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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2015-01-28   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
   January 28, 2015   
   Editor: Ward Silver, NOAX   
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
      
     * On Your Marks, Get Set, Sprint!   
     * Northern Contests from VT, MN, BC, and FYBO   
     * New Rules for DXCC and ARRL VHF+ Contests   
     * HFTA Terrain Files - Automated at Last!   
     * The Northern Lights Began to Glow   
     * ARRL SS and IARU HF Results Online   
     * Protect that Front End   
     * Receive Antennas for All   
     * Field Day - Ham Radio's Open House   
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO   
      
   Now it's your turn to be an on-the-air or in-the-shack Elmer! The School Club   
   Roundup is a great opportunity to help students and other new hams   
   successfully make contacts. Starting on February 9th, they'll probably be on   
   mostly after school but listen for the teams any time! There are a couple of   
   fast-paced sprint contests, too - the newly re-sponsored SSB Sprint is this   
   weekend and the NCJ-sponsored CW Sprint follows on the next weekend.   
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   There are no bulletins in this issue   
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   Errors in the previous issue were apparently hard to find!   
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   January 31-February 1   
      
     * Feld-Hell WAAAEO Sprint   
     * Worldwide EME Contest   
     * UBA Contest--Phone   
     * SSB Sprint   
     * OK1WC Memorial Contest (Feb 2)   
     * ARS Spartan Sprint--CW (Feb 3)   
     * CWOps Weekly Mini-CWT Tests (Feb 4)   
      
   February 7-8   
      
     * North American Sprint--CW   
     * School Club Roundup (Feb 9)   
     * NS Weekly RTTY Sprint (Feb 6)   
     * NS Weekly Sprint--CW (Feb 6)   
     * YL-OM Contest (Feb 6)   
     * Triathlon DX Contest   
     * Vermont QSO Party   
     * YLISSB QSO Party   
     * Ten-Ten Winter Phone QSO Party   
     * Black Sea Cup International   
     * Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon   
     * FYBO Winter QRP Field Day   
     * Minnesota QSO Party   
     * Straight Key Party   
     * British Columbia QSO Party   
     * XE Int'l RTTY Contest   
     * AM QSO Party   
     * Classic Exchange--Phone   
     * Milwaukee FM Simplex Contest    
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   At the ARRL Board meeting on January 16-17, changes were approved to the DXCC   
   program rules regarding remote operation and to the VHF+ contest program   
   rules. The DXCC changes aligned the awards's rules with those of the ARRL   
   contest program which have been in effect for several years. The new rules for   
   VHF+ contesting go into effect with the June VHF Contest and allow the use of   
   spotting assistance, self-spotting, and multiple-band transmissions in all   
   categories of operation. Updates to the online rules for both DXCC and   
   contests will be published soon.   
      
   Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) contributors (current or prospective) can now   
   find everything they need online to be able to send CW and RTTY Skimmer Server   
   spots to the RBN using a single Aggregator and a single QS1R SDR receiver. The   
   information, plus a new version of Aggregator is all on the RBN website in   
   three relatively small downloads. (Thanks, Pete N4ZR)   
      
   It's hard to remember the days before integrated circuits! Here's an   
   interesting history, "25 Microchips That Shook The World" from IEEE Spectrum.   
   One of my favorites is missing but it's hard to argue that the collection in   
   the article weren't important. (Thanks, Dennis N6KI)   
      
   Imagine a multi-dimensional hamfest and you have...a Maker Faire! Here are   
   four upcoming events that will have something fun for every ham including a   
   combo with the South Florida Tropical Hamboree:   
      
     * Hamboree Mini Maker Faire (FL): January 30-31   
     * Caguas Mini Maker Faire (Puerto Rico): January 31   
     * Boulder Mini Maker Faire (CO): January 31-February 1   
     * Kalispell Mini Maker Faire (MT): February 28   
      
   There are a lot of interesting protocols being devised for HF data. To test   
   out their creations, inventors usually get an experimental license from the   
   FCC. From the list of those licenses and the stated purpose behind them, we   
   can get an idea of what technology might be headed our way! (Thanks, Tim K3LR)   
      
