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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2014-10-22   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   October 22, 2014   
   Editor: Ward Silver, NOAX   
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
    *  Why Is My S-Meter Pinned? - CQ World Wide SSB   
    *  Check Your Check! Check? - ARRL November Sweepstakes CW   
    *  Clean Sweep Mugs and Pins   
    *  Engineers of Mystery and Intrigue   
    *  DXing Intro by KOIR   
    *  Sweepstakes Club Competition Records from K5OT   
    *  When Distortion is a Good Thing   
    *  Fingering RF Connectors   
    *  Only Radio Waves Need to Be Polarized   
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO   
      
   "The most fun you can have on the radio" is often applied to one's favorite   
   contest but you would be hard-pressed to find a more popular contest in   
   radiosport than the CQ World Wide DX Contest. This weekend is the SSB   
   weekend - look for stations from all over the world to be piling in loud and   
   fast. To participate, give out a signal report ("Five nine" will do) and   
   your CQ Worked All Zones program zone. And don't forget the School Club   
   Roundup going on this week through Friday afternoon.   
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   CQ Communications has reconsidered its initial policy on stations operating   
   in Crimea for the CQ World Wide contest. Logs will be accepted and counted   
   for the country indicated by the call sign of the station. This aligns CQ   
   policy with DXCC policy. See the CQ website for complete details.   
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   Contest dates for the October EU Sprint are the first and second Saturdays.   
   The April EU Sprints are on the first and third Saturdays. (Thanks, Tom   
   WB8ZRL)   
      
   EMC Blog author Ken Wyatt's call sign is WA6TTY. Thanks, Bob KONR   
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   October 25-26   
      
    *  SKCC Straight Key Sprint   
    *  CQ World Wide SSB Contest   
      
   November 1-2   
      
    *  ARRL November Sweepstakes--CW   
    *  Haunted Lighthouse QSO Party   
    *  IPA Contest   
    *  Ukrainian DX Contest   
    *  Himalayan Contest   
    *  Radio Club of America QSO Party--Phone   
    *  Collegiate ARC Championship--CW   
    *  DARC 10-Meter Digital "Corona"   
    *  OK1WC Memorial Contest   
    *  ARS Spartan Sprint--CW   
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   As we approach November and the ARRL Sweepstakes, don't forget the Clean   
   Sweep mugs for working at least one station in all 83 ARRL/RAC sections.   
   Sweepstakes Participation Pins are also available for anyone completing more   
   than 100 contacts on CW or Phone during Sweepstakes. Each pin displays the   
   year and mode and has become a popular tradition in the November Sweepstakes   
   event. You can find complete ordering instructions and prices on the ARRL   
   Sweepstakes web page. (Thanks, ARRL Contest Branch Manager, Matt W1MSW)   
      
   Alright all you Sweepstakes veterans, here's your assignment - help anyone   
   logging on paper get their log converted to Cabrillo format and submitted   
   electronically! I'm sure there are new contesters in your club who are just   
   getting started and aren't ready for contest logging software. They may use   
   a general-purpose logging program and not be aware of how to export a   
   Cabrillo-formatted contest log - help them out! How about others using paper   
   logs who need a hand? You can help there, too, and WA7BNM's Cabrillo   
   converter web service is the way to go! By getting logs submitted   
   electronically, the quality of the log checking process is improved and the   
   provisional results can be published more quickly.   
      
   Jim AD1C reports that the country (CTY) files, used by logging software to   
   cross-reference call signs and countries, were updated on 13 October 2014.   
   If you are interested in a bigger CTY.DAT for everyday logging, you can   
   download that, too. Please do that before CQ WW SSB begins!   
      
   The CWops group will be featuring a Very Special Slow-Speed CWops Test on 12   
   November. The 20 wpm-and-under event is targeted at the new and enthusiastic   
   CW Academy graduates -- help make them feel welcome and eager to come back   
   for more.   
      
