   all, they don't know what a radio is or what a signal is - it's quite easy   
   to confuse and overload them as we deliver rapid-fire advice and jargon. The   
   same goes for introducing most non-hams to our world. Too often, we give   
   them the "fire-hose treatment" instead of a slower, simpler introduction   
   they can assimilate and understand at their own pace.   
      
   Web Site of the Week - Rich KL7RA came up with a new way to advertise ham   
   radio in a forum you'd never expect - sponsoring a girls softball team! As   
   you can see from this news item the girls not only took the top trophy but   
   were undefeated in the tournament! Grandfather of team members Ayn-Margaret   
   and Grace Schaekel, Rich says, "There is nothing like hearing a team of   
   nine-year-old girls yelling your call sign before every game!"   
   Congratulations to the North Pole Contest Group team - maybe your club could   
   do something equally creative?   
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   Holer - refers to the number of tubes in a power amplifier. For example, an   
   AL-811 with three 811 tubes is a "three-holer" while the 4-tube AL-811H is a   
   "four-holer". Depending on what tube is installed in the "holes" (sockets)   
   an amplifier can be considered pretty much legit or one that "encourages bad   
   behavior." To paraphrase the old rhyme: A one-hole Alpha is the least, a   
   two-hole Alpha is a beast, and the urge would over-power ya if you had a   
   three-hole Alpha!   
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   Bob Heil K9EID is known by hams for the Ham Nation online video series and   
   his microphones and headsets but he has an amazing history in the   
   professional music field, too! This interview with Bob will help round out   
   your knowledge about this audio pioneer.   
      
   Here's a news story that gets it! Contesting encourages emergency   
   preparedness - that's what we've been saying all along! (Thanks, Kevin   
   KOKDS)   
      
   W3IZ and IK2QEI do a great job in this video about WRTC2014 made by a local   
   public access television network to explain the magic of the competition and   
   ham radio in general. (Thanks, WRTC2014 Vice President, Randy K5ZD)   
      
   Nodir EY8MM is a terrific photographer and his online albums of photos are   
   well worth browsing, such as this set from the recent WRTC2014. Victor VA2WA   
   has also posted photos from his WRTC2014 experience, including his duties as   
   a referee for the N1C team's operation. He also documented his trip to W1AW   
   and ARRL HQ the following week for the League's Centennial celebration.   
   Thanks to all of the photographers who have shared their photos with all of   
   us around the world!   
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   Following the contest come the statistics and maps, right? WRTC2014 is no   
   different and the organizers have assembled several web pages to put the   
   finishing touches on this extraordinary event. Thank you and "well done" to   
   the WRTC2014 organizing committee and hundreds of volunteers!   
      
    *  An interactive map of each team's location. Click on any icon to view   
       details about the site team, operating team, and score.   
    *  Results with full band by band breakdowns   
    *  Results of the CW Skills Competition sponsored by Vibroplex and CW Ops   
    *  Winners of the WRTC Chase Awards   
    *  A table of radios and software used by the WRTC2014 teams (it's never   
       too early to start that holiday gift list!)   
      
   Logs submitted by the WRTC2014 teams will be made public after the log   
   submission deadline for the IARU HF Championship Contest has passed at 1200   
   UTC Tuesday, August 12, 2014. (Thanks, WRTC2014 Vice President, Randy K5ZD   
   and Director, Andy N2NT)   
      
   Results for the School Club Roundup are now available on the ARRL's Contest   
   Results Articles web page for 2014. The article by N2RQ includes the full   
   tables of scores as compiled by WA7BNM's new SCR web page - thanks, Lew and   
   Bruce! It's never too early to start thinking about getting students ready   
   for the October and February events.   
      
   Results for the 2013 Canada Winter Contest have been posted on the RAC   
   website. (Thanks, RAC Canada Winter Contest Manager, Sam VE5SF)   
      
   Results of the 2014 UBA Contest CW for Belgian and DX stations have been   
   published. Certificates can also be downloaded. (Thanks, Marc ON7SS/OO9O)   
      
   All Raw Scores (Claimed Scores) for the 2014 CQMM DX Contest have been   
   published. Scores were calculated before any log checking process. If you   
   find errors, please contact the contest committee as soon as possible. Final   
   results will be published on August 20. (Thanks, Luc PY8AZT)   
      
   The 2014 Wisconsin QSO Party results are now available. "All counties were   
   active and we had a Clean Sweep by W9EAU - first ever! And we'll do it again   
   on March 15, 2015." (Thanks, WIQP Team Member, Tom K9BTQ)   
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   Mark ZL3AB contributed an analysis of operating time in the 2013 CQ WW CW   
   and SSB Contests. "I was wondering what the average operating times were for   
   Single Operator All Band and Single Operator All Band Assisted stations.   
      