   A updated prediction for future solar cycles has been released by NASA. I   
   can't say 10 meter fans will be very happy but the low banders are probably   
   celebrating in the streets! Summarizing the report, "Cycle 24 will be a low   
   cycle very likely to be followed by several other low or even lower cycles -   
   supported by the current and historical data. Make the most of the current   
   band conditions and upcoming DXpeditions - it certainly looks as if we are   
   heading toward a 'Propagation Winter.'" (From ARRL Propagation Bulletins   
   ARLP003 and ARLP004)   
      
   Maybe these fancy sunspot spectacles will help out with propagation and   
   speaking of Gotham beams, they aren't all off the air. The story "W3AU, VU2MV,   
   VU2JN and the Gotham Beam!" tells the tale of one such monobander put to work   
   once again. (Thanks, Tim K3LR)   
      
   Could that gigantic radio burst detected from 5.5 billion light years away   
   just be some alien amateur testing a new solar-system-sized amplifier? Or   
   maybe it was just the start of a CQ Galaxy-Wide Contest! Maybe it was a very   
   short DXpedition to a black hole - "This was our first view of the   
   AHHHHHHHhhhhhh....!   
      
   The Super Check Partial (SCP) databases used by most contest logging software   
   is maintained by Stu K6TU. He is preparing an update to the database and   
   requests that you send him recent contest logs. More info on the SCP database   
   and contributing logs is available online.   
      
   The Missouri QSO Party, coming up on April 4-5, has made some major changes to   
   the exchange, bands, modes, and other rules this year. Be sure your logging   
   software supports these changes. (Thanks, George ABORX)   
      
   Following up on the recent article about the National Radio Quiet Zone and the   
   people who flock there, the ARRL relayed a note from Rob N3RW about getting   
   permission to use the HF Bruce Array at the National Radio Observatory's   
   entrance. On 17 meters, few stations were willing to believe he was running   
   just 5 watts! The Bruce Array at the entrance to the Green Bank site is a   
   rebuild of the antenna used by physicist Karl Jansky who in the 1930s studied   
   radio noise for the Bell System's HF radio circuits. More about Jansky and the   
   antennas can be found in ARRL Propagation Bulletin ARLP004.   
      
   Web Site of the Week - Stu K6TU has automated the process of generating   
   terrain profiles for use with N6BV's HF Terrain Analysis (HFTA) program. To   
   support HFTA's modeling, a user must first obtain a terrain profile which   
   describes the height of terrain around the antenna location. This process is   
   cumbersome and time consuming as the source of the data must be located,   
   downloaded, then processed with MicroDEM. Terrain Profile Requests are   
   available to any user with a registered account on K6TU.NET at no charge and   
   no subscription to Stu's propagation prediction service is necessary. Stu's   
   site maintains copies of both the USGS National Elevation Dataset (for the   
   United States) and the NASA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission dataset enabling   
   fast turnaround of requests.   
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   In line with this issue's Conversation piece, what are all those Field Day   
   class abbreviations, anyway? The Utah Amateur Radio Club figured them all out   
   and posted an explanation on their website. Now all we have to do is pick one   
   - hmmmm, 2B or not 2B, that must be the question! (Thanks, Tim N9PUZ)   
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   A geomagnetic storm erupted during the early hours of January 26th, sparking a   
   surprise display of bright auroras around the Arctic Circle. Scientists took   
   the opportunity to launch four sounding rockets from Alaska's Poker Flat   
   Research Range to study the effect of solar storms on the upper atmosphere.   
   You can see a picture of the colorful launch at right and more information is   
   available in the Spaceweather archives for that date.   
      
   Here's a great review of the last 25 years of the Hubble Space Telescope,   
   including some astonishing images (and some new ones). A ham radio note -   
   Sandra Faber (married to Andy AE6Y) was the scientist who figured out what was   
   wrong with Hubble's mirrors and how to fix it. She was recently awarded the   
   National Medal of Science - well done! (Thanks, Bob N6TV)   
      
   What really is the difference between a hard drive (HD) and a solid-state   
   drive (SSD)? This video explains the two technologies and shows how they are   
   constructed.   
      