   InnovAntennas America announces North American availability of the G/T -   
   Optimized Wideband Low-impedance High Gain Yagi Antennas, or OWL G/T for   
   short. OWL G/T antennas are optimized for weak signal VHF applications   
   including EME (moonbounce), meteor scatter, and other demanding modes;   
   applications where both antenna gain and control of side and rear lobes are   
   critical to lower the antenna's equivalent temperature by reducing received   
   noise, hence the 'G/T' model suffix.   
      
   Is this you at your rig seen in infra-red? Nope - it's a DX Heat "Band   
   Activity" map! Browse the the DX Heat website to find out what it means!   
      
   If you haven't checked out the DX Heat website lately, you might want to   
   take a look at the various interesting displays and presentations of "what's   
   happening now" on the bands. (Scroll down on the home page to see the   
   information below the large photo.) The site features a simple-to-use but   
   flexible incoming spot filter interface, a band activity map, the ability to   
   listen to any spot on a Web-based SDR, and more.   
      
   The November 2014 issue of Popular Science includes "Dawn of the Data Age,"   
   a thought-provoking article about visualization of data. The several   
   examples presented are interesting and eye-catching. Perhaps one of the   
   Contest Update readers might find the techniques inspiring to try building   
   some radiosport data visualizations.   
      
   It was sixty years ago today that transistors began to play! Well, sixty   
   years from October 18th, the day on which Texas Instruments announced the   
   first transistorized radio.   
      
   Web Site of the Week - Who are these "lesser known but important engineers"?   
   It's a good bet that at least one of the names will be familiar to many   
   hams. You might be surprised at these tales of invention and accomplishment   
   from EDN magazine.   
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   The Golden Age of Ham Radio -- the five-year period centered on when you got   
   your license: Everything before then was a primitive wasteland and   
   everything after that has been going to h**l in a handbasket!   
      
   Ad   
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   Ralph Fedor KOIR has posted a very interesting video to YouTube that   
   introduces newcomers to DXing, DXpeditions, and Amateur Radio in general.   
   (Thanks, Daily DX)   
      
   An example of the ordeals Cubesats must go through to qualify for launch,   
   this video (it's a 1Mb file) shows a vibration test on a power supply board.   
   It failed before getting to the 22G requirement! The editor would probably   
   fail at the 22G requirement, as well. (From Bob WB4APR via AMSAT bulletin   
   ANS-292)   
      
   Paul WORW found a website for searching old radio magazines with two million   
   pages for your browsing pleasure!   
      
   Hams might appreciate this map of the WOM HF-transmit antenna farm operated   
   by AT&T for many years in Pennsuco, Florida, west of Miami. This was one of   
   three high-seas ship-to-shore and island telephone service stations. WOM's   
   corresponding receive site was in Plantation, near Fort Lauderdale. When it   
   was decommissioned the transmission facility sported 38 log-periodics,   
   rhombics and omni verticals over a half-square-mile of Everglades, each of   
   which could handle 10kW from any of 20 or so mostly-Collins transmitters.   
   (Thanks, Tom Becker, ex-KN3URO)   
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   The ARRL's Sweepstakes contest manager, Larry K5OT, has just completed   
   researching the history of the Affiliated Club competition for a   
   comprehensive article that will be published in early 2015. Until 1978, all   
   ARRL-affiliated clubs competed in one group and the large clubs dominated   
   the standings. In early 1978, the ARRL Board of Directors approved a   
   three-tiered competition to allow clubs of about the same size to compete   
   against each other. These revised rules were first used in the 1978   
   Sweepstakes. For this 36-year 'modern era' from 1978-2013, the SS   
   affiliated-club record holders are:   
      
   Unlimited Category (51 or more logs)   
      
    *  2009 Potomac Valley Radio Club 24,356,974 points from 302 logs   
      
   Medium Category (11 through 50 logs)   
      
    *  1992 North Texas Contest Club 6,292,620 points from 40 logs   
      
   Local Category (3 through 10 logs)   
      
    *  1991 River City Contesters 1,926,066 points from 10 logs   
      
   Maybe your club would like to take a run at these records? Anyone with   
   interesting stories about past club activities in Sweepstakes should contact   
   K5OT.   
      
