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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2016-01-27   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   January 27, 2016   
   Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG   
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
    *  New HF Operators: Simultaneous Contests, ARRL VHF, Winter FD, and more   
    *  Bulletins: Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, is new ARRL Contest Branch Manager, Call   
       for Dayton Contest Forum Speakers & more   
    *  Contest Summary   
    *  News: J.C. Bose, Early Radio Experimenter, and more   
    *  Word to the Wise: Eutectic   
    *  Sights and Sounds: N3BB's WRTC-2014 Book, N6TR commentary   
    *  Results: Texas QSO Party, VE4XT Awarded   
    *  Operating Tip: For Phone Pileup Success, Offset   
    *  Technical Topics: Protect that Beverage, ATV, ATSC 3.0, and more   
    *  Tech Website of the week: McMaster-Carr   
    *  Conversation: Remote Contesting Part III - Remote Ham Radio   
    *  Contests in Detail   
    *  Log Due Dates   
      
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO   
      
   On most weekends it's there can be multiple contests sharing the same mode. If   
   you're operating in one contest, it's helpful to at know the exchanges you   
   might be asked for by participants in the other contests - a nice way to boost   
   both parties' scores. The ARRL VHF contest and Winter Field Day partially   
   overlap this year on January 30th. If you participate in Winter Field Day, you   
   could be leaving points on the table by NOT looking to 6m and 2m for contacts.   
      
   A similar situation with "3 QSO Parties at once!" occurs the weekend of   
   February 6 with Vermont, Minnesota, and British Columbia QSO Parties. The   
   weekend of May 7-8, there are FOUR simultaneous QSO Parties.   
      
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   He's back, and he's running the Contest Branch! Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, has been   
   named as ARRL Contest Branch Manager. One of Bart's personal goals for the   
   contest branch is to shorten the cycle between contest end and the publishing   
   of contest results, while upholding the quality and integrity of the scoring   
   process. Welcome Bart!   
      
   Are you comfortable talking in front of a room full of people about something   
   you've done recently that could be of interest to a contest-oriented crowd?   
   Doug, K1DG, would like to talk to you about being a speaker at the 2016 Dayton   
   Hamvention's Contest Forum. If you have ideas for a topic that should be   
   covered in the forum format, please send them to Doug.   
      
   The sixth running of the "Maine 2 Meter FM Simplex Challenge" will occur on   
   February 15, 2015 starting at 1700 UTC. True to its name, contacts are limited   
   to the 2 meter band. (KB1HNZ)   
      
   The Southeastern VHF Society (SVHFS), North East Weak Signal Group (NEWS) and   
   Mt. Airy VHF Radio Club (Pack Rats) have come together to sponsor the   
   first-ever "VHF Super Conference" April 14-17, 2016, at the Holiday Inn   
   Washington-Dulles International Airport in Sterling, Virginia.   
      
   Hosted by the Grid Pirates Contest Group and Directive Systems and   
   Engineering, many of VHF's movers, shakers, and top operators will be on hand.   
   More details will be forthcoming on the conference web site.   
      
   The North and South Carolina QSO Parties have announced some incentives   
   enhance the appeal of participating in their event on February 27-28th. Anyone   
   who submits a log will be eligible for a drawing to win a Carolina Style BBQ   
   Dinner with all the trimmings. There are other incentives for mobile   
   operators, as well as a special "Hunley Challenge" award.   
      
   The New Hampshire QSO Party has changed its 2016 date to September 17-18,   
   2016, according to Mark, K1RX. The web site will be updated to reflect these   
   changes soon.   
      
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   In the story about Winter Field Day in the last issue, "Thom Proehl's callsign   
   is K7FZO... Thom and his XYL Teena, K9HAV, manage Valley Camp, where several   
   ham radio related events are hosted during the year." - Rick, N6NR   
      
   Bill, AI5I, also sent in the link to the article on LF transmissions affecting   
   the Van Allen radiation belt boundaries.   
      
