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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2015-04-22   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   April 22, 2015   
   Editor: Ward Silver, NOAX   
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
    *  Seventeen States Hit the Airwaves - FQP, 7QP, NEQP, IN & DE   
    *  Short-shortwave Sets - VHF-æW Sprints, 2 GHz, EME Contests   
    *  Solar Forecast Data Tools   
    *  It Didn't Fall Down Last Winter, But...   
    *  You Looked Mah-velous at Visalia!   
    *  Record Rookie Roundup Reported   
    *  The Band is Dead - What's that Smell?   
    *  What Reciprocal Mixing Looks Like   
    *  Where the Action Is   
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO   
      
   Get into a State QSO Party state of mind because the Florida QSO Party is   
   this coming weekend and the May 2nd-3rd weekend is an even bigger one with   
   the two regional contests (7QP and NEQP) combined with the Indiana and   
   Delaware contests. Let's see, that's (wait a minute...) sixteen states in   
   one big party. Work all of those contests and you're one-third of the way to   
   WAS!   
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   As we go into hamfest season, you'll have lots of opportunities to get lucky   
   with raffles and drawings for donated prizes. If you win one, be sure to   
   drop the prize donor a note of thanks.   
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   Last issue's video by K9YC on editing audio messages is actually a how-to   
   for using WavePad, not Audacity. (Thanks, Ric WO4O)   
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   April 25-26   
      
    *  Ten-Ten Spring Digital Contest (Apr 21)   
    *  SP DX RTTY Contest   
    *  QRP To The Field--CW   
    *  Helvetia Contest   
    *  Florida QSO Party   
    *  BARTG 75 Sprint--Digital   
    *  VHF Spring Sprints--432 MHz (Apr 29)   
      
   May 2-3   
      
    *  NS Weekly RTTY Sprint (May 1)   
    *  NS Weekly Sprint--CW (May 1)   
    *  2 GHz and Up World Wide Contest   
    *  Microwave Spring Sprint   
    *  Worldwide EME Contest,   
    *  Ten-Ten Spring CW Contest   
    *  ARI International DX Contest   
    *  7th Area QSO Party   
    *  Indiana QSO Party   
    *  Delaware QSO Party   
    *  Radio Club of America QSO Party--Phone   
    *  New England QSO Party   
    *  OK1WC Memorial Contest (May 4)   
    *  ARS Spartan Sprint--CW (May 5)   
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   David Moore sent this article from Southern Iceland to the   
   European Space Agency. Not so good for HF propagation, though!   
      
   "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." So   
   sayeth Neils Bohr, one of the fathers of quantum mechanics. Thus it is very   
   handy to have an archive of propagation predictions from K7RA's ARRL   
   Propagation Bulletin ARLP016. Excel spreadsheets contain data for the   
   planetary A index and the solar flux values. If you don't have Excel on your   
   system, you can download a free Excel Viewer program. The predictions are   
   revised daily, and come from 45-day NOAA forecasts.   
      
   From the WRTC 2018 group, Michael DL6MHW reports, "The first four   
   (qualifying) events (ARRL DX CW and SSB, RDXC, and WPX SSB) are over and the   
   log submission deadlines are passed. However, there are no claimed scores   
   available. Therefore we can not publish any standings yet." The scoring web   
   page is live but with test data at the moment, following the approach of   
   Marek SQ2GXO. WRTC 2018 thanks Marek for the great ham spirit!   
      
   Much is made of "Moore's Law" regarding the rate at which progress occurs in   
   the semiconductor technology business. With fundamental limits of size and   
   shape being approached - it is said that one atom's erroneous placement can   
   ruin a modern IC - is this remarkable observation on the industry finally   
   running out of steam? IEEE Spectrum recently posted several bits of   
   commentary considering the possibilities.   
      
   Bob KORC reports that his "2015 Florida QSO Party workbook has been   
   completely redesigned to be more efficient for users. What used to be   
   multiple Excel worksheets for each day has been consolidated into a   
   "Saturday" and a "Sunday" worksheet. Sort buttons have been added that   
   reorganize the tables with a single click." Bob notes that his tools require   
   Excel 2003 or newer versions, with macros enabled.   
      
   I think we can all identify with the astronomers as they fret over   
   mysterious noise sources that turn out to be, literally, right around the   
   corner. (Thanks, Dennis N6KI)   
      
   Could this heat-sensing program be a new implementation of "partner mode"   
   for contest logging software? While the data rate would put it in the QRSS   
   contest category, I'm sure we can expect great progress in the future!   
   (Thanks, Brian N9ADG)   
      
   From the Department of Things That Never Change comes this story of a chess   
   grandmaster using "undeclared assistance" in a recent tournament.   
      