   What would have happened if Google had been invented in the 1960s? Let's just   
   say you'd be playing with a full deck! (If you get that joke, you're   
   officially a computer science old-timer.) And you can play Spacewar on it,   
   too, the game with the first-ever hyperspace button.   
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   The ARRL Contest Branch's Contest Results Page is a busy place these days as   
   both sets of preliminary results for the November Sweepstakes by VE4XT (CW)   
   and N2IC (Phone) have been posted. The complete 2014 IARU HF Championship   
   package is about to be published as soon as staff can return to work after the   
   snow, including the full results by Nate N4YDU which are already published,   
   Line Scores in an expanded format developed by John K9JK; and Log Checking   
   Reports. (The latest IARU results have changes in the Top Ten tables for CW   
   QRP due to a disqualification.) Plus, PDF versions of the QST articles for the   
   August UHF and 10 GHz and Up Contests are now available. (Thanks, ARRL Contest   
   Branch Manager, Matt W1MSW)   
      
   The June VHF Contest section records have been updated through 2014 and are   
   now on the ARRL Contest Records web page. In addition, the CQ WW VHF Contest   
   High Score Lists through 2014 have been posted. Please contact Curt K9AKS with   
   additions or corrections.   
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   What happens if you enter "Cut Numbers" in QSO lines of a Cabrillo-formatted   
   log? You'll be hearing lots of them in the upcoming ARRL DX CW Contest, so   
   here's the straight scoop. First, the character string is read from the   
   submitted log. Then...   
      
    1. Any instance of W or WATTS are removed from the string.   
    2. If the string is one character long containing K, it is transformed to 1000   
    3. Similarly, 1K and KILO become 1000   
    4. All characters are removed which are not a numeral (0-9), A, E, N, T, or O   
    5. Replacements are then made: 'A' with '1', 'E' with '5', 'N' with '9', 'T'   
   with '0', and 'O' with '0'   
    6. If the result is 000, it is replaced with 1000   
    7. Finally, the resulting set of characters are converted to an integer value   
   for checking against other logs.   
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   Rather than learn about receiver front-end protection the hard way, Pete N4ZR   
   developed his front-end protector with the help of George W2VJN. It costs less   
   than $5 and is easy to build, too!   
      
   The article "Satellite Anatomy 101" in EDN magazine is a great overview of   
   commercial satellite technology. Amateur satellite users will also find a lot   
   of useful information there.   
      
   Frank KR1ZAN relays word of an Instructables project with some ideas on "dead   
   bug prototyping" and creating some electronic conversation pieces. He also   
   provides the hot tip that Dremel has released a new line of VersaFlameT and   
   VersaTipT butane torches.   
      
   Here are a couple bargain-hunter tips from Evan K9SQG: Full-circumference fuel   
   line clamps from an auto parts store can be used to hold shield braid on the   
   connections of a vacuum relay. For restoring bases of microphones and other   
   appliances, you'll find adhesive-backed felt in fabric stores. (Thanks, Evan   
   K9SQG)   
      
   Two recent articles in the January 2015 issue of High Frequency Electronics   
   are of interest to amateurs: "Changing the Operating Frequency of an RF Power   
   Amplifier" by Donna Vigneri KF7SJF and "Achieving First-Pass Success in   
   PCB-Based Filter and Matching Circuit Designs" by Muir, Dunleavy, and Weller.   
   The issue is available in the online archives.   
      
   The day of not having to etch away copper to create a printed-circuit board   
   seems to be here. Finally, the name "printed-circuit" is accurate! The new   
   Voxel8 3D printer uses a new silver-based highly conductive ink instead of the   
   carbon-based inks in previous printers. (Thanks, Dennis N6KI)   
      
   Field emission devices are starting to get some attention again as described   
   in the IEEE Spectrum article, "Introducing the Vacuum Transistor: A Device   
   Made of Nothing". (Thanks, Bill W8LV)   
      