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   January 28   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   January 29   
      
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  NCCC Sprint Ladder   
    *  CQ 160-Meter Contest, CW   
      
   January 30   
      
    *  Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  REF Contest, CW   
    *  UBA DX Contest, SSB   
    *  Winter Field Day   
    *  ARRL January VHF Contest   
      
   January 31   
      
    *  Classic Exchange, CW   
      
   February 1   
      
    *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB   
      
   February 2   
      
    *  Classic Exchange, CW   
    *  ARS Spartan Sprint   
      
   February 3   
      
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  UKEICC 80m Contest   
      
   February 4   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  NRAU 10m Activity Contest   
      
   February 5   
      
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  NCCC Sprint Ladder   
    *  YLRL YL-OM Contest   
      
   February 6   
      
    *  Vermont QSO Party   
    *  Triathlon DX Contest   
    *  10-10 Int. Winter Contest, SSB   
    *  Black Sea Cup International   
    *  F9AA Cup, CW   
    *  Minnesota QSO Party   
    *  FYBO Winter QRP Sprint   
    *  British Columbia QSO Party   
    *  AGCW Straight Key Party   
    *  FISTS Winter Slow Speed Sprint   
    *  Mexico RTTY International Contest   
      
   February 7   
      
    *  North American Sprint, CW   
      
   February 8   
      
    *  ARRL School Club Roundup   
      
   February 10   
      
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data   
      
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   In 1898, a time of great early innovation in radio, J.C. Bose was working with   
   radio signals at 60 GHz. Yes, 60 GHz. Yet we don't see his name mentioned very   
   often. This article summarizes much of his work, and provides a link to learn   
   more.   
      
   Intel recently announced some new features for their vPro chips and hardware,   
   one of which allows the remote use of any WiDi equipped display. This feature   
   is intended for conference room settings and the like. But imagine its use to   
   remote the screen of the run station to a large wall mounted display for the   
   on-deck operators to observe...   
      
   A few years ago, Radio Arcala placed the ability to operate real ham radio   
   inside a virtual world , and we as contesters and amateur radio operators look   
   (longingly?) at the popularity and growth of online gaming. Here's an article   
   on some of the techniques that are used to make virtual worlds appear more   
   real. Especially intriguing are the some of the ways that intentional   
   misdirection can be used into the system to constrain motion in the real   
   world, yet seem to provide 'infinite horizons.'   
      
   Ah, 807s! The quintessential vacuum tube.   
      
   The US Naval Observatory is working with industry to develop accurate,   
   synchronized, distributed timekeeping functionality when GPS is unavailable.   
   This could be useful in highly urbanized areas, or areas (such as canyons)   
   where the view to the GPS constellation is limited.   
      
   Liquid metals such as gallium, and alloys of gallium (which does not have the   
   toxicity of Mercury) are being used to make re-configurable, tunable antennas   
   in the laboratory . The frequencies discussed by the researchers are 700 MHz   
   and above...   
      
   Microchip Technology, purveyor of PIC processors, is purchasing Atmel, maker   
   of the AVR chips central to Arduinos and variants.   
      
   As the eastern seaboard of the US digs out from under the Nor'easter this   
   week, consider the finding that current-carrying concrete could melt snow from   
   roads.   
      
   Someone in Delaware is using a webcam and some image processing to   
   automatically measure the snow depth in their backyard. They did it for fun,   
   not accuracy.   
      
      
   WORD TO THE WISE- Eutectic   
      
   Eutectic is both an adjective and a noun. A eutectic is a mixture of   
   substances, the combination of which melts (and solidifies) at a single   
   temperature. That temperature is lower than the melting points of the   
   individual substances. A eutectic of 63% tin to 37% lead has customarily been   
   used for non-ROHS soldering applications. One type of lead-free solder uses   
   99.3% tin to 0.7% copper.   
      
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   Some events of WRTC 2014 have been chronicled in N3BB's new book entitled   
   Contact Sport: A Story of Champions, Airwaves, and a One-Day Race Around the   
   World, which will be released in early February. Ask for it at your library,   
   or find it at your local or online bookseller.   
      
   "If it was easy - it wouldn't be as rewarding when it happens!!" - Tree,   
   N6TR's comment regarding working VP8STI on Topband. Tree will be the featured   
   speaker at the 2016 Dayton Topband dinner.   
      
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   The Texas QSO Party Results have been posted. The write-up by Chuck, NO5W, is   
   comprehensive and interesting - it includes the categories and scores, but   
   also covers information on mobile setups, station strategy, the log scoring   
   process, and even pitfalls to avoid in logging. It's an engaging read even if   
   you did not participate in the contest!   
      
   VE4XT recently received the award for " Canadian Automobile Journalist of the   
   Year ." Congratulations!   
      
      
   OPERATING TIP - For SSB Pileup success, offset!   
      
   Rob, N7QT, one of the members of the recent VK9WA DXpedition, suggests: "If   
   you are trying to work a mult, and there are a lot of callers, try calling   
   about 200 Hz off their frequency. That's sometimes enough to differentiate you   
   from the rest of the crowd."   
      
