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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2015-06-17   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   June 17, 2015   
   Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG   
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
      
   * One Question before you Pass - Kid's Day Contest   
   * It's Topband season in the Southern Hemisphere - Stew Perry Top Band   
   Distance Challenge   
   * Silent Green - NXP Parts used in Grow Lights   
   * Classic Contesting Tips   
   * A Series of Tubes... - Ionospheric Plasma   
   * Bring your popcorn - ARRL 10m Results & Propagation Movies   
   * Wireless powered Wireless?   
   * Not your Elmer's N1MM Logger   
   * Evolving Rules   
      
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO   
      
   Field day is the place to be the weekend of June 27. Join a local radio club's   
   group or use your own station!   
      
   Check out the 10-10 International Spirit of 76 - 10 meters only of course -   
   starting a couple of days after Field Day. You could read the results article   
   (referenced below) for last fall's ARRL 10m contest for some general 10 meter   
   antenna or operating tips. Unlike most contests, the Spirit of 76 lasts for a   
   seven day period.   
      
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   WRTC2018 qualification standings have recently been updated to include claimed   
   scores from CQWPX-CW 2015, CQWPX-SSB 2015, RDXC 2015, ARRL-DX-SSB 2015, and   
   ARRL-DX-CW 2015.   
      
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   In the last issue, maidenhead grids were described as "equal-sized rectangles   
   denoted by alphanumeric codes," which would only occur on Equirectangular   
   Projections of the Earth. According to Jonesy, W3DHJ, "They ain't   
   'equal-sized'. Near the North Pole a parked rover could operate from several   
   grid squares at the same time. Near the equator it might take all day for a   
   Rover to drive into the next grid square."   
      
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   June 18   
      
   * CWops Mini-CWT Test   
   * NAQCC CW Sprint   
   * RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB   
      
   June 19   
      
   * NCCC RTTY Sprint   
   * NCCC Sprint Ladder   
   * SMIRK Contest   
      
   June 20   
      
   * All Asian DX Contest, CW   
   * Ukrainian DX Classic RTTY Contest   
   * AGCW VHF/UHF Contest   
   * Stew Perry Topband Challenge   
   * West Virginia QSO Party   
   * Feld Hell Sprint   
      
   June 21   
      
   * WAB 50 MHz Phone   
   * Kid's Day Contest   
      
   June 22   
      
   * Run for the Bacon QRP Contest   
      
   June 24   
      
   * SKCC Sprint   
   * CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   June 25   
      
   * CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   June 26   
      
   * NCCC RTTY Sprint   
   * NCCC Sprint Ladder   
      
   June 27   
      
   * His Maj. King of Spain Contest, SSB   
   * Ukrainian DX DIGI Contest   
   * ARRL Field Day   
      
   June 29   
      
   * 10-10 Int. Spirit of 76 QSO Party   
      
   July 1   
      
   * RAC Canada Day Contest   
   * CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   In addition to being popular for use in palletized amplifier modules for HF   
   and VHF amplification, NXP is promoting its products for use in plasma plant   
   grow light applications. Some conventional ballasts being used in "domestic   
   plant growing operations" are an unwanted and abundant source of RF   
   interference in many residential areas in the US.   
      
   The Video Operating N1MM+ at Field Day has been posted to the N1MM Logger+   
   website Instructional Videos page. This video is designed to help educate   
   radio club members and guest operators about Field Day, Contesting, and N1MM   
   Logger+. The customized screens and logging sequences described in the 17   
   minute video may not be an exact match for your Field Day operations, but   
   should still prove helpful to hams unfamiliar with any of those three topics.   
   As the video is only 19 MB, it's easy to make it available on a thumb-drive at   
   your Field Day site (see the download link at the bottom of the page). (Larry   
   K8UT)   
      
   Thinking about picking up some new knowledge this summer? Free online   
   curricula providers like EdX, Coursera, and others have Electrical Engineering   
   and other courses that may be of interest.   
      
   What tidbit can we glean from an SR-71 pilot's interview which would be   
   relevant to contesting? To be able to sit in a chair for six to eight hours,   
   eat a low-residue meal like steak and eggs.   
      
