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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2015-03-11   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   March 11, 2015   
   Editor: Ward Silver, NOAX   
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
      
    *  Beam North, Young Ham - Russian DX Contest   
    *  A Fistful of Callers - LA, ID, WI, OK, and VA QSO Parties   
    *  DX Contests from Africa and Asia   
    *  Antarctica Calling   
    *  DXPedition History in Videos by 9V1YC   
    *  ARRL 10 Meter - A Record-Breaker   
    *  The Future Is Calling   
    *  Net Neutrality - A Technical Look   
    *  You're Both Right!   
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO   
      
   If you have a taste for digital modes and lively operating, try the North   
   American RTTY Sprint or QRP ARCI Spring Digital Sprints this weekend. You'll   
   wonder where the time went! By the way, the RSGB Commonwealth Contest is   
   only open to amateurs in Commonwealth countries, such as our Canadian   
   readers.   
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   Someone has a birthday! While I can't quite claim, "It was twenty years ago   
   today," will thirteen do? The Contest Update, once known as the Contester's   
   Rate Sheet, hit the 'net for the first time on March 13th, 2002. Originally   
   an electronic version of "Contest Corral" plus a little text, it has changed   
   names and grown into a biweekly compendium of shiny things collected by its   
   editor from various bit streams along with a little contest calendar   
   material. The combination seems to work as this is the 339th issue with   
   upwards of 27,000 subscribers who find it invading their Inboxes from time   
   to time. That's all very nice and the response has been great - but it   
   really is time for a change in the editorial department. Have you ever   
   thought you might make a good newsletter editor or reporter? If so, I'd like   
   to hear from you. The ARRL is open for suggestions about where to take the   
   Contest Update in future issues and while you won't have the Jaguar dealer   
   on speed-dial, it does provide some rewards for your efforts. Plus, it gives   
   you a great excuse to do "research" - often confused with "messing around on   
   the Internet." Drop me a note and let's talk!   
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   Mike K2MK noticed that the CQ WPX SSB contest on March 28th and 29th is   
   missing from the March QST's Contest Corral. The online PDF has been   
   corrected. Dale N3BNA wrote to let us know that the 4V1JR team operated from   
   the shack of HH2JR in the ARRL DX CW contest, not from the site of the   
   300-foot tower featured in the previous issue.   
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   March 14-15   
      
    *  North American RTTY Sprint   
    *  RSGB Commonwealth Contest--CW   
    *  AGCW QRP Contest--CW   
    *  Louisiana QSO Party   
    *  QRP ARCI Spring Digital Sprint   
    *  EA PSK63 Contest   
    *  Tesla Memorial HF Contest--CW   
    *  QCWA Spring QSO Party   
    *  Idaho QSO Party   
    *  Wisconsin QSO Party   
    *  Run For the Bacon--CW (Mar 16)   
    *  CLARA Chatter Party (Mar 17)   
      
   March 21-22   
      
    *  NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint--CW (Mar 19)   
    *  BARTG HF RTTY Contest   
    *  Russian DX Contest   
    *  Oklahoma QSO Party   
    *  Virginia QSO Party   
    *  Feld-Hell Leprechaun Sprint--Digital   
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   Two young and interesting DX contests were announced this week. The Nauryz   
   DX Contest is the first and the only Central Asian DX contest on HF. Named   
   for an ancient spring holiday and running on March 14 from 0800-1359Z, the   
   contest promotes HF activity among the Central Asian hams of Kazakhstan,   
   Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and when ham radio is again authorized   
   there, Turkmenistan. Participants from all over the world are welcome in   
   this third running of the contest. From Africa, Roger ZS6RJ notes that the   
   brand-new Africa All-Mode International DX Contest kicks off next weekend.   
   The everyone-works-everyone contest is a 24-hour, CW/SSB/Digital event   
   sponsored by the SARL starting at 1200Z on March 14th. The 7QAA DXpedition   
   team will be active in the contest as well.(Thanks, Mike UN8GC, and the   
   Daily DX)   
      