   The full-sized results writeup of the ARRL June VHF Contest by Bob K2DRH is   
   now online - thanks, Bob! Line scores are being worked on and should be   
   available soon.   
      
   Check your mailbox because ARRL certificates and plaques for the 2013   
   November Sweepstakes are arriving just in time to whet your contest whistle.   
   Plaques for the 2013 International DX contest are headed out, as well,   
   catching up with the participation pins mailed out last month. Awards for   
   last year's Phone Sweepstakes and IARU HF Championship are next on the list.   
   (Thanks, ARRL Contest Branch Manager, Matt W1MSW)   
      
   Official results for the 2014 EU HF Championship are now ready, verified by   
   the SCC Contest Committee, and published on the SCC web page. All UBN   
   reports are publicly available as usual and downloadable certificates are   
   also ready. (Thanks, SCC Contest Manager, Robert S57AW)   
      
   The results for the 2014 Summer Stew are now online. Congrats to NO3M on   
   submitting a golden log (no errors) and just edging out KV4FZ for top high   
   power honors. K1LT led the way for the low power scores and AC8AP led the   
   list of six brave souls who showed up with QRP. (Thanks, Tree N6TR)   
      
   Raw scores for the 2014 CQ World Wide RTTY Contest are now posted online.   
   (Thanks, Mark N2QT)   
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   To save your voice during a 48-hour phone contest, set up your transceiver   
   and speech processing to work at low volume levels, then discipline yourself   
   to speak softly - even in those nasty Sunday-afternoon pileups! Also try to   
   minimize sound levels in the shack, such as from fans or blowers, that will   
   be picked up by a speech processor and their noise added to your voice.   
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   Winner of the 2014 ARRL Technical Innovation Award, Warren NROV, has posted   
   a presentation on Digital Predistortion he gave at Ham Radio Friedrichshafen   
   this year. Author of the openHPSDR program's pre-distortion software, he   
   hopes that bringing this commercial wireless ability to the ham bands will   
   help clean up our signals. As he notes, "(It's) no problem to correct an   
   entire amplifier chain at legal limit. No extra hardware or software is   
   required -- one just feeds back a sample of the output from the last stage   
   to calculate the correction." As we move beyond our purely analog, 13.8 V   
   transceiver output amplifiers, adapting this technology provides some clear   
   benefits at relatively little expense. Who knows - maybe someday we'll be   
   able to hear all that receiver performance we pay for!   
      
   Gary K9AY checks in with an update of his popular low-band receiving loop.   
   "I've done a lot of analysis and experiments over the past couple years that   
   are not yet published. Among the results is a better understanding of the   
   role of ground. I now recommend a few radials for all installations: a   
   minimum of (4) and preferably (8) radials that are twice as long as the   
   loop's footprint. If you add them to an existing system, remember that the   
   resistor should be readjusted for deepest null."   
      
   Pete N6ZE found this online site that calculates Grid Locators to ten   
   characters and also provides the distance and bearing between them.   
      
   EDN magazine published this collection of articles about capacitors - don't   
   bypass it! Capacitors can be surprisingly complex and there are more types   
   of them than ever, with each having a special set of characteristics. While   
   you're at the EDN website, read this blog entry about an engineer   
   (re)discovering superheterodyne image response!   
      
   If you need an outdoor grease that won't attract dust and grit, Mike KD5KC   
   recommends Super Lube. This silicone-based, Teflon-impregnated lubricant   
   might be just the thing for tower winches, bearings, and other exposed uses.   
      
   You think you're an Excel power user? While searching for an Excel   
   spreadsheet to perform FFT calculations - without using the built-in Fourier   
   analysis capability - Brian K1LI happened onto Excel Unusual, "A Blog for   
   Applied Science, Engineering and Games in Excel." The list of topics   
   applicable to ham radio is too long to repeat here, but it's a treasure   
   trove of helpful tools.   
      