   Single Op Single Op(A) Overall   
      
   CW 17.4 18.1 17.8   
      
   SSB 14.7 13.8 14.2   
      
   Also 73% of operators operated for less than 24 hours in the CW contest with   
   79% doing so in the SSB contest. Interestingly there seemed to be no   
   material difference in time operated in each category between single ops and   
   single ops assisted in both contests. It also seems there were a lot more   
   very casual operators in the SSB contest. It is pretty obvious that without   
   the casual operators the hard core would get bored pretty quickly!" The tip?   
   Keep your butt in the chair!   
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   After WRTC2014 there was a lot of discussion comparing the site terrain to   
   the scores. One of the site managers, Rich K1CC, contributes some very   
   important considerations when doing terrain and HFTA (HF Terrain Analysis)   
   modeling and analyzing RBN (Reverse Beacon Net) data:   
      
   1) Any dB data (including HFTA Figure of Merit) must be averaged using a   
   geometric mean, not an arithmetic mean.   
      
   2) Data across Skimmers cannot be averaged as they all have different SDR   
   sensitivities and different antenna gains. In other words, their "S-meters"   
   do not have the same calibrations and they use different antennas.   
      
   3) Terrain data must be of sufficient fidelity to capture diffraction   
   effects in HFTA. Try turning the diffraction on and off in HFTA any you will   
   see the importance of diffraction on uneven ground (e.g. New England)   
      
   4) There are various sources of terrain data and they are not all the same.   
   The accuracy of the terrain data varies even within the US. The simplest and   
   quickest way to assess the accuracy and fidelity of terrain data is to run   
   some profiles and compare them against known landmarks (distance to edges of   
   lakes, across known flat ground such as an airport runways, etc.). The USGS   
   maps within the US are a good sources of such reference points. Man-made   
   features such as fill for roads can distort the terrain data significantly.   
   Field checks against terrain model results should always be made to check   
   for these errors.   
      
   5) The HFTA model can sometimes be very sensitive to terrain data across   
   different databases (NED, DEM, etc.). Running sensitivity tests with small   
   perturbations in antenna location, terrain files and azimuth can sometimes   
   show large variability in result. It is only a model!   
      
   6) The coordinates used for WRTC antenna locations were given using the   
   WGS-84 datum. There can be significant differences in antenna placement   
   across different coordinate systems, as our beam teams discovered (antennas   
   in the middle of a street, etc.)   
      
   6) N6BV has available newer arrival angle distributions than those that are   
   published, be sure to use the latest ones.   
      
   7) Intuition about the effects of terrain on antenna response does not seem   
   to work very well. The effect of terrain on a 40 ft high antenna is much   
   different than it is on a 100 ft antenna. Local terrain features within the   
   reflection zone can sometimes result in very large gain difference over a   
   narrow range of radiation angles. HFTA has been used many times very   
   successfully by station designers but it is not a rigorously validated   
   model.   
      
   Ignoring any of the above can lead one to very erroneous conclusions in site   
   analysis and in comparing sites against each other. Proceed with caution.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   If you have a TDR or pulse generator and a scope you can make some fairly   
   quick length and impedance maeasurements of transmission lines as shown in   
   this EDN online article.   
      
   The June 2014 issue of Nuts and Volts includes a useful product for hams who   
   want to build their own test equipment. "A 150 MHz RF Signal Generator for   
   Your Test Bench" by Robert Reed. It's based on the venerable MC1648   
   ECL-family LC oscillator and includes the ability for AM and FM. The design   
   avoids the complexities of building the attenuator by recommending the   
   builder use an external switched attenuator, of which there are many on the   
   surplus market. The author also published the article "180 MHz Sweep   
   Generator" in the December 2013 issue. Also check out the author's follow-up   
   comments in the July 2014 issue.   
      