   Speaking of contest news, the Delaware QSO Party has moved to the first   
   weekend of May which is also home to the big 7QP seventh-district and NEQP   
   first-district regional QSO parties along with the Indiana QSO Party. Whoa!   
   Logging software authors, are you ready? QSO party fans will want to be sure   
   they are ready with the additional county designators and updated programs!   
   In fact, this link is for an online list of state QSO parties maintained by   
   WA7BNM as part of his online contest calendar. (Thanks, Carl KOTNT)   
      
   And speaking of contest logging software, prolific program purveyor, Scott   
   N3FJP reports the release of three new free packages:   
      
    *  ARRL Rookie Roundup Contest Log 1.0   
    *  Jamboree On The Air Log 1.0   
    *  ARRL Kid's Day Log 2.0   
      
   Scott's simple user interface makes getting up to speed on contest logging   
   very easy!   
      
   Elecraft has announced an upgrade of its synthesizer boards, curing a timing   
   issue (a.k.a. - the "QRQ issue") with the K3. Bob N6TV has prepared an   
   article which shows the on-air improvements provided by the upgrade.   
      
   Lou van de Nadort PAOLOU, who provided many US and Canadian hams with a   
   first Dutch QSO and many a contest multiplier, died suddenly last Friday.   
   First licensed in 1955 after his service in the Dutch Signal Corps, Lou was   
   an active contester year-in and year-out, particularly on CW, along with   
   holding multiple offices in support of the IARU and its activities. (Thanks,   
   Daily DX)   
      
   As wireless electronics grows ever more exotic and the frequencies ever   
   higher, have you ever wondered how the designers test their creations? In   
   fact, how did the wireless pioneers do what they did with the primitive   
   electrical instruments then available. Microwaves & RF columnist, Lou   
   Frenzel W5LEF, muses about this conundrum in his "What Would Tesla Do"   
   column?   
      
   There are several freshman or sophomore editions of the popular Maker Faires   
   coming up:   
      
   NoVa Mini Maker Faire (VA): March 15th - 2nd annual   
   Jalisco Mini Maker Faire (Mexico): March 27-29 - first time   
   Benicia Mini Maker Faire (CA): March 28 - first time   
      
   If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area and not planning on attending the   
   Dayton Hamvention, check out the biggest Maker Faire of all on the   
   Hamvention's May 16-17 weekend. While you're taking in the sights, find the   
   ham radio booth or consider setting up one yourself at the next opportunity!   
      
   Web Site of the Week - Bagging a contact with one of the many Antarctic   
   bases is always a thrill during a contest - but how do you count them for   
   multipliers? Luckily, we have two helpful Antarctic information pages to   
   figure it all out. The Clublog Helpdesk offers the Zone Mapping for   
   Antarctica page which even includes a downloadable spreadsheet from IV3TMM   
   which details the many bases and settlements. K6EID has also published a   
   colorful Antarctica Page with maps and images of QSLs received through the   
   years. (Thanks, Daily DX)   
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   Rookie - an old word purportedly derived from the Civil War slang "reckie"   
   for recruits. Various other adaptations are also claimed but in ham radio,   
   it means someone making their first foray into a contest or mode. If you are   
   new to something in ham radio -- and we all are new to something -- look for   
   Rookie categories in contests and award programs!   
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   James Brooks 9V1YC has published a collection of his excellent videos of   
   various DXpeditions, including VKOIR, A52A, VP8GEO, VP8THU, FT5XO, ZL8R,   
   K4M, VP8ORK, BS7H, and WRTC2014. I have seen them all, with A52A being my   
   favorite of the DX videos and his WRTC2014 documentary being the best of all   
   WRTC videos. Any of these videos would make for a great club program and all   
   are excellent ways to explain the excitement of DXing and contesting to new   
   hams. (Thanks, Daily DX)   
      
   The popular audio program Chat With The Designers by George N2APB and Joe   
   N2CX has returned! The most recent program featured Dave AD7JT discussing   
   measuring a circuit's RF response and his design for a handheld Scalar   
   Network Analyzer (SNA) test instrument. Previous episodes dating back to   
   2011 are archived and available online.   
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   It looks like the December 2014 running of the ARRL 10 Meter Contest broke   
   the record set in 2011 for number of logs received with 5488 submissions!   
   (The 2011 total was 5378.) This reflects the good conditions, increased   
   interest in HF from the year-long ARRL Centennial QSO Party, and nine new   
   category and power categories for ARRL HF contests. While you're busy   
   recovering from the ARRL DX Phone contest, you might also want to check out   
   the January VHF Contest Division records for fixed stations that have been   
   provided by K9JK and line scores for the 10 GHz and Up Contest.   
      