   Technical Web Site of the Week - Eric NO3M has developed quite a system for   
   distributing the signals of receive antennas to a variety of receivers. He   
   wrote it up as an article published in the May/June 2012 issue of the National   
   Contest Journal. It can handle up to 128 physical antennas and four receivers,   
   controlled via an RS-485 serial interface.   
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   Field Day - Ham Radio's Open House   
      
   With a blizzard blanketing our New England hams, isn't it a bit too early to   
   be thinking about Field Day? (I hear all of you Field Day committees laughing   
   out there!) Successful planning is already getting underway and may have been   
   going on for some time. Having been on both sides of the fence, I can tell you   
   that waiting until April to start the process is a good way to miss the boat!   
   Knowing that my readers include leaders from across the amateur spectrum, I   
   ask, "How can we make a difference?"   
      
   Last year was a time of celebration and reflection on our first century but   
   it's time to take off the party hats and look to the future. Our society is   
   awash in wireless technology and users of it. Let's take our story to those   
   users, awaken them to the presence of radio among them, and show them how they   
   can participate, whether from a scientific interest, to provide a service to   
   their fellow citizens, or simply to enjoy connecting with other peoples.   
      
   Instead of hiding our Field Day operations in some out of the way location,   
   set up shop where the public can't possibly miss noticing your activity. After   
   all, following a disaster, it's likely that you'll be providing public service   
   from just such a location, so it's good practice. Imagine your group operating   
   from a city park or the local sports field complex, attracting a steady stream   
   of passers-by, kids between games, families out for a picnic, a bicycle club -   
   anyone having some weekend fun.   
      
   "What is this beehive of activity with the antennas and tents? It's a ham   
   radio open house, and look, they have free coffee and cookies!" Ten minutes   
   later, they're on their way with some information in their heads and a handout   
   in their pocket, or better yet, they've stored your club's website address in   
   their smartphone. They now know a lot more about Amateur Radio than they did   
   at breakfast!   
      
   Field Day is structured perfectly to act as our version of "open house." A   
   typical group will be active on HF with voice, supported by CW and digital   
   mode operation. Taking advantage of the "free" VHF station, an all-band rig   
   will be making QSOs on 6 meters and up with some simple antennas on a   
   temporary mast. Someone will have an FM rig monitoring the talk-in and simplex   
   channels for a few more QSOs. Someone else will set up an alternative power   
   source since the bonus points encourage innovation and experimentation. A Get   
   On The Air (GOTA) station will allow visitors to try voice or PSK31 contacts.   
   The ARES folks might bring their comm trailer or set up a portable station.   
   That all-important radiogram to the Section Manager could be sent through the   
   Winlink system. Here, take a look at this APRS map! And so forth.   
      
   I assume that I have lots of experienced readers with a lifetime of operating   
   and station construction experience. Let's put that to work showing our fellow   
   citizens what we're about. While the late-night CW shift is important, become   
   a ham radio ambassador for the weekend, as well. Instead of focusing   
   exclusively on QSO totals, make your metric for success the number of flyers,   
   business cards, and QR code scans you disburse to the visitors.   
      
   We all know a friendly CQ will bring out the callers and so, too, will a   
   welcoming layout encourage visitors to take a look. Instead of setting up what   
   looks like a crime scene investigation or a defensive perimeter around Fort   
   Wireless, make it easy for someone to overcome their natural hesitancy and   
   visit our world. Even better, go out to where they are, invite them in, and   
   ask them about their interests! Assign your group's chattier members to show   
   them around. Create a Visitor's Logbook and record each Visitor QSO with just   
   as much relish as working a new section. Get their contact information and   
   follow up afterwards with more radio goodies and an invitation to a club   
   function geared toward the non-ham.   
      
   Be ready for the inevitable "Do you still do that?" question with "Not only do   
   we still do that but look at this!" It's a pretty safe bet that most of the   
   public is completely unaware of what radio can do. Set up a long-distance WiFi   
   link using the 2.4 GHz amateur channels with a cool-looking Yagi or   
   "barbeque-grill" dish. Will there be a visible ISS pass around sunset? If so,   
   help people see it for the first time and while you're at it, digipeat through   
   its on-board packet system. Got a telescope? Point it at the Moon and invite   
   one of the local moonbouncers to fire up and bounce a signal off the lunar   
   surface. Set up a workbench and use the time to build a kit, make cables,   
   assemble an antenna, write a program...do stuff!   
      