   At the hamfest you've just spotted a clean rotator in the HAM-M series at a   
   good price - but which one is it? A HAM-M, -II, -III, or -IV? The rotator   
   series can be identified by the numbers stamped into the base plate. They   
   will typically give the series, serial number, and month/year of   
   manufacture. (Thanks, Joe W4TV)   
      
   Speaking of rotators, perhaps this tip will help a reader avoid having to   
   learn an important repair lesson the hard way: "Don't forget the MOST   
   important piece of rebuild equipment, a shallow cardboard box to catch the   
   ball bearings that will fall out when you crack apart the two halves of the   
   housing." And they do fall out and roll off everywhere unless you are   
   prepared! (Thanks, Mike NF4L)   
      
   In case you were wondering how or are teaching someone how to solder and   
   they were wondering, here is an explanation for what jobs the different   
   types of soldering iron tips are intended.   
      
   Jim W6RMK is a big fan of the Paladin adjustable coax stripper. "It comes   
   with a tiny Allen hex wrench to adjust the height of the blades, and you can   
   move them to various positions along the cut. Once you get it dialed in for   
   YOUR coax and YOUR connectors, it's the work of 10 seconds to make a perfect   
   strip. Paladin (and others) make fixed strippers too, but you need to choose   
   wisely. Compare the cut lengths and depths for the stripper against the   
   assembly diagram for your connector and coax. Paladin is part of Greenlee   
   (the folks who have made chassis punches for probably a century)"   
      
   Some ham radio software does not run well under the default installation   
   folder for Win 8.x of Program Files (x86). Running Windows 8.1 Update,   
   Dennis NE6I relates some success in following instructions "to create a   
   separate Program Files folder and install my ham software there." Ron WM9Q   
   concurs, "I typically install software of this type in a directory directly   
   under the "C:" root directory. If a particular program still gives me   
   issues, I set the compatibility mode for windows 7 and run it as an   
   administrator. That typically fixes all ills."   
      
   Technical Web Site of the Week - Not only is the vacuum tube still around,   
   the basic technology may be making a comeback in the digital world as this   
   story from the IEEE Spectrum explains.   
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   A Tool for Opening Doors   
      
   You may have seen some coverage of the European Radiosport Team Championship   
   (ERTC), part of a Europe-wide youth gathering known as Youngsters On The Air   
   (YOTA) which is held every year in different European Union countries under   
   EU and International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) sponsorship. It brings youth   
   together in the spirit of cultural exchange and learning from one another in   
   all segments of Amateur Radio, science and electronics.   
      
   This year fifteen EU countries were represented. ERTC also brought young   
   people together globally over the Internet, using Amateur Radio simulation   
   software on a shared platform (Hamsphere) - a completely natural hangout for   
   them. The winners (with ages in parentheses) were:   
      
   Gold Medal - Czech Republic - OJ45OK: Sarka Vavrova OK2SVA (21); Jindrich   
   Kostal OK1NOR (24), and Jan "Honza" Dohnalek OK1JD (20)   
      
   Silver Medal - Italy - OJ78IT: Nicola Tonci IZ6TSA (20); Gabry Iuliani   
   IT9RGY (26) and Orazio Intagliata IT9DBF (25)   
      
   Bronze Medal - Estonia - OJ56ES: Keijo Kapp ES1XQ (17); Tauri Helimets   
   ES5HTA (29) and Keven Mekk ES6AXS (18)   
      
   Continental winners were:   
      
    *  Europe: Gaudentas Mozura LY3BHY   
    *  Asia: Faisal Al-Ajmi 9K2RR   
    *  South America: Jairo Ramos Sansone PU3JAI   
    *  Oceania: Eko 91HS576 (Central Java, Indonesia)   
    *  Africa: Tarek Zeidan SU1TZ   
    *  North America: ARRL Centennial, W1OOAW activated by Martti OH2BH as part   
       of the ARRL Centennial celebrations in Hartford, Connecticut   
      
   ERTC was conducted much like a regular ham radio contest. There were two   
   operating periods of three hours each, the teams used special ham   
   radio-style call signs, and they called CQ and tuned for multipliers.   
   Hamsphere is fairly realistic in that there is QRM and QRN and the bands   
   aren't always open. You can also turn up the mic gain until you are   
   over-modulating - then Hamsphere disables you. Gee, could we get them to   
   take over 20 meters some time? No, of course it's not a real ham radio   
   contest, but there seems to be some concern that simulated ham radio will   
   replace or substitute for actual ham radio. I understand the concern but I'm   
   not too worried - I'm actually encouraged and here's why.   
      