   Robert Dehoney found this useful collection of downloadable graph paper   
   images (such as Smith Charts and lin-log axes) and "cheat sheets" for   
   algebra, trigonometry, geometry -- even calculus.   
      
   Check out this cross-section of a serious cable - do you think it's rated   
   for direct burial? (Thanks, Dennis N6KI)   
      
   Technical Web Site of the Week - What connector is that, anyway? The   
   wireless world has moved quite beyond the UHF/BNC/N world so Pasternak has   
   prepared this connector identifier chart. Be flummoxed no more!   
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   Only Radio Waves Need to Be Polarized   
      
   (Note that the following is the author's personal opinion, as are all   
   Contest Update editorials.)   
      
   Lots of discussion has followed CQ Communications' announcement that logs   
   would not be accepted from stations in the Crimea for the upcoming CQ World   
   Wide Phone Contest if they used Russian-issued call signs. As of publication   
   time for this newsletter, the policy has been revised to align with the DXCC   
   policy of using the call sign to determine the country for which the contact   
   will count.   
      
   While I understand the multiple layers of politics involved with the   
   original decision, we should all reflect on the introduction of such things   
   into Amateur Radio. In whatever form, basing our policies on political   
   considerations is a Bad Thing and will only lead to more Bad Things,   
   especially if it initiates a destructive tit-for-tat escalation. It is a   
   Good Thing that CQ reconsidered and CQ World Wide will run as it always has   
   - everybody works everybody.   
      
   Ham radio organizations and contest sponsors should always do their utmost   
   to insure that all amateurs are fully welcome to participate in ham radio   
   events and achievement programs, regardless of political issues of the day.   
   This is one of Amateur Radio's great strengths, the fifth pillar of our   
   Basis and Purpose as stated in FCC Part 97.1(e) - "Continuation and   
   extension of the amateur's unique ability to enhance international   
   goodwill."   
      
   Consider that throughout the Cold War, hams communicated across the Iron   
   Curtain as DXers, ragchewers, contesters, and above all, friends. One of the   
   great delights we all experienced at the first WRTC in 1990 was that of long   
   friendships developed through Amateur Radio finally turning into   
   face-to-face greetings, overcoming decades of political isolation. Having   
   personally helped make those meetings possible, I hope we continue to avoid   
   placing obstacles in the way of amateurs contacting each other.   
      
   How much juice do we consume pursuing our favorite sport? At a big station   
   like W7RN, quite a bit. And the W1AW-Nevada operation in its upcoming second   
   week will add another bump at the right of this chart showing Tom's energy   
   consumption throughout the year.   
      
   Crimean hams will, of course, operate with whatever call sign they feel   
   appropriate - whether it begins with U or R. Those of us outside the Crimea   
   should work them just like any other station, neither seeking or shunning   
   them. A QSO is a QSO is a QSO.   
      
   Hams should act as we always have and ignore the politics. As long as we are   
   licensed, and not legally prohibited from doing so, work each other   
   enthusiastically and often. We'll worry about the point-counting and award   
   programs later. Leave the politics at the power switch, whether it's on your   
   VHF/UHF handheld or a full-gallon HF linear. Our radio waves may be   
   polarized but hams don't have to be.   
      
   73, Ward NOAX   
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   October 22 through November 4   
      
   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   
      
   ARRL November Sweepstakes--CW, from Nov 1, 2100Z to Nov 3, 0300Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: Serial, category, call, check, ARRL/RAC sec. Logs   
   due: Nov 18. Rules   
      
   SKCC Straight Key Sprint--CW, from Oct 22, 0000Z to Oct 22, 0200Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on the 4th Wednesday UTC. Exchange: RST, S/P/C,   
   name, SKCC number. Logs due: 5 days. Rules   
      
   CQ World Wide SSB Contest--Phone, from Oct 25, 0000Z to Oct 26, 2359Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS and CQ zone. Logs due: 5 days. Rules   
      