   The Scandinavian Activity Contest (SAC) Committee of SM5AJV, LB1GB, OH6KZP,   
   and OZ1BII have announced the final results of the 2014 SAC including   
   downloadable PDF awards. Over 2200 logs were submitted on CW and SSB,   
   signifying a healthy SAC! A PDF Results Booklet will be released in the near   
   future, including the tabulated results, soapbox comments, and longer   
   contest stories and photographs collected from a number of SAC participants.   
      
   Results for the 2014 All-Asia Contest are also available online for both the   
   CW and Phone events. (Thanks, Atsushi JR1NKN)   
      
   The project to convert all scores for the complete history of the CQ WW DX   
   Contest into an online database has been completed. In a two-year project   
   led by John N2NC, a team of volunteers typed in all 169,679 SSB and 169,005   
   CW scores from the results which appeared in CQ Magazine results beginning   
   in 1948. The 2014 results will be added as soon as the results are   
   published. How about a big round of applause for the data entry team of   
   AA4NU, AD1C, JK3GAD, K1EA, K3EST, KB9OWD, N1RR, N3RD, N5DX, NM2O, NO5W,   
   OH6NIO, ON7SS, PD2R, and W2JU? (Thanks, CQ WW Director, Randy K5ZD)   
      
   One result of having complete data online is this report by Stewart GM4AFF:   
   "A search on Sandy GM3BCL (SK) produces a nice set of results. He never had   
   any massive scores, but he didn't miss one SSB CQWW in 48 years!"   
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   This week's tip for phone contesting comes courtesy of Jim K9YC - "Use   
   settings in your rig to get rid of as much low frequency (speech) content as   
   you can. The lows burn TX power, but make no contribution to speech   
   intelligibility. I set up my K3 TXEQ for max cut of the three lowest octave   
   bands (50, 100, 200 Hz) and 4-6 dB cut of the 400 Hz band. When I ran   
   FT1000MPs, I set the audio bandwidth for 400-2,600 Hz." You can reset the   
   response for casual operating after the contest. Jim also notes that most   
   ham microphones have a peak in their response around 3 kHz to compensate for   
   rolloff in the SSB filter.   
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   A new 50 - 1000 MHz SDR transceiver has been announced by Bruce N6BP and   
   Chris KD2BMH as described in a recent Slashdot article. As Bruce explains,   
   "This radio is unique in that it uses your smartphone for the GUI, uses apps   
   to provide communication modes, contains an on-board FLASH-based gate-array   
   and a ucLinux system. We intend to go for FSF "Respects Your Freedom"   
   certification for the device." Third-generation PC boards are in fabrication   
   to serve as developer boards and later as full-featured transceivers that   
   meet FCC certification requirements.   
      
   Discussions of ground radial systems almost inevitably wind up circling   
   around to the classic 1937 paper, "Ground Systems as a Factor in Antenna   
   Efficiency," written by Brown, Lewis, and Epstein of RCA in support of   
   broadcast operation. In case you ever wondered where the "120 radials"   
   standard came from...this is it. The full paper is available online as a PDF   
   for your reference library. (Thanks, Jeremy G3XDK)   
      
   A couple of neat projects found their way to us this past couple of weeks.   
   The first is a voltage indicator circuit from EDN's "Design Ideas" column   
   that changes the color of LED indicators at a voltage threshold. And I'm   
   sure we all have an old PC hanging around that we haven't recycled - why not   
   breathe a little life into it as shown in this Instructables project?   
      