   We should evaluate Hamsphere for what it is - a simulation of ham radio. No   
   one is claiming it to be actual ham radio. Simulators are very useful as a   
   way of demonstrating some of the concepts of ham radio to people unfamiliar   
   with what radio is which includes most of the population. Sure, it would be   
   great to introduce people to ham radio at a full-size station but online   
   simulators can be accessed anywhere, anytime and in a medium that is   
   familiar to the target audience. That's a recipe for success, in my opinion.   
   Simulation opens a door - it does not claim to be the entire experience.   
      
   Simulators are widely used by pilots, doctors, military personnel,   
   technicians etc to get some experience with controls and operational   
   details. They do not confuse simulation with reality and I don't think any   
   of the Hamsphere users do either. Simulators provide excellent training   
   opportunities that we can use during licensing classes and when showing new   
   licensees how the various terms and techniques relate to on-the-air   
   operating. Using simulators, public service training can also be conducted   
   in a controlled environment before live on-the-air drills.   
      
   Beginning operators who participated in ERTC got some experience with using   
   phonetics, copying through noise and interference, confirming call signs,   
   finding a frequency, logging, and so on. They will be more prepared when   
   they get the opportunity to participate in ham radio "for real" and that is   
   our job - to help them take the next step, not disrespect them because they   
   did not come to ham radio and experience it exactly as we did.   
      
   Here's another example of how to use a ham radio simulation like Hamsphere   
   to address a situation we've all encountered: We have an opportunity to   
   introduce Amateur Radio in conversation, often spontaneously, and rarely   
   does this happen when we have radio equipment at hand. We can now pull out   
   our smartphone, tablet, or laptop and demonstrate the basic idea. Coupled   
   with online contact mapping websites like dxmaps.com or Viewprop we can now   
   show the basic idea of ham radio both to the eye and to the ear. This is   
   much more likely to be of interest to the other person than verbal   
   descriptions. Online "play spaces" are understood and accepted by more   
   people every day - of all ages. We can use this tool to open the door to our   
   real-time, far more powerful ham radio.   
      
   Certainly, the best possible door to ham radio is a personal mentoring   
   relationship with an experienced, licensed ham - no one is trying to   
   diminish that. Those, unfortunately, are far less common than they were when   
   we got into ham radio. Further, people under thirty have a much different   
   view of communication technology. We have to recognize that and work with   
   it, not insist on imposing our history on the potential recruits. Right now   
   much of our target audience doesn't even know ham radio exists, so any door   
   we can open should be opened. Sure, not all of them will come on through but   
   given that many wouldn't try ham radio at all without an introduction they   
   understand, this can only be a net positive for Amateur Radio in the long   
   run.   
      
   Once given a taste of what radio communication "feels like," simulator users   
   are more likely to at least take an interest in learning about ham radio.   
   Licensed users of the simulator can fill that need by acting as ambassadors   
   of Amateur Radio. I think of simulators as filling a role similar to   
   short-wave listening or even Citizens Band "back in the day." Those were the   
   gateways to Amateur Radio for many hams.   
      
   I know that simulators are uncomfortable for many of us who have long   
   experience with ham radio. It's not so much that we are "old-fashioned" as   
   that we have taken a different path to and through ham radio. There are many   
   paths to the doors of ham radio - simulation is one of them. We need to use   
   any tool available to open as many doors as possible. It's what we do then   
   to help new licensees after they come through one of those doors that   
   counts.   
      