   Haunted Lighthouse QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Oct 31, 0000Z to Nov 2,   
   2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144. Exchange: Serial or ARLHS number. Rules   
      
   IPA Contest--Phone,CW, from Nov 1, 0600Z - See website. Multiple time   
   periods. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST and serial or "IPA" and state.   
   Logs due: Dec 31. Rules   
      
   Ukranian DX Contest--Phone,CW, from Nov 1, 1200Z to Nov 2, 1200Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST and serial or Ukraine oblast. Logs due: 30   
   days. Rules   
      
   Himalayan Contest--Phone,CW, from Nov 1, 1200Z to Nov 2, 1200Z. Bands (MHz):   
   3.5-28. Exchange: RS(T) and Indian state or power. Logs due: Nov 30. Rules   
      
   Radio Club of America QSO Party--Phone, from Nov 1, 1700Z to Nov 2, 0500Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 3.5-21. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, equipment. Rules   
      
   Collegiate ARC Championship--CW, from Nov 1, 2100Z to Nov 3, 0300Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: See ARRL Sweepstakes. Rules   
      
   DARC 10-Meter Digital "Corona"--Digital, from Nov 2, 1100Z to Nov 2, 1700Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 28. Exchange: RST and serial. Logs due: 2 weeks. Rules   
      
   OK1WC Memorial Contest--Phone,CW, from Nov 3, 1630Z to Nov 3, 1730Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 3.5, 7. Weekly on Monday, see website for bands. Exchange: RS(T) and   
   serial. Logs due: 5 days. Rules   
      
   ARS Spartan Sprint--CW, from Nov 4, 0200Z to Nov 4, 0400Z. Bands (MHz):   
   3.5-28. Monthly on the first Monday evening local time. Exchange: RST,   
   S/P/C, and power. Logs due: 2 days. Rules   
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   Haunted Lighthouse QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Oct 31, 0000Z to Nov 2,   
   2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144. Exchange: Serial or ARLHS number. Rules   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   October 22 through November 4   
      
    *  October 22 - 432 MHz Fall Sprint   
    *  October 24 - SKCC Sprint   
    *  October 25 - New Jersey QSO Party   
    *  October 25 - 10-10 Int. 10-10 Day Sprint   
    *  October 25 - PODXS 070 Club 160m Great Pumpkin Sprint   
    *  October 25 - Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  October 25 - CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  October 26 - Asia-Pacific Fall Sprint, CW   
    *  October 26 - Run for the Bacon QRP Contest   
    *  October 26 - UBA ON Contest, SSB   
    *  October 26 - WAB HF Phone   
    *  October 26 - EU Autumn Sprint, CW   
    *  October 26 - NCCC Sprint   
    *  October 26 - NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  October 28 - QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party   
    *  October 30 - RSGB 80m Club Sprint, SSB   
    *  October 30 - GTC CW Cup   
    *  October 31 - All Asian DX Contest, Phone   
    *  October 31 - Texas QSO Party   
    *  October 31 - Arizona QSO Party   
    *  October 31 - California QSO Party   
    *  October 31 - German Telegraphy Contest   
    *  October 31 - Oceania DX Contest, Phone   
    *  October 31 - Oceania DX Contest, CW   
    *  October 31 - JARTS WW RTTY Contest   
    *  October 31 - CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB   
    *  November 1 - Microwave Fall Sprint   
    *  November 1 - TARA PSK Rumble Contest   
    *  November 1 - New York QSO Party   
    *  November 2 - UBA ON Contest, CW   
    *  November 3 - YLRL DX/NA YL Anniversary Contest   
    *  November 3 - Stew Perry Topband Challenge   
    *  November 3 - 10-10 Int. Fall Contest, CW   
    *  November 3 - Worked All Germany Contest   
      
   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   
      
   If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until   
   you hire an amateur.   
      
   --- FMail/Win32 1.60   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.71)