   Web Site of the Week - Though these ZS1AN contesting tips are from 2007, they   
   are still relevant today. If you're putting on a Field Day operation, it can   
   be helpful to make sure everyone is "on the same page" by being familiar with   
   these, or perhaps your own compendium of contest tips. (Bob N6TV)   
      
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   "Front End Protector" - also known as a receiver protector, or receiver   
   limiter; it's an active or passive circuit which can guard against a receiver   
   being overloaded or damaged by very large signals appearing at its input. It   
   is typically used where receivers or transceivers may be used in close   
   proximity to other transmitters/transceivers (as you might find in Field Day   
   situations). Some desirable features of Front End Protectors include providing   
   little or no signal attenuation when harmful signals are not present,   
   providing fast and effective clamping or switching of potentially harmful   
   signals, and adding no signal or mixing artifacts.   
      
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   Astronomers at the University of Sidney, by combining the results of multiple   
   receivers in the Murchison Widefield Array radio telescope, have 'imaged'   
   plasma tubes present in the ionosphere. Moreover, these plasma tubes can be   
   visualized over time and in three dimensions.   
      
   A WWROF-sponsored webinar, "VHF Rovers: Contesting Operations and Impact" by   
   Rick Rosen, K1DS will happen on Wednesday, June 24 9 PM EDT (Thursday, June 25   
   01:00 UTC). You can watch for free by registering here. Subjects to be covered   
   include a Brief history of roving, both before and after ARRL adopted the   
   category, Equipping basic and sophisticated rovers, Rover Activity, Rover   
   contest scores and their impact on fixed stations, and Future Rover activity   
   vis-a-vis the new VHF contest rules.   
      
   Previous WWROF webinars are available on the WWROF web site.   
      
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   The results for the 2014 10 Meter Contest, including a comprehensive contest   
   write up by Scott Tuthill, K7ZO, log checking reports, line scores and updated   
   records, are available on the ARRL Web Site. In addition to a record number of   
   logs being submitted, it was the debut of the new 'Unlimited' classes for   
   Single Operators, allowing spotting assistance or 'skimmer' use (previously   
   confined to multi-op). There were seven races in which the winner was less   
   than one percent ahead of 2nd place! The article is well worth reading, if   
   only for the detailed and exciting hour-by-hour description of two of the   
   closest races. If that's not enough, bring your popcorn, because Scott also   
   made some "propagation movies" from the submitted log data showing QSO rates   
   from the US to various parts of the globe per 30-minute interval.   
      
   There was a problem discovered in the log checking process for the 2014 ARRL   
   160 Meter Contest. After the problem was identified and fixed, the logs were   
   all rechecked which resulted in some scoring changes. However, there were only   
   a few changes in the order of finish in the Top Ten results with all top   
   winners staying the same. There were no changes to Division or Regional   
   winners. Updated results have been posted to the online database and the Full   
   Results Article, Log Checking Reports and Printable Line Scores have been   
   updated on the ARRL web site. (Matt W1MSW)   
      
   As of June 16, 2015 the submitted log count for the ARRL June VHF contest is   
   over 400.   
      
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   Summer. Time for more mobile operations. Make sure you are familiar with the   
   clearances you need for your mobile antennas.   
      
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   What Field Day class would include a QRP transmitter powered by harvesting of   
   ambient Wi-Fi signals? Perhaps we'll find out in a few years, as researchers   
   at the University of Washington recently demonstrated powering low power   
   sensors using Wi-Fi. In addition to developing power harvesting circuitry,   
   they modified a Wi-Fi router's protocols for more airtime, while not   
   compromising communication speeds (submitted by QRP enthusiast Mark K6UFO).   
      
   To connect two pieces of wire electrically and make a strong mechanical   
   splice, you might want to use a "Western Union Splice". Here's a video on how   
   to do it. This could come in handy if you cut the field day dipole a little   
   short. (Thanks to Frank K5HS)   
      
   When I was in high school, one of the first projects you could tackle in   
   Electronics class was a "Color Organ". It was an SCR-Based circuit that used   
   the levels of different audio frequency bands to control incandescent lights.   
   As everything today is better with LEDs, here's a similar project --"LED   
   Volume Tower" - a large LED VU meter. Build multiple channels, put an audio   
   filter network in front of each channel tuned to bass, midrange, and treble,   
   and voila. Though It seems like we've lost something over the years; it's hard   
   to beat the initial turn-on excitement of high-school project wiring mistakes   
   connected directly to 120v.   
      