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   On the Topband reflector, a discussion of methods of protecting beverages and   
   other low-frequency receiving antennas from high-energy events like lightning   
   or static discharge yielded the suggestion by Rick, K2XT:   
      
   "Get some gas tubes from Mouser. I use 652-2049-12-BT1LF. 62 cents each last   
   time I ordered about a year ago. Any surges are shorted around the device   
   (resistor or transformer). The gas tubes have no effect whatsoever on the   
   normal operation. Simply connect one across your terminating resistor, and one   
   across the fed end wouldn't hurt either. The maintenance won't end, but the   
   maintenance due to lightning induced surges will. No, they won't protect   
   against a direct hit on the Beverage, but then you would have to find the 500   
   feet of wire first!"   
      
   "Here's an Interesting summary of amateur TV experiments in HD and even the   
   proposed ATSC 3.0 commercial broadcast standard" - (KK6DA from Elecraft   
   mailing list)   
      
   A conductive glue that researchers are working on may one day replace solder   
   in some applications. It binds to metal, as well as glass. The glue does not   
   withstand high pressures or high temperatures.   
      
   Researchers are rethinking incandescent bulbs, and understanding how to   
   optimize them for better energy consumption.   
      
   The $9 CHIP computer was mentioned in an article on NPR last week. Could   
   CHIPs, with the Linux OS, attain the same prominence as the Arduino has over   
   time?   
      
   Intel is out with a newer, more powerful version of their Computestick, and   
   according to one review it's 'usable.' The form factor could make it appealing   
   to DXpedition or vacation-with-radio use (using a TV at the destination for a   
   display).   
      
      
   Technical Web Site of the Week - McMaster-Carr (mcmaster.com)   
      
   McMaster-Carr is a Chicago based company that has sold industrial materials,   
   parts, and tools to industry for years. Pre-web, their inches-thick paper   
   catalogs were marvelous to thumb through not only to find something you   
   needed, but also to just read about the properties and uses of things, learn   
   about new tools, or find engineering data relevant to your project. They've   
   transitioned to the web, and the catalogs are available online. Especially   
   informative are the "About XXXX" pages, which can guide to the proper usage of   
   materials in general. Perhaps you are working on a ceramic tube amplifier, and   
   want to use rubber sheeting to form a chimney. The "About Rubber" pages of the   
   catalog can guide you to the right type to use.   
      
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   Remote Contesting Part III - Remote Ham Radio   
      
   So far, we've heard from a group of hams using a remote for multi-operator   
   contesting, and a single ham remoting his vacation station. This time, we're   
   going to hear the perspective of the people behind Remote Ham Radio (RHR). As   
   you may know, if you're a licensed amateur radio operator, you can join the   
   RHR service, and rent time on RHR-maintained stations. Ray Higgins, W2RE,   
   graciously shared this:   
      
   "We see remote contest growing in leaps and bounds. I can only give you   
   information pertaining to my observations on the RHR network as a leader in   
   this technology. There are many awesome operators sitting idle during contest   
   season due to health or homeowner association restrictions on towers, or they   
   just cant or won't travel; I believe remote operation in general has solved   
   those problems for good.   
      
   Setting up remote stations is difficult, and using a remote in a contest can   
   be difficult. However, we've seen a huge uptick in RHR members participating   
   in contesting on the RHR network due to the availability of the RHR helper   
   app. The app allows RHR members to operate a contest with their favorite   
   contesting software locally with full radio control at the TX site. Mark,   
   K6UFO, wrote an article about using RHR in a RTTY contest. You'll see future   
   work from the RHR development team to integrate logging/contesting software   
   into our console for even easier operation.   
      
   In early 2016, we will have two Caribbean sites, HH2AA and KP4/Palmas,   
   available for contesting. HH2AA is unique in a number of ways: it's sitting on   
   a 6300 foot hill south of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, using solar panels and   
   wireless Internet. With 50 watts into an OCF dipole at 70 feet, amateurs can   
   now experience contesting from the other side of a pileup from DX heaven. All   
   proceeds from using HH2AA directly supports the Haiti Air Ambulance Service.   
      
   How good is remote operation today? Check out this video of HH2AA on the air   
   in a pileup, with YL Lori KB2HZI operating from her home in NY, with ZERO   
   apparent latency. Lori was inactive for many years (1996-2014), but remote   
   technology now enables her to operate at her leisure from a laptop or PC using   
   WebDX (or a K3/0 as shown in video) from anywhere. She is strictly a remote   
   ONLY DX'er and contester, RHR is her "remote base."   
      
