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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2016-02-24   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   February 24, 2016   
   Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG   
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
      
    *  New HF Operators: Check your Microphone Gain and Compression and more   
    *  Bulletins: The real Idaho QSO Party URL, WWROF Webinar   
    *  Contest Summary   
    *  News lead item: Proposed FCC Wi-Fi Rule Cited as Reason for Firmware   
       Lockdown, and more   
    *  Website of the week: The National Hearing Test   
    *  Word to the Wise: Gin Pole   
    *  Sights and Sounds: TO2A FD Style, GTA Tower Climbing Raccoon, and more   
    *  Results   
    *  Operating Tip: Logging Cut Numbers   
    *  Technical Topics and Information: Hard Drawn Copper Wire, Raspberry Pi   
       Camera, and more   
    *  Conversation: Known Unknowns   
    *  Contests in Detail   
    *  Log Due Dates   
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS -- THINGS TO DO   
      
   The ARRL DX Phone contest is coming up the weekend of March 5. The conditions   
   for the CW contest (just completed) were pretty darned good, and there will be   
   plenty of DX stations to work. Beforehand, how about checking your microphone   
   and compression levels of your transmit audio, to ensure that it's   
   accomplishing your goals? If you've changed headsets or microphones, if you've   
   changed your shack's acoustics, if you are using higher power than previously,   
   even if you've changed your power supply for your rig, you may need to adjust   
   the microphone gain levels and amount of compression that you're using, to   
   ensure minimum distortion and maximum effectiveness. Some rig manufacturers   
   supply detailed instructions on how to adjust their equipment, while others   
   leave you to fend for yourself. Jim Brown, K9YC, has written an article for   
   the March-April 2016 issue of NCJ entitled, "Clean, Punchy, Competitive   
   Contest Audio Without Splatter," which pretty much sums up everything that you   
   should hope to achieve. Additionally, AB4OJ/VA7OJ has a web page on the   
   general procedure to adjust for more "talk power" if you have a minimum of   
   test equipment -- a power meter and receiver.   
      
   February 27, the NAQP RTTY contest, will be a good bet for lots of contest   
   activity; also don't forget that the South Carolina and North Carolina QSO   
   Parties are on consecutive days that weekend.   
      
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   Idaho QSO Party Participants: The "Contest Corral -- March 2016" in the March   
   issue of QST contains an incorrect Sponsors Website listing for the Idaho QSO   
   Party. The correct listing is http://idahoarrl.info/qsoparty/rules.htm.   
      
   "High Performance RX Antennas for a Small Lot" by Jose "JC" Carlos, N4IS, will   
   be the topic of a webinar sponsored by the World Wide Radio Operators   
   Foundation. "JC will look at basic concepts of RX antennas and share his   
   experiences with low band RX antennas on a small lot, including the Waller   
   Flag." Date/Time: March 3, 9 PM EST (March 4 - 0200 UTC). Registration is   
   required. (Ken, K4ZW)   
      
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the "Conversation" section   
      
   February 25   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   February 26   
      
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  NCCC Sprint Ladder   
    *  CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB   
      
   February 27   
      
    *  REF Contest, SSB   
    *  UBA DX Contest, CW   
    *  South Carolina QSO Party   
    *  North American QSO Party, RTTY   
      
   February 28   
      
    *  High Speed Club CW Contest   
    *  SARL Digital Contest   
    *  North Carolina QSO Party   
      
   March 1   
      
    *  AGCW YL-CW Party   
      
   March 2   
      
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  UKEICC 80m Contest   
      
   March 3   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  NRAU 10m Activity Contest   
    *   
      
   March 4   
      
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
      
   March 5   
      
    *  ARRL International DX Contest, SSB   
    *  Wake-Up! QRP Sprint   
    *  Open Ukraine RTTY Championship   
      
   March 6   
      
    *  Open Ukraine RTTY Championship   
    *  UBA Spring Contest, CW   
    *  DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest   
    *  SARL Hamnet 40m Simulated Emergency Contest   
      
   March 7   
      
    *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data   
      
   March 8   
      
    *  ARS Spartan Sprint   
      
   March 9   
      
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  AWA John Rollins Memorial DX Contest   
      
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   Here's a fun and perhaps apocryphal story from some years ago of a surplus 6H6   
   being used for a critical system on a naval destroyer.   
      