      
   Technical Web Site of the Week - N1MM.com   
      
   If you're NOT using N1MM Logger + (note the PLUS sign), you're not using N1MM   
   logger. The original N1MM Logger has reached end-of-life, and is no longer   
   being updated. The new N1MM Logger+ has the familiar feel of the original,   
   with more polish and more features in certain areas. Did you know that you can   
   write your own applications to interface with N1MM via UDP (a network   
   protocol)? nformation can be emitted from N1MM Logger+ when rig frequency   
   changes or every 10 seconds, when a contact is logged, and when the rotator   
   turns. This is the facility that some of the real time core posting programs   
   use, but here are some ideas for other things it could be used for:   
      
   * Ring a bell when a new multiplier is worked (mult flag in the contact   
   message)   
      
   * A "virtual elmer" that nudges you to try a different band, mode (run/s&p),   
   or antenna direction based on your QTH, time of day, current rate and band   
      
   * While not providing actual spots in the form of a callsign and/or frequency,   
   suggestions that a band is open in a certain direction   
      
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   Randy K5ZD, recently solicited comments (via the CQ-Contest reflector) on some   
   potential upcoming rules changes for CQWW. Many of the proposed changes appear   
   to recognize the reality of today's ontest logging environment:   
      
   * Log deadlines can be shortened given the realities of the Internet which may   
   in turn enable faster availability of contest results   
      
   * Log scoring and cross checking has never been more automated   
      
   * Audio logs could be helpful to provide a fairer and more accurate contest   
   experience; nearly any competitive logging computer likely already has this   
   capability   
      
   * Reasonably modern, competitive receivers interface well with logging programs   
      
   * Real-time QSO availability information is a rapidly evolving area   
      
   It's easy to envision "corner cases" where some of these proposed rule changes   
   would be a hardship, but realistically, it's necessary to evolve the rules as   
   technology evolves, and (unfortunately) as those who would "take advantage" of   
   those rules evolve.   
      
   The ARRL recently changed certain rules regarding VHF+ contests reflecting   
   evolving contesting conditions; perhaps there will be additional changes to   
   other contest rules in the future.   
      
   73, Brian N9ADG   
      
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   18 June Through 1 July 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   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, June 18 0300z-0400z, June 24 1300Z-1400Z, June 24   
   1900Z-2000Z, June 25 0300Z-0400Z, July 1 1300Z-1400Z, July 1 1900Z-2000Z; CW;   
   Bands: 1.8-28MHz;Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (   
   tate/province/country); Logs Due: June 20, June 27, July 4, 2015.   
      
   RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB, June 18 1900Z-2030Z; SSB; Bands: 3.5MHz; RST   
   + Serial No.; Logs due: 2359Z June 25, 2015   
      
   NAQCC CW Sprint, June 18 0030Z-0230Z; CW; Bands: 3.5, 7.0, 14 MHz; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs Due: June 21, 2015.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, June 19 0145Z-0215Z, June 26 0145Z-0215Z; RTTY; Bands: see   
   rules; Serial No. + Name + QTH;Logs Due: June 21, June 28 2015.   
      
   NCCC Sprint Ladder, June 19 0230Z-0300Z, June 26 0230Z-0300Z; CW; Bands:   
   1.8-50MHz; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs Due: June 21, June 28 2015.   
      
   All Asian DX Contest, CW, June 20 0000Z to June 21 2400Z; CW; Bands:   
   1.8-28MHz; RST + 2-digit age; Logs Due: July 22, 2015.   
      
   Ukrainian DX Classic RTTY Contest, June 20 1200Z to June 21 1159Z; RTTY;   
   Bands: 3.5MHz - 28MHz;Ukraine: RST + 2-letter oblast, non-Ukraine: RST +   
   Serial No.; Logs Due: July 6.   
      
   Stew Perry Topband Challenge, June 20 1500Z to June 21, 1500Z; CW; Bands: 1.8   
   MHz; 4-Character grid square; Logs Due: July 6, 2015.   
      
   West Virginia QSO Party, June 20, 1600Z to June 21, 0200Z;CW, SSB, Digital;   
   3.5 MHz- 28 MHz; WV: RS(T) + county, non-WV: RS(T) + (state/province/country);   
   Logs Due: July 6, 2015.   
      