   Art W1AWX has developed a wonderfully colorful history of New England   
   broadcasting and published it on his QRZ.com web page.   
      
   Web Site of the Week - So how big is your antenna, Old Man? I'll bet it's   
   not as big as Project Sanguine. (Thanks, George K5TR)   
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   Along with a list of disqualifications and warnings, the CQ World Wide   
   Committee has published this reminder that they are, indeed, listening. "The   
   CQ WW Contest Committee takes its job as referee for the contest very   
   seriously. Each year a group of dedicated members spends many hours poring   
   over logs, listening to SDR recordings, and following up on input from the   
   contest community. We do not always have perfect information and it is   
   difficult when each entrant is operating from their own station without any   
   outside observer. Even so, the logs and recordings often tell us a clear   
   story. It is our job as referees to call them as we see them." Please make a   
   note of it!   
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   It was a true multimedia experience as Visalia convention breakfast MC K7JA   
   challenged (L-R) W2GD, K1DG, and N9RV to an unconventional keying contest   
   using a straight key or dual-lever paddle. How unconventional was it? Let's   
   just say that ASCII isn't always an acronym. W2GD won on style points, um,   
   going away. (Photos by NOAX)   
      
   The crowd at the recent International DX Convention in Visalia is portrayed   
   in this excellent album from roving photographer Bob N6TV. Enjoy!   
      
   It's never too late for a little April Foolery is it? How about crowdsourced   
   CW copying as imagined by Andy N2CN. (Thanks, Dick AA5VU)   
      
   Can't we come up with the ham radio equivalent of Robogames? Oh wait...it's   
   called "sprint contests."   
      
   Online video presentation of contesting might benefit from this interesting   
   approach to live coding. (Thanks, George K5TR)   
      
   I know more than a few of the Contest Update readers take an interest in   
   musical amplifiers as well as the radio variety. Popular Mechanics had a   
   photographer document what a classic Fender amp looks like in its most   
   fundamental state.   
      
   Bringgggg! Aliens discover radio!   
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   ARRL Contest Branch Manager, Matt W1MSW has updated the list of plaques for   
   the 2014 RTTY Roundup. If you or your club are interested in sponsoring one   
   of these plaques ($75 each), please contact Matt before May 5th. And in the   
   awards department, 2014 June VHF Contest plaques were mailed April 15 so   
   watch your mailbox!   
      
   Matt also reports that the April SSB Rookie Roundup was a big success!   
   "We've already received a record number of entries even before the 72-hour   
   log submissions deadline. Over 130 Rookie entries (Single and Multioperator)   
   and more than 25 non-Rookie entries have been submitted so far with 32 hours   
   left to submit scores. Thank you to all the Rookies who participated, the   
   Elmers who were there to mentor, and the Non-Rookies who gave out contacts   
   during the event.   
      
   The Scandinavian Activity Contest 2014 Results Booklet is now available in   
   PDF format for your reading pleasure with the full contest results, along   
   with contest stories written by participants from different parts of the   
   world. Thanks to all who contributed to the booklet, and to Flemming OZ8XW,   
   for taking care of the layout! The SAC Contest Committee also invites you to   
   take a survey on SAC.   
      
   Raw claimed scores for the 2015 WPX SSB Contest are now available online.   
   The listing shows raw scores as calculated by the WPX log checking software   
   prior to any checking. This should give participants a good indication of   
   their category placement at the World, Continent, or Country level. Please   
   check that your entry is in the correct category. Report any errors to the   
   CQ WPX Contest Director, Terry N4TZ.   
      
   Wow - here's a horse race for you: Yankee Clipper Contest Club (YCCC)   
   Scorekeeper, Alec W2JU, recently presented the results of the recent ARRL DX   
   contest. By his counting, as of yesterday, the difference in score between   
   YCCC and arch-rivals Frankford Radio Club (FRC) was only 178K points! That   
   may sound like a lot of points but out of each club's aggregate score of 301   
   Mpoints, that represents a margin of 0.06%!! The outcome of this contest   
   will be determined by overall club accuracy! (Thanks, K1KI)   
      