   Boom mikes and noise-canceling headphones are always a hot topic in early   
   March for some reason. Probably also in late October! You can purchase the   
   very nice A20 noise-canceling boomset from Bose. The Bose QC15   
   noise-cancelling 'phones have a mike jack input for mikes like this   
   noise-canceling mike from Headset Buddy or AntLion Audio. Doug K1DG and Don   
   JH5GHM have published online projects showing how to add a boom mike to the   
   QC15, as well. (Thanks, Dave K3ZJ, Peter PC2A, Frank W3LPL)   
      
   The column "RF Circuit Design References" by Peter Delos in the February   
   edition of High Frequency Electronics is a gold mine of pointers to RF   
   know-how, including a nice mention of the ARRL Handbook. (Thanks, Jim W3KMN)   
      
   Another excellent free reference was recently released by Texas Instruments   
   - The Analog Engineer's Pocket Reference. Although a little large for a   
   shirt pocket, it's still jam-packed with good information.   
      
   FAR Circuits sells strips of PC material pads for use with IC sockets in   
   Manhattan-style construction. They are very handy and save a lot of work   
   when you are trying to prototype a circuit using this method. While you're   
   browsing the site, take note of the many projects from QST, the ARRL   
   Handbook, and other ham publications which are supported by circuit boards   
   from Fred and his team. (Thanks, Howard K2UD)   
      
   What if you could wear electronic sensors on your skin? Would a "selfie"   
   soon refer to a special type of SDR - the Self-Deployed Radio? Dennis N6KI   
   sent us this interesting article about new bio-sensors that would certainly   
   be involved!   
      
   Technical Web Site of the Week - Like most seriously technical subjects, the   
   discussion on Net Neutrality is somewhat skewed in the popular press. While   
   it sounds simple, nothing involving the Internet's fundamental operation is   
   as easy as it might seem, as detailed in this IEEE Spectrum story on the   
   technical challenges involved.   
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   You're Both Right!   
      
   "It's a dessert topping! It's a floor wax!" So goes the old Saturday Night   
   Live spoof advertisement. A lot of the discussion about the relative merits   
   of using DX spots during a contest or "turning the big knob" has the same   
   aroma about it as the ad. People choose one or the other based on personal   
   experience and preferences honed over years - or decades - of operating.   
      
   Recently, I had an interesting opportunity to experience both styles at   
   top-of-the-line stations in the ARRL DX contests. I spent the CW weekend   
   manning 15 meters with Doug K1DG at the western-Pennsylvania K3LR   
   Multi-Multi station. Last weekend's phone edition of the contest found me in   
   Peoria, Illinois with the K9CT team, trying for a W9-district record in   
   Multi-Two. Both weekends were a whole lot of fun (and work)!   
      
   During the CW weekend, a full complement of Reverse Beacon Network stations   
   running VE3NEA's CW Skimmer software were mainlining many spots per second   
   into the worldwide spotting network. Our stream added spots from a 6-band   
   set of QSR-1-based "skimmers" at the K3LR station, too. Whichever operator   
   was not CQing had the Herculean task of keeping up with the worldwide   
   network of skimmers whose motto is surely, "We hear everything and never   
   sleep. Ever." Let's just say it kept a person busy and put a premium on   
   interpersonal skills to interleave running with pouncing.   
      
   A couple of weeks later found the RBN offline as far as the contest goes.   
   While certain government agencies have no doubt been using automated voice   
   recognition monitoring systems for years, there is no amateur "Phone   
   Skimmer" yet and the hurly-burly of a contest environment would make that a   
   challenging exercise, to say the least. Doctoral thesis, anyone?   
      
   At K9CT we still had access to spots but they were all human-entered. This   
   dropped the amount of incoming data "considerable" and shifted the   
   non-running operator's job back to continually prowling the waters of the   
   Ionospheric Ocean in search of prey. We depended on others to spot DX   
   stations - presumably after working them - and spotted plenty ourselves in   
   return. As at K3LR, there was no shortage of spots coming in, although not   
   nearly at the volume of the CW weekend.   
      