   The future of Amateur Radio depends on us. The ARRL can open doors, provide   
   materials, suggest and share ideas, but individual hams have to close the   
   sale, just as our Elmers did for us. We can't do it behind closed gates. After   
   all, "The more you do anything that don't look like advertising the better   
   advertising it is." said Will Rogers. Now it's open house, are we ready?   
      
   73, Ward NOAX   
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   28 January through 10 February   
      
   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--CW, from Feb 8, 0000Z to Feb 8, 0359Z. Bands (MHz):   
   3.5-14. Exchange: Both call signs, serial, name, and S/P/C. Logs due: 7 days.   
   Rules   
      
   School Club Roundup--Phone,CW,Digital, from Feb 9, 1300Z to Feb 13, 2359Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50+. Exchange: RS(T), Class, S/P/C. Logs due: 15 days.   
   Rules   
      
   Feld-Hell WAAAEO Sprint--Digital, from Jan 31, 0000Z to Jan 31, 2359Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Feld-Hell member nr. Logs due: 7   
   days. Rules   
      
   UBA Contest--Phone, from Jan 31, 1300Z to Feb 1, 1300Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28.   
   Exchange: RS, serial, and ON province. Logs due: 2 weeks. Rules   
      
   SSB Sprint--Phone, from Feb 1, 0000Z to Feb 1, 0400Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-14.   
   Exchange: Both call signs, serial, name, and S/P/C. Logs due: 7 days. Rules   
      
   OK1WC Memorial Contest--Phone,CW, from Feb 2, 1630Z to Feb 2, 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 Feb 3, 0200Z to Feb 3, 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   
      
   CWOps Weekly Mini-CWT Tests--CW, from Feb 4, 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   
      
   NS Weekly RTTY Sprint--Digital, from Feb 6, 0145Z to Feb 6, 0215Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 3.5-14. Weekly on Thursday evenings local time. Exchange: Serial, name,   
   and S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days. Rules   
      
   NS Weekly Sprint--CW, from Feb 6, 0230Z to Feb 6, 0300Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-14.   
   Weekly on Thursday evenings local time. Exchange: Serial, name, and S/P/C.   
   Logs due: 2 days. Rules   
      
   YL-OM Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Feb 6, 1400Z to Feb 8, 0200Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: Call sign, RST, serial and S/P/C. Logs due: 30 days.   
   Rules   
      
   Triathlon DX Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Feb 7, 0000Z to Feb 7, 2359Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RS(T) and serial. Logs due: 28 Feb. Rules   
      
   Vermont QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Feb 7, 0000Z to Feb 8, 2400Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144. Exchange: RS(T) and VT county or S/P/C. Logs due: 30   
   days. Rules   
      
   YLISSB QSO Party--CW, from Feb 7, 0000Z to Feb 8, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28.   
   Exchange: Call sign, RS(T), ISSB number. Logs due: Mar 21. Rules   
      
   Ten-Ten Winter Phone QSO Party--Phone, from Feb 7, 0001Z to Feb 8, 2359Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 28. Exchange: Call sign, name, QTH, 10-10 number. Logs due: 15   
   days. Rules   
      
   Black Sea Cup International--Phone,CW, from Feb 7, 1200Z to Feb 8, 1159Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T) and HQ ID, member nr or ITU zone. Logs   
   due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon--CW, from Feb 7, 1200Z to Feb 7, 2359Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member nr if member. Logs due: 5   
   days. Rules   
      
   FYBO Winter QRP Field Day--Phone,CW, from Feb 7, 1400Z to Feb 7, 2400Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T), S/P/C, name, power, temp in deg F. Logs due:   
   30 days. Rules   
      
   Minnesota QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Feb 7, 1400Z to Feb 7, 2359Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. CW 1.850, 3.550, 7.050, 14.050, 21.050, 28.050; SSB   
   1.870, 3.850, 7.250, 14.270, 21.350, 28.450 MHz. Exchange: Name and MN county   
   or S/P/C. Logs due: Mar 15. Rules   
      