   Good conditions and a good turnout resulted in a Spartan Sprint this month   
   that was universally described as fun. Winner of the Skinny Division is Bill   
   W4ZV and topping the Tubby Division is John K4BAI. QSOs in the Skinny   
   Division are sorted by QSOs/pound - of the equipment, not the operator!   
   (Thanks,Richard KI6SN)   
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   What's the most important part of the contester's body? From my personal   
   experience, it's your butt! If it's not "in the chair," the rest of your   
   corporeal being is pretty much irrelevant. Make it easy to maximize BIC   
   (butt in chair) time with a comfortable shack chair. After all, a weekend   
   contest takes as much time as a week at work - or more - so take care of   
   your "supporting technology."   
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   You might think that the big multi-multi stations have serious receiver   
   front-end protection problems and you would be right. But where else will   
   you find a lot of power coming back down the feed line from another   
   transmitter? How about Field Day? Craig K9CT recommends this web page on   
   antenna coupling from W8JI. Perhaps some protection is in order to save   
   those fragile components?   
      
   For big antenna installations, many station builders prefer a heavy-duty,   
   self-aligning bearing to take the load off the rotator and ease the job of   
   maintenance. Stan K5GO recommended these flange bearings as doing a good job   
   for him. (Similar units are available from WB0W.com.) He also reminds us to   
   leave a little room in the diameter - a 2" galvanized mast requires a   
   2-1/16" bearing to fit cleanly - and to add a muffler clamp just above the   
   bearing as a little insurance against set screw failure. Shaft collars also   
   remove the need to rely on set screws. If you do use the set screws, be sure   
   they are stainless steel to avoid rusting, since most bearings of this type   
   are specified for indoor use. (Thanks also, Gerald K5GW)   
      
   While on the subject of bearings and clamps atop your tower, Jon W4ABC notes   
   that Oatey makes a roofing flange (14052 Master Flash) that can easily be   
   configured to fit around your mast, just above the bearing. It's widely   
   available online and in home improvement and plumbing stores. A similar part   
   is the Fernco 1056-62 flexible coupling recommended by J D KF5U.   
      
   I don't expect us to have 160 meter antennas in the form of wrist-watches   
   any time soon but science marches on. Here's a news item on how   
   electromagnetic innovation places antennas right on a chip. (Thanks, Roger   
   K8RI)   
      
   Updated antenna comparison tables from VE7BQH have been uploaded to the   
   website of Lance W7GJ, just in time for the summer roving season. (Thanks,   
   Lance W7GJ)   
      
   Here's a list of about 10 small receive antennas, with links to information   
   on each type. (Thanks, Mike WOBTU)   
      
   What kind of wire do you need for radials? With a big station and lots of   
   160 meter activity, Frank W3LPL has considered lots of options. "In most   
   soils mechanical durability is the only consideration for long term   
   durability of copper wire, but out of sight out of mind can be a big problem   
   for radial systems in at least two cases.   
      
   "Galvanic corrosion will damage a buried radial system if electrical   
   currents flow from the shield of your coaxial cable into your radial system.   
   Of course, small diameter wire will fail more quickly than heavier wire.   
   This is not a trivial consideration because in many installations the buried   
   radial system has significantly lower ground resistance than any other   
   ground in your home or in your station. You can determine if this is a   
   problem in your installation by using a milliammeter (or a common VOM) to   
   check for shield current.   
      
   "Corrosive soils may also damage a buried radial system. Fortunately most   
   soils are not corrosive for copper but there are important exceptions, some   
   examples are:   
      
    *  soils with large quantities of organic matter,   
    *  poorly drained soils such as wetlands,   
    *  soils with a history of heavy agricultural use with farm animals or   
       fertilizer, and   
    *  soils containing materials such as cinders or cinder blocks."   
      
   Technical Web Site of the Week - This video from Icom is an excellent   
   demonstration of the effect from phase noise of internal oscillators   
   creating reciprocal mixing. Transmit signal cleanliness has become the new   
   frontier of transceiver design and it's about time! (Thanks, Scott KODQ)   
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   Where the Action Is   
      
   Just having returned from the International DX Convention in Visalia,   
   California, I'm still buzzing from the social whirl. Attendance was a new   
   high-water mark and I definitely noticed plenty of DX visitors, women and   
   girl hams, folks on the left-side of the demographic curve, shall we say,   
   and so forth. Many of my long-time friends made the trek, too, leading to   
   loads of conversation, photos, and memories to share.   
      
   The image of the ham convention is changing along with the ham. Today's   
   successful conventions are more about learning and sharing than ever before.   
   Visalia hosts DX University and Contest Academy. Dayton is home to Contest   
   University and the QRPer's Four Days in May (and many other focused   
   programs).   
      