   You might expect one source or the other - RBN or human - to have the higher   
   quality. You would be wrong and probably get a lot of log-checking penalties   
   to boot! Both streams of information had issues to be aware of and   
   compensate for. Skimmers are notorious for mistaking various keying   
   artifacts for letters and generating bogus calls. For example, T2NT seemed   
   to be the crowd-pleasing favorite bad spot during the CW contest, a   
   mis-interpretation of N2NT by the software. There were plenty of bad spots   
   generated by humans during ARRL Phone, too: You know, I don't think an   
   unannounced operation from TL5A just happened to be on the same frequency as   
   TO5A!   
      
   The same cautions about quality applied to CW and phone spots - don't trust   
   them. Nevertheless, I heard many stations jump right into a pileup after a   
   bad spot was posted, work the station, and vanish. Their LCRs (log checking   
   reports) ought to be fun to read!   
      
   While CQing was much the same at both stations, the biggest difference was   
   in the duties of the multiplier-hunting station. On CW, I don't think I   
   found more than a handful of stations by tuning around and those were in   
   band segments many skimmers aren't able to tune. The rest of the time, I was   
   trying to wipe that band map spotless. By late Saturday afternoon, I was   
   able to get 'er done but the pristine window never lasted long. Two weeks   
   later, I found myself with one hand continuously dialing, listening and   
   watching the K3's P3 panadaptor for signals, to see if I could "get there"   
   first.   
      
   After all was said (or sent) and logged, I couldn't really tell you which I   
   found more fun or more challenging. They were different and required   
   different approaches but you still had to be a good operator, alert to   
   incoming information of any sort, and ready to verify all information before   
   logging a contact. Sure, discovering a weak T8 CQing alone on 10 meter phone   
   wouldn't have happened on CW but then, neither would have we managed to work   
   137 DXCC entities without the automated receivers.   
      
   I enjoyed both experiences for what they were and applied all of my radio   
   know-how as best I could. There is plenty of room for improvement for me and   
   I'm sure there would be for most of my fellow contesters. If anybody thinks   
   either job is so easy, let them spend a weekend at a big station during good   
   conditions and show us. In the meantime, I think I'll complete the old   
   comedy routine - "You're both right! It tastes terrific - and just look at   
   that shine!"   
      
   73, Ward NOAX   
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   March 11-24, 2015   
      
   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 RTTY Sprint--Digital, from Mar 15, 0000Z to Mar 15, 0359Z .   
   Bands (MHz): 3.5-14. Exchange: Both call signs, serial, name, and S/P/C.   
   Logs due: 7 days. Rules   
      
   RSGB Commonwealth Contest--CW, from Mar 14, 1000Z to Mar 15, 1000Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST and serial (Commonwealth only). Logs due: 16   
   days. Rules   
      
   AGCW QRP Contest--CW, from Mar 14, 1400Z to Mar 14, 2000Z. Bands (MHz):   
   3.5-28. Exchange: RST, serial, class, AGCW number or NM. Logs due: Mar 31.   
   Rules   
      
   Louisiana QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 14, 1400Z to Mar 15, 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,   
   144.21 MHz. Exchange: Call sign, RS(T), LA parish or S/P/C. Logs due: 30   
   days. Rules   
      
   QRP ARCI Spring Digital Sprint--Digital, from Mar 14, 1500Z to Mar 14,   
   1800Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. QRP calling frequencies. Exchange: RST, 4-char   
   grid square, QRP ARCI nr or power. Logs due: 14 days. Rules   
      
   EA PSK63 Contest--Digital, from Mar 14, 1600Z to Mar 15, 1600Z. Bands (MHz):   
   3.5-28. Exchange: RST and serial or EA province. Logs due: Mar 31. Rules   
      
   Tesla Memorial HF Contest--CW, from Mar 14, 1800Z to Mar 15, 0800Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 3.5. Exchange: RST, serial, and 4-char grid square. Logs due: Mar 20.   
   Rules   
      