   You may recall that in August, 2015, the FCC proposed a rule that would compel   
   manufacturers of Wi-Fi hardware to "demonstrate that the device contains   
   security features to prevent the loading of software that would allow the   
   radio to operate in violation of the Commission's rules." There are a number   
   of Amateur Radio projects like HSMM-Mesh that take advantage of off-the-shelf   
   Wi-Fi hardware in combination with project-specific firmware loaded on that   
   hardware. At the time of the proposed ruling, there was speculation that the   
   ruling could lead to manufacturers disallowing independent firmware usage so   
   that they would satisfy the rules, resulting in a chilling effect for any   
   projects that used independent firmware. The FCC later clarified what it   
   meant, due to a large amount of feedback.   
      
   Recently, TP-Link, a hardware vendor for Wi-Fi networking gear, started   
   preventing the installation of non-standard firmware on some of its devices,   
   stating it is due to the "FCC Regulations." That they are preventing upgrades   
   is factual, however attributing the actual reason to proposed FCC regulations   
   may just be convenient. There's not enough information to know for sure yet.   
   Some hardware vendors are conflicted about the usage of third-party firmware   
   for their products, as on the one hand it has the potential to sell more   
   hardware and make products more mainstream, while on the other hand, it can   
   relieve artificial firmware limitations intended to compel purchase of more   
   expensive products.   
      
   For more information on the evolving situation, try LibrePlanet.org, check out   
   the Slashdot discussion, and see the website http://www.SaveWifi.org (and   
   associated Save Wi-Fi 2 GoFundMe).   
      
   The N3FJP logging program is growing an API (Application Programming   
   Interface)! Starting in February 2016, functionality that will enable other   
   programs to "talk" to the N3FJP logging program will start to be incorporated   
   in the software. Initial functionality includes the ability to get/set text   
   entry fields, get/set the frequency, band, mode, log a contact, check for   
   dupes, and more. See the N3JFP website for more information.   
      
   Russian scientists are combining memristors to fashion neural networks,   
   realizing what has been described as a "Perceptron" by Marvin Minsky.   
   Memristors are relatively new, but it's their use in "neuromorphic networks"   
   that is novel. While a single-layer perceptron has been constructed, future   
   multi-layer perceptrons would find application in machine learning and machine   
   vision.   
      
   A typical member of the "Maker" movement has a lot of the same characteristics   
   of a typical Amateur Radio experimenter and builder -- including willingness   
   to build their own equipment and projects using what's on hand, or using what   
   can be gleaned from re-purposing other technology. Now, some makers are   
   discovering ham radio.   
      
   Website of the Week - - https://www.nationalhearingtest.org   
      
   The National Hearing Test is a scientifically validated means of testing for   
   hearing loss via telephone. Partially funded by the NIH, described in the   
   Washington Post, on NPR, and via the National Hearing Test web site, you can   
   use the results to determine whether or not it may be prudent to follow up   
   with an audiologist. The testing fee is $5, however if you are an AARP member,   
   you may be able to perform the test for free. The test itself uses spoken   
   numbers combined with varying amounts of noise -- something phone operators   
   should be familiar with.   
      
      
   WORD TO THE WISE-- Gin Pole   
      
   It's a device that is temporarily installed on a tower to lift tower sections,   
   masts, antennas, and other items. It typically consists of a pulley atop a   
   hollow pole. At the opposite end of the pole from the pulley is a clamp or   
   other device that allows attachment to the tower. A rope or cable goes from   
   the load, over the pulley, and through the pole. K7NV provides a nice diagram   
   of gin pole use on his website.   
      
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   Rich, N6KT, was TO2A in last fall's CQWW SSB 2015 Contest: "Many thanks to   
   FY5SE and FY5YR for their great assistance!" For the ARRL DX SSB, he's heading   
   to HK1NA.   
      