   I realize that many of my readers, however, are not impassioned contesters   
   or DXers. What does a convention offer them? Just to review the list of   
   technical topics at Visalia, you could sample material on Remote Operating,   
   Transmission Line Stubs, Logging Network IT, Receiver Performance, Effective   
   Portable Antennas, and that list doesn't even include the sessions on   
   propagation and the like in "university-style" program tracks. Every ham   
   could have taken home plenty of increased know-how from that set of forums.   
      
   Along with the station-building and operating, you would have also   
   discovered unexpected delights such as the K6DGE team of fifth and   
   sixth-grade students, nearly all YLs, led by Beverly WA6BK. With the   
   assistance of local hams like David K3LP, the club at Dorothy Grant   
   Elementary School has "caught a fire" and makes waves on the air as   
   evidenced by their colorful display and presence at the convention. It was   
   wonderful to see the girls holding impromptu sessions with experienced YL   
   operators like Katie WY7YL and Val NV9L.   
      
   Elsewhere around the convention, Bob KK6EK was busy discussing the upcoming   
   VKOEK expedition to Heard Island, you could catch up with what projects the   
   Northern California DX Foundation was sponsoring, and chat with Sandy DL1QQ   
   about plans for WRTC2018 in Germany. In the exhibition hall, you could see   
   the latest high-performance antennas, amplifiers, and accessories while   
   stocking up on those ever-important bits and pieces. So many opportunities,   
   so little time!   
      
   If you find yourself wondering where the action is, maybe a road trip is in   
   order. Perhaps you can't make the Big Ones but do try to pay a visit to one   
   of the larger, regional conventions taking place in your division this year.   
   Whatever your interests in ham radio, there will certainly be something to   
   hone your edge a bit finer or maybe even get you to exclaim, "I had no   
   idea!" Either way, you come out a winner and could be bringing home a new   
   goodie for shack, as well.   
      
   73, Ward NOAX   
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   22 April through 5 May 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   
      
   Ten-Ten Spring Digital Contest--Digital, from Apr 25, 0001Z to Apr 26,   
   2359Z. Bands (MHz): 28. Exchange: Call, name, county & S/P/C, 10-10 number.   
   Logs due: 15 days. Rules   
      
   SP DX RTTY Contest--Digital, from Apr 25, 1200Z to Apr 26, 1200Z . Bands   
   (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST, serial, SP province. Logs due: May 4. Rules   
      
   QRP To The Field--CW, from Apr 25, 1200Z to Apr 25, 2359Z. Bands (MHz):   
   7-28. Exchange: RST, S/P/C. Logs due: Jun 1. Rules   
      
   Helvetia Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Apr 25, 1300Z to Apr 26, 1259Z .   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T), serial or Swiss canton. Logs due: 15   
   days. Rules   
      
   Florida QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Apr 25, 1600Z - See website. Multiple time   
   periods. Bands (MHz): 7-28. See website. Exchange: RS(T), FL county or   
   S/P/C. Logs due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   BARTG 75 Sprint--Digital, from Apr 26, 1700Z to Apr 26, 2100Z. Bands (MHz):   
   3.5-28. Exchange: Serial. Logs due: 7 days. Rules   
      
   NS Weekly RTTY Sprint--Digital, from May 1, 0145Z to May 1, 0215Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 1.8-14. Weekly on Thursday evenings local time. Exchange: Serial,   
   name, and S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days. Rules   
      
   NS Weekly Sprint--CW, from May 1, 0230Z to May 1, 0300Z. Bands (MHz):   
   1.8-14. Weekly on Thursday evenings local time. Exchange: Serial, name, and   
   S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days. Rules   
      
   Ten-Ten Spring CW Contest--CW, from May 2, 0001Z to May 3, 2359Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 28. Exchange: Call sign, name, 10-10 number, state. Logs due: 15   
   days. Rules   
      
   ARI International DX Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from May 2, 1200Z to May 3,   
   1159Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T), serial or Italian province.   
   Logs due: 5 days. Rules   
      
   7th Area QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from May 2, 1300Z to May 3, 0700Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144, CW--40 kHz above band edge; SSB--1.845, 3.855,   
   7.235, 14.255, 21.355, 28.455 MHz. Exchange: RS(T)+S/P or 7th-area county   
   code. Logs due: May 17. Rules   
      