   QCWA Spring QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 14, 1800Z to Mar 15, 1800Z   
   . Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: Call,year lic'd,name,QCWA chap or   
   S/P/C. Logs due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   Idaho QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 14, 1900Z to Mar 15, 1900Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. CW 35 kHz above band edge; Phone 7.260, 14.260, 21.335,   
   28.470 MHz, plus 50, 144, 440 MHz. Exchange: RS(T) and ID county or S/P/C.   
   Logs due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   Wisconsin QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 15, 1800Z to Mar 16, 0100Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 3.5-28, 50+, CW 3.550, 7.050, 14.050; Phone 3.890, 7.230,   
   14.290, 21.350, 28.400 MHz. Exchange: WI county or S/P/C. Logs due: Apr 15.   
   Rules   
      
   Run For the Bacon--CW, from Mar 16, 0200Z to Mar 16, 0400Z. Bands (MHz):   
   1.8-28. Monthly on 3rd Sunday night (local). Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Flying   
   Pig nr or power. Rules   
      
   CLARA Chatter Party--Phone,CW, from Mar 17, 1700Z - See website. Multiple   
   time periods. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. See website. Exchange: Call sign, RS(T),   
   name, and S/P/C. Logs due: Apr 20. Rules   
      
   NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint--CW, from Mar 19, 0030Z to Mar 19, 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   
      
   BARTG HF RTTY Contest--Digital, from Mar 21, 0200Z to Mar 22, 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 21, 1200Z to Mar 22, 1159Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T), serial or oblast abbr. Logs due: See web.   
   Rules   
      
   Oklahoma QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 21, 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   
      
   Virginia QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 21, 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   
      
   Feld-Hell Leprechaun Sprint--Digital, from Mar 21, 1700Z to Mar 21, 1900Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on 3rd Saturday. Exchange: RST, S/P/C,   
   Feld-Hell member nr. Logs due: 7 days. Rules   
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   Louisiana QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 14, 1400Z to Mar 15, 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,   
   144.21 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 14, 1800Z to Mar 15, 1800Z   
   . Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: Call,year lic'd,name,QCWA chap or   
   S/P/C. Logs due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   Idaho QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 14, 1900Z to Mar 15, 1900Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. CW 35 kHz above band edge; Phone 7.260, 14.260, 21.335,   
   28.470 MHz, plus 50, 144, 440 MHz. Exchange: RS(T) and ID county or S/P/C.   
   Logs due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   Wisconsin QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 15, 1800Z to Mar 16, 0100Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 3.5-28, 50+, CW 3.550, 7.050, 14.050; Phone 3.890, 7.230,   
   14.290, 21.350, 28.400 MHz. Exchange: WI county or S/P/C. Logs due: Apr 15.   
   Rules   
      
   Oklahoma QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 21, 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   
      
   Virginia QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Mar 21, 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   
      
   Feld-Hell Leprechaun Sprint--Digital, from Mar 21, 1700Z to Mar 21, 1900Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Monthly on 3rd Saturday. Exchange: RST, S/P/C,   
   Feld-Hell member nr. Logs due: 7 days. Rules   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   March 11-24, 2015   
      
    *  12 March - QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  14 March - Wake-Up! QRP Sprint   
    *  14 March - QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  14 March - CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  15 March - KCJ Topband Contest   
    *  15 March - Minnesota QSO Party   
    *  15 March - AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening   
    *  15 March - High Speed Club CW Contest   
    *  15 March - SKCC Weekend Sprintathon   
    *  15 March - NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  15 March - NCCC Sprint   
    *  15 March - UBA DX Contest, CW   
    *  16 March - North Carolina QSO Party   
    *  16 March - FISTS Winter Unlimited Sprint   
    *  17 March - ARRL School Club Roundup   
    *  18 March - RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW   
    *  19 March - NRAU 10m Activity Contest   
    *  20 March - TESLA Memorial HF CW Contest   
    *  21 March - YL-ISSB QSO Party, SSB   
    *  21 March - YL-ISSB QSO Party, CW   
    *  22 March - Run for the Bacon QRP Contest   
    *  22 March - UBA Spring Contest, CW   
    *  22 March - North American Sprint, RTTY   
    *  23 March - DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest   
    *  23 March - Open Ukraine RTTY Championship   
      
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   ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest   
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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)