   In North America, the RHR team is building the first all-remote contest   
   station in Eastport, Maine (the easternmost US city) on 63 oceanfront acres.   
   With the first tower 100 feet tall and 300 meters from saltwater we find the   
   station is playing better than expected. We operated this station remote six   
   weeks ago while traveling on I-95 south of Bangor in Maine on a cellular hot   
   spot while heading back to New York -- DK1NO was startled to hear USA so early   
   in the day. We start breaking ground in 2016 with multiple rotating towers and   
   plan one remote station per band. The long-term goal is a fully functional   
   multi/multi-capable remote station.   
      
   We see remote operation as a positive way to grow interest with younger hams,   
   and we also have a program to support youth operators. The major contest   
   sponsors have done an excellent job accommodating remote operations."   
      
   That's all for this time, don't forget to send your contest-update-worthy   
   links, tips, pictures, and recipes to contest-update@arrl.org.   
      
   73, Brian N9ADG   
      
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   28 Jan - 10 Feb 2016   
      
   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 , Jan 27, 1300z to Jan 27, 1400z, Jan 27, 1900z to Jan 27,   
   2000z, Jan 28, 0300z to Jan 28, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: January 30.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint , Jan 29, 0145z to Jan 29, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: January 31.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt , Jan 29, 0200z to Jan 29, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: January 28.   
      
   NCCC Sprint Ladder , Jan 29, 0230z to Jan 29, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40,   
   20, 15, 10, 6m; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: January 31.   
      
   CQ 160-Meter Contest, CW , Jan 29, 2200z to Jan 31, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160m   
   Only; W/VE: RST + (state/province), DX: RST + CQ Zone; Logs due: February 5.   
      
   Feld Hell Sprint , Jan 30, 0000z to Jan 30, 2359z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80,   
   40, 20, 15, 10m; (see rules); Logs due: February 6.   
      
   REF Contest, CW , Jan 30, 0600z to Jan 31, 1800z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; French: RST + Department/Prefix, non-French: RST + Serial No.; Logs due:   
   February 15.   
      
   UBA DX Contest, SSB , Jan 30, 1300z to Jan 31, 1300z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20,   
   15, 10m; ON: RST + Serial No. + province, non-ON: RST + Serial No.; Logs due:   
   February 14.   
      
   Winter Field Day , Jan 30, 1700z to Jan 31, 1700z; Any; Bands: All, except   
   WARC; Category + ARRL Section (or DX); Logs due: March 1.   
      
   Classic Exchange, CW , Jan 31, 1400z to Feb 1, 0800z, Feb 2, 1400z to Feb 3,   
   0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2m; Name + RST + (   
   tate/province/country) + rcvr/xmtr manuf/model; Logs due: April 30.   
      
   RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB , Feb 1, 2000z to Feb 1, 2130z; SSB; Bands:   
   80m Only; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: February 8.   
      
   ARS Spartan Sprint , Feb 2, 0200z to Feb 2, 0400z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: February 4.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt , Feb 3, 0200z to Feb 3, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: January 28.   
      
   Phone Fray , Feb 3, 0230z to Feb 3, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: February 5.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test , Feb 3, 1300z to Feb 3, 1400z, Feb 3, 1900z to Feb 3,   
   2000z, Feb 4, 0300z to Feb 4, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: February 5.   
      
   UKEICC 80m Contest , Feb 3, 2000z to Feb 3, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only;   
   4-Character grid square; Logs due: February 3.   
      
   NRAU 10m Activity Contest , Feb 4, 1800z to Feb 4, 1900z (CW), Feb 4, 1900z to   
   Feb 4, 2000z (SSB), Feb 4, 2000z to Feb 4, 2100z (FM), Feb 4, 2100z to Feb 4,   
   2200z (Dig); CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10m Only; RS(T) + 6-character grid   
   square; Logs due: February 18.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint , Feb 5, 0145z to Feb 5, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: February 6.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt , Feb 5, 0200z to Feb 5, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: February 5.   
      
   NCCC Sprint Ladder , Feb 5, 0230z to Feb 5, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20,   
   15, 10, 6m; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: February 6.   
      
   YLRL YL-OM Contest , Feb 5, 1400z to Feb 7, 0200z; CW/Digital, SSB; Bands:   
   All; QSO No. + RS(T) + (section/province/country); Logs due: March 6.   
      
   Vermont QSO Party , Feb 6, 0000z to Feb 8, 0000z; All; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20,   
   15, 10, VHF/UHF; VT: RS(T) + County, non-VT W/VE: RS(T) + (state/province),   
   DX: RS(T); Logs due: March 6.   
      
   Triathlon DX Contest , Feb 6, 0000z to Feb 6, 0759z (CW), Feb 6, 0800z to Feb   
   6, 1559z (SSB), Feb 6, 1600z to Feb 6, 2359z (RTTY); CW, SSB, RTTY; Bands: 80,   
   40, 20, 15, 10m; RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: February 29.   
      