   Indiana QSO Party--Phone,CW, from May 2, 1600Z to May 3, 0400Z. Bands (MHz):   
   1.8-28. CW--1.805 and 40 kHz above the band edge on 80-10 meters,   
   SSB--1.845, 3.820, 7.190, 14.250, 21.300, 28.400 MHz. Exchange: RS(T) + S/P   
   or IN county, DX RS(T) only. Logs due: Jun 15. Rules   
      
   Delaware QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from May 2, 1700Z to May 3, 2359Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50+, CW 1.825, 3.55, 7.05, 14.05, 21.05, 28.05, 50.95;   
   SSB 1.86,3.96,7.26,14.26,21.36,28.36,50.135 MHz; Digital per band plan.   
   Exchange: RS(T) and DE county or S/P/C. Logs due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   Radio Club of America QSO Party--Phone, from May 2, 1700Z to May 3, 0459Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 3.5-21. Exchange: RS, QTH, name, equipment. Rules   
      
   New England QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from May 2, 2000Z - See website.   
   Multiple time periods. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. CW--3.540, 7.035, 14.040,   
   21.040, 28.040; SSB--3.850, 7.180/280, 14.280, 21.380, 28.380 MHz. Exchange:   
   RS(T) and S/P or New England county. Logs due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   OK1WC Memorial Contest--Phone,CW, from May 4, 1630Z to May 4, 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 May 5, 0200Z to May 5, 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   
      
   VHF Spring Sprints--Phone,CW,Digital, from Apr 29, 7 PM to Apr 29, 11 PM.   
   Bands (MHz): 432. Exchange: Grid square (6-char preferred). Logs due: 14   
   days. Rules   
      
   2 GHz and Up World Wide Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from May 2, 6 AM to May   
   3, Midnight. Bands (MHz): 2.3G+. Exchange: 6-char grid locator. Logs due: 30   
   days. Rules   
      
   Microwave Spring Sprint--Phone,CW,Digital, from May 2, 8 AM to May 2, 1 PM.   
   Bands (MHz): 902+. Exchange: Grid square (6-char preferred). Logs due: 14   
   days. Rules   
      
   Worldwide EME Contest--Phone,CW, from May 2, 0000Z to May 3, 2400Z. Bands   
   (MHz): 3.4G. Exchange: TMO/RS(T) and "R". Logs due: Jun 15. Rules   
      
   7th Area QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from May 2, 1300Z to May 3, 0700Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144, CW--40 kHz above band edge; SSB--1.845, 3.855,   
   7.235, 14.255, 21.355, 28.455 MHz. Exchange: RS(T)+S/P or 7th-area county   
   code. Logs due: May 17. Rules   
      
   Delaware QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from May 2, 1700Z to May 3, 2359Z.   
   Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50+, CW 1.825, 3.55, 7.05, 14.05, 21.05, 28.05, 50.95;   
   SSB 1.86,3.96,7.26,14.26,21.36,28.36,50.135 MHz; Digital per band plan.   
   Exchange: RS(T) and DE county or S/P/C. Logs due: 30 days. Rules   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   22 April through 5 May 2015   
      
    *  April 22 - UKEICC 80m Contest   
    *  April 22 - ARRL Rookie Roundup, SSB   
    *  April 22 - RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB   
    *  April 23 - Oklahoma QSO Party   
    *  April 24 - SKCC Sprint   
    *  April 25 - New Mexico QSO Party   
    *  April 25 - Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  April 25 - CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  April 26 - NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  April 26 - Run for the Bacon QRP Contest   
    *  April 26 - OK/OM DX Contest, SSB   
    *  April 26 - NCCC Sprint Ladder   
    *  April 26 - Worked All Provinces of China DX Contest   
    *  April 27 - 144 MHz Spring Sprint   
    *  April 27 - Hungarian Straight Key Contest   
    *  April 30 - Mississippi QSO Party   
    *  April 30 - Classic Exchange   
    *  April 30 - SP DX Contest   
    *  April 30 - International Vintage Contest HF   
    *  April 30 - ARLHS Annual Spring Lites QSO Party   
    *  April 30 - RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data   
    *  May 1 - ES Open HF Championship   
    *  May 3 - WAB 3.5/7/14 MHz Data Modes   
    *  May 3 - BARTG Sprint 75   
    *  May 4 - YU DX Contest   
    *  May 5 - Missouri QSO Party   
      
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   ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS   
      
   ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest   
   Calendar and SM3CER's Contest Calendar.   
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update is published every other Wednesday (26 times each   
   year). ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their   
   Member Data Page as described at http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/.   
      
   Copyright (c) 2015 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved   
      
   www.arrl.org   
      
      
   )\/(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)