   Straight Key Party--CW, from Feb 7, 1600Z to Feb 7, 1900Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5.   
   Exchange: RST, serial, category, name, age. Logs due: Feb 28. Rules   
      
   British Columbia QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Feb 7, 1600Z to Feb 8,   
   0400Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. CW 1.815, 3.535, 7.035, 14.035, 21.035, 28.305;   
   SSB 1.845, 3.85, 7.23, 14.25, 21.3, 28.4 MHz; Digital per band plan. Exchange:   
   RST and BC district or S/P/Territory or DX. Logs due: Mar 31. Rules   
      
   XE Int'l RTTY Contest--Digital, from Feb 7, 1800Z to Feb 8, 1759Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST and XE state or serial. Logs due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   AM QSO Party--Phone, from Feb 7, 2300Z to Feb 8, 2300Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-14.   
   Exchange: RS, name, and S/P/C. Logs due: 4 weeks. Rules   
      
   Classic Exchange--Phone, from Feb 8, 1400Z to Feb 9, 0800Z. Bands (MHz):   
   1.8-28, 50,144, AM--1.890, 3.880, 7.160, 7.290, 14.286, 21.420, 29.000,   
   50.400, 144.300; SSB--1.885, 3.870, 7.280, 14.270, 21.370, 28.390, 50.125,   
   144.200 MHz. Exchange: RST, QTH, model of rcvr and xmtr. Logs due: 30 days.   
   Rules   
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   School Club Roundup--Phone,CW,Digital, from Feb 9, 1300Z to Feb 13, 2359Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50+. Exchange: RS(T), Class, S/P/C. Logs due: 15 days.   
   Rules   
      
   Worldwide EME Contest--Phone,CW, from Jan 31, 0000Z to Feb 1, 2400Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 144, 432. Exchange: TMO/RS(T) and "R". Logs due: Jun 15. Rules   
      
   Vermont QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Feb 7, 0000Z to Feb 8, 2400Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144. Exchange: RS(T) and VT county or S/P/C. Logs due: 30   
   days. Rules   
      
   Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon--CW, from Feb 7, 1200Z to Feb 7, 2359Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member nr if member. Logs due: 5   
   days. Rules   
      
   Classic Exchange--Phone, from Feb 8, 1400Z to Feb 9, 0800Z. Bands (MHz):   
   1.8-28, 50,144, AM--1.890, 3.880, 7.160, 7.290, 14.286, 21.420, 29.000,   
   50.400, 144.300; SSB--1.885, 3.870, 7.280, 14.270, 21.370, 28.390, 50.125,   
   144.200 MHz. Exchange: RST, QTH, model of rcvr and xmtr. Logs due: 30 days.   
   Rules   
      
   Milwaukee FM Simplex Contest--Phone, from Feb 8, 1900Z to Feb 8, 2130Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 50-440. Exchange: Call sign and 4-char grid square. Logs due: Mar 16.   
   Rules   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   January 28 through February 10   
      
     * January 29 - QRP Fox Hunt   
     * January 30 - CQ 160-Meter Contest, CW   
     * January 30 - SKCC Sprint   
     * January 31 - Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party   
     * January 31 - Original QRP Contest   
     * January 31 - RAC Winter Contest   
     * January 31 - AGCW Happy New Year Contest   
     * January 31 - SARTG New Year RTTY Contest   
     * January 31 - QRP Fox Hunt   
     * January 31 - CWops Mini-CWT Test   
     * February 1 - NCCC Sprint Ladder   
     * February 1 - International Naval Contest   
     * February 1 - NCCC RTTY Sprint   
     * February 1 - Locust QSO Party   
     * February 3 - Kid's Day   
     * February 3 - ARRL RTTY Roundup   
     * February 5 - ARS Spartan Sprint   
     * February 7 - Feld Hell Sprint   
     * February 8 - EUCW 160m Contest   
     * February 8 - QRP ARCI Fireside SSB Sprint   
     * February 8 - North American SSB Sprint Contest   
     * February 9 - REF Contest, CW   
      
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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)