   10-10 Int. Winter Contest, SSB , Feb 6, 0001z to Feb 7, 2359z; Phone; Bands:   
   10m Only; 10-10 Member: Name + 10-10 number + (state/province/country),   
   Non-Member: Name + 0 + (state/province/country); Logs due: February 22.   
      
   Black Sea Cup International , Feb 6, 1200z to Feb 7, 1159z; CW, SSB; Bands:   
   160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; HQ: RS(T) + club/org abbreviation, Black Sea   
   Countries: RS(T) + ITU Zone No., BSCC Members: RS(T) + "BS" + club number,   
   Others: RS(T) + ITU Zone No.; Logs due: February 17.   
      
   F9AA Cup, CW , Feb 6, 1200z to Feb 7, 1200z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10,   
   2m; RST + Serial No. + License Type + (Country/F Dept); Logs due: March 8.   
      
   Minnesota QSO Party , Feb 6, 1400z to Feb 7, 0000z; CW (CW/RTTY/PSK), Phone   
   (FM/SSB); Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; MN: Name + County, W/VE: Name +   
   (state/province), DX: Name; Logs due: March 15.   
      
   FYBO Winter QRP Sprint , Feb 6, 1400z to Feb 7, 0000z; CW, SSB, Digital;   
   Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; RS(T) + (state/province/country)+ name +   
   power out + temperature(F); Logs due: March 7.   
      
   British Columbia QSO Party , Feb 6, 1600z to Feb 7, 0400z; CW, SSB, Digital;   
   Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; BC: RS(T) + District, non-BC: RS(T) +   
   (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: March 7.   
      
   AGCW Straight Key Party , Feb 6, 1600z to Feb 6, 1900z; CW; Bands: 40m Only;   
   AGCW: RST + Serial No. + "/" + Class + "/" + Name + "/" + Age; Logs due:   
   February 28.   
      
   FISTS Winter Slow Speed Sprint , Feb 6, 1700z to Feb 6, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80,   
   40, 20, 15, 10m; FISTS: RST + (state/province/country) + first name + FISTS   
   No., non-FISTS: RST + (state/province/country) + first name + power; Logs due:   
   March 8.   
      
   Mexico RTTY International Contest , Feb 6, 1800z to Feb 7, 1759z; RTTY Only;   
   Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; XE: RST + State, non-XE: RST + Serial No.; Logs   
   due: March 10.   
      
   North American Sprint, CW , Feb 7, 0000z to Feb 7, 0400z; CW; Bands: 80, 40,   
   20m; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name] + [your   
   state/province/country]; Logs due: February 14.   
      
   ARRL School Club Roundup , Feb 8, 1300z to Feb 12, 2359z; CW/RTTY/Digital,   
   Phone; Bands: All, except 60, 30, 17, 12m; RS(T) + Class (I/C/S) +   
   (state/province/country); Logs due: February 27.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt , Feb 10, 0200z to Feb 10, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: February 10.   
      
   Phone Fray , Feb 10, 0230z to Feb 10, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: February 12.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test , Feb 10, 1300z to Feb 10, 1400z, Feb 10, 1900z to Feb 10,   
   2000z, Feb 11, 0300z to Feb 11, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: February 14.   
      
   RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data , Feb 10, 2000z to Feb 10, 2130z; RTTY, PSK;   
   Bands: 80m Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: February 17.   
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   ARRL January VHF Contest , Jan 30, 1900z to Feb 1, 0359z; Any; Bands: 50 MHz   
   and up; 4-character grid square; Logs due: March 2.   
      
   See Winter Field Day, above.   
      
   See ARRL School Roundup, above.   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   January 28, 2016   
      
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
      
   January 29, 2016   
      
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  SKCC Sprint   
      
   January 30, 2016   
      
    *  Montana QSO Party   
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   January 31, 2016   
      
    *  NCCC Sprint Ladder   
    *  Original QRP Contest   
    *  RAC Winter Contest   
    *  AGCW Happy New Year Contest   
    *  BARTG RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  SARTG New Year RTTY Contest   
    *  Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party   
      
   February 1, 2016   
      
    *  International Naval Contest   
      
   February 2, 2016   
      
    *  Kid's Day Contest   
    *  ARRL RTTY Roundup   
      
   February 6, 2016   
      
    *  Feld Hell Sprint   
      
   February 8, 2016   
      
    *  EUCW 160m 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   
      
   ... Very good, Einstein, but next time show your work.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)