   Feld Hell Sprint, June 20, 2000Z-2159Z; Feld Hell; Bands: 1.8 MHz - 50 MHz;   
   see rules; Logs Due: June 27, 2015.   
      
   WAB 50 MHz Phone, June 21, 0900Z-1500Z; SSB; Bands: 50 Mhz; British Isles: RS   
   + serial no. + WAB square, Other: RS + serial no. + country; Logs Due: July   
   12, 2015.   
      
   Kid's Day Contest, June 21, 1800Z-2359Z; SSB; 3.5 MHz - 28MHz, also 18, 24   
   MHz, 144 MHz repeaters; name + age + QTH + favorite color; Logs Due: July 21,   
   2015;   
      
   Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, June 22, 0100Z-0300Z; CW; 1.8 MHz - 28 MHz; RST   
   + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs Due: June 28, 2015.   
      
   SKCC Sprint, June 24, 0000Z-0200Z; CW; 1.8 MHz- 28 MHz; RST + (s   
   ate/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./power); Logs Due: June 26, 2015.   
      
   His Maj. King of Spain Contest, SSB, June 27, 1200Z to June 28, 1200Z; SSB;   
   1.8 MHz- 28 MHz; EA: RS + province, non-EA: RS + Serial No.; Logs Due: July   
   13, 2015.   
      
   Ukrainian DX DIGI Contest, June 27, 1200Z to June 28, 1200Z; RTTY, PSK63; 3.5   
   MHz-28 MHz; UR: RST + 2-letter Oblast, non-UR: RST + QSO No.; Logs Due: July   
   28, 2015.   
      
   ARRL Field Day, June 27, 1800Z to June 28, 2100Z;All modes; All Bands except   
   10, 18, 24 MHz;W/VE: Number of transmitters (see rules) + Operating class +   
   ARRL/RAC section, DX: Number of transmitters (see rules) + Operating class +   
   "DX"; Logs Due: July 28, 2015.   
      
   10-10 Int. Spirit of 76 QSO Party, June 29, 0001Z to July 5, 2400Z; CW, SSB,   
   PSK31, RTTY, FM, AM; 28 MHz only; 10-10 Member: Name + 10-10 number +   
   (state/province/country), Non-Member: Name + 0 + (state/province/country);   
   Logs Due: July 20, 2015.   
      
   RAC Canada Day Contest, July 1, 0000Z-2359Z; CW, Phone; 1.8 MHz - 28 MHz,   
   50MHz, 144 MHz; VE: RS(T) + province/territory, non-VE: RS(T) + Serial No.;   
   Logs Due: July 31, 2015.   
      
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   SMIRK Contest, June 19 0000Z to June 20 2400Z;CW, Phone; Bands: 50 MHz   
   only;SMIRK No. (optional) + 4-character grid square; Logs Due: August 15, 2015.   
      
   AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, June 20 1400Z-1700Z (144 MHz), June 21 1700Z-1800Z (432   
   MHz); CW; Bands: 144 MHz, 432 MHz;RST + "/" + Serial No. + "/" Power class +   
   "/" + 6-character grid locator; Logs Due: July 6, 2015.   
      
   (some of the HF contests include 50 MHz)   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   June 18   
      
   * NRAU 10m Activity Contest   
   * NZART Sangster Shield Contest   
      
   June 20   
      
   * Asia-Pacific Sprint, SSB   
   * SEANET Contest   
   * PVRC Reunion   
   * CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   June 21   
      
   * DRCG WW RTTY Contest   
   * SKCC Weekend Sprintathon   
   * NCCC RTTY Sprint   
   * NCCC Sprint Ladder   
   * ADRAD Kayldall DMR Contest   
   * NAQCC CW Sprint   
      
   June 23   
      
   * 10-10 Int. Open Season PSK Contest   
   * RSGB National Field Day   
      
   June 25   
      
   * RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB   
      
   June 27   
      
   * HA3NS Sprint Memorial Contest   
      
   June 30   
      
   * IARU Region 1 Field Day, CW (see your national society rules)   
      
   July 1   
      
   * UKSMG Summer Contest   
   * VK Shires Contest   
      
      
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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   
      
   ... Features should be discovered, not documented!   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)