   73, Ward NOAX   
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   30 July through 12 August   
      
   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 QSO Party--CW, from Aug 2, 1800Z to Aug 3, 0600Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: Name and state. Logs due: 7 days. Rules   
      
   NS Weekly Sprint--CW, from Aug 1, 0230Z to Aug 1, 0300Z. Bands (MHz):   
   1.8-14. Exchange: Serial, name, and S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days. Rules   
      
   Int'l Lighthouse-Lightship Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Aug 2, 0000Z to   
   Aug 3, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. See website. Exchange: Serial or ARLHS   
   mbr/light nr and name, S/P/C. Logs due: Aug 31. Rules   
      
   TARA Grid Dip Shindig--Digital, from Aug 2, 0000Z to Aug 2, 2359Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: Name and 4-char grid square. Logs due: Aug 30.   
   Rules   
      
   10-10 Summer Phone QSO Party--Phone, from Aug 2, 0001Z to Aug 3, 2359Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 28. Exchange: Call, name, 10-10 number, S/P/C. Logs due: Aug   
   18. Rules   
      
   European HF Championship--Phone,CW, from Aug 2, 1200Z to Aug 2, 2359Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T), last two digits of 1st year licensed. Logs   
   due: 9 days. Rules   
      
   South Africa DX SSB Contest--Phone, from Aug 3, 1300Z to Aug 3, 1630Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 3.5-14. Exchange: RS and serial. Logs due: 7 days. Rules   
      
   OK1WC Memorial Contest--Phone,CW, from Aug 3, 1630Z to Aug 3, 1730Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 3.5, 7. Weekly on Monday, see website for bands. Exchange: RS(T) and   
   serial. Logs due: 5 days. Rules   
      
   CWOps Weekly Mini-CWT Tests--CW, from Aug 6, 1300Z - See website. Multiple   
   time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Weekly on Wednesday, 28 to 38 kHz above   
   band edge. Exchange: Name and member number or S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days.   
   Rules   
      
   Worked All Europe--CW, from Aug 9, 0000Z to Aug 10, 2359Z. Bands (MHz):   
   3.5-28. Exchange: RST and serial (see website for QTC rules). Logs due: 15   
   days. Rules   
      
   Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon--CW, from Aug 9, 1200Z to Aug 10, 2359Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member nr if member. Logs   
   due: 5 days. Rules   
      
   Maryland-DC QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Aug 9, 1600Z - See website.   
   Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50-440, See website. Exchange:   
   Maryland county/city or S/P/C. Logs due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   NJQRP Skeeter Hunt--Phone,CW, from Aug 10, 1700Z to Aug 10, 2100Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 3.5-28. QRP calling frequencies. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Skeeter number   
   or power. Logs due: 14 days. Rules   
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   ARRL UHF Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Aug 2, 1800Z to Aug 3, 1800Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 222+. Exchange: 4-char grid square. Logs due: Sep 2. Rules   
      
   TARA Grid Dip Shindig--Digital, from Aug 2, 0000Z to Aug 2, 2359Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: Name and 4-char grid square. Logs due: Aug 30.   
   Rules   
      
   Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon--CW, from Aug 9, 1200Z to Aug 10, 2359Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member nr if member. Logs   
   due: 5 days. Rules   
      
   Maryland-DC QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Aug 9, 1600Z - See website.   
   Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50-440, See website. Exchange:   
   Maryland county/city or S/P/C. Logs due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   Fall VHF Sprint - 50 MHz--Phone,CW,Digital, from Aug 9, 2000Z to Aug 9,   
   2400Z. Bands (MHz): 50. Exchange: 4-char grid square. Logs due: 30 days.   
   Rules   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   30 July through 12 August   
      
    *  July 30 - GACW WWSA CW DX Contest   
    *  July 31 - Venezuelan Ind. Day Contest   
    *  July 31 - All Asian DX Contest, CW   
    *  July 31 - RAC Canada Day Contest   
    *  July 31 - Original QRP Contest   
    *  July 31 - RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data   
    *  August 1 - QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  August 2 - CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  August 3 - NCCC Sprint Ladder   
    *  August 3 - WAB 144 MHz Low Power Phone   
    *  August 3 - CQ Worldwide VHF Contest   
    *  August 3 - NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  August 7 - ARS Spartan Sprint   
    *  August 10 - DL-DX RTTY Contest   
    *  August 10 - ARS Flight of the Bumblebees   
    *  August 10 - SARL HF Phone Contest   
    *  August 10 - North American QSO Party, CW   
    *  August 11 - FISTS Summer Sprint   
    *  August 11 - European HF Championship   
    *  August 12 - CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush   
    *  August 12 - IARU HF World Championship   
      
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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   
      
   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)