   A raccoon climbed nearly 700 feet up a Toronto tower, and then back down.   
   Unassisted. Social media has made the critter famous. Perhaps she can be   
   trained as a tower work assistant?   
      
   NASA has made a time-lapse movie of 1 year's observations from its Solar   
   Dynamics Observatory. Flares, ejections, its all here; each frame represents 2   
   hours in the life of the sun. If you have the capability to display it, you   
   can also download a 4K version (3840 x 2160 at 29.97 frames per second).   
   (Dennis, N6KI)   
      
   Don, N4KC, writes: "The movie Frequency, which, as you may recall, featured   
   Amateur Radio very prominently, is now being turned into a television series.   
   I wonder if this means we can add "decade" stickers to our DXCC certificates   
   when we work DX from the past and future! Or participate in the ARRL DX   
   Contest in, say, 1974..."   
      
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
   [N7VWH_WAE_RTTY_2015.jpg]   
      
   Dawn Hanner, N7VWH, was one of the operators at K7RI for the 2015 WAE RTTY   
   Contest. [Photo courtesy of Curt, WR5J]   
      
   Worked All Europe DX Contest (WAEDC) results are available for all modes.   
      
   This could also be a fine time to check out recent contest result postings at   
   3830scores.com.   
      
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   Convert those Cut Numbers   
      
   In the recent ARRL International DX Contest, some CW operators were sending   
   cut numbers, which are shorter letter abbreviations for numbers. For example,   
   for a power level of 99 watts, "NN" could be sent. For 100, "1TT", or even   
   "ATT". Before submitting your log, it's prudent to convert these to the   
   numeric equivalent. If a cut number is entered for the zone, your logging   
   progam may not even accept it.   
      
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   Hard-drawn copper wire has traditionally been used for some electrical   
   transmission line and antennas, where its greater tensile strength allows less   
   sag. It can be difficult to work with, and can be hard to find, though at   
   least one source has it in both stranded and solid. For long spans with   
   minimal sag, copper-coated steel may be a better choice.   
      
   Using a Raspberry Pi computer and some switchable filters, it's possible to   
   build a camera that allows one to view images captured using polarized light   
   (PDF). Polarized sunglasses can help you see fish through the glare reflecting   
   from water; using variations on this theme, it's possible to use this device   
   to detect man-made materials, chemical plumes, etc. The author of the paper is   
   N2QG.   
      
   Building antennas for higher frequencies may require bending aluminum rod. A   
   tool that you can build yourself may be helpful for consistent bends.   
      
   Foamed Copper may be a better heat conductor than solid, as it has greater   
   surface area for heat exchange. (Ward, N0AX)   
      
   Careful with those network-enabled devices! Make sure you know what you're   
   putting on the Internet.   
      
   Old-CPU nostalgia: One company has realized a pin-signal-level replacement for   
   an 8088 using an relatively inexpensive FPGA. Of course, other CPUs and even   
   whole computers have been re-implemented using FPGAs: 6502: Apple II FPGA,   
   generic 6502, or even a PDP-11.   
      
   Here are some techniques tempered with humor that you can use to get soldered   
   components off that PC board, provided by one of the principals at Elecraft.   
      
   Could you use a Bluetooth switch with your computer? It turns out that   
   under-$3 button hardware can link to your computer, emulating a keypress.   
   These could be handy for some uses in the shack.   
      
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   Known Unknowns   
      
   A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with a colleague about what it would   
   take to enable remote operation of our home stations so that we can use them   
   from anywhere. The conversation eventually turned to the nitty-gritty details   
   of how we could access our ham gear through our home network firewalls. My   
   colleague mentioned that he worked with someone that thought you "didn't have   
   to worry about using firewalls, because what is someone going to do anyway?"   
   Being involved in the computer industry, I was taken aback; I didn't have an   
   immediate answer to this, so alien was this opinion   
   to me. I couldn't say nothing. All I could muster at the time was. "I think   
   that's a really bad idea, there are all sorts of threats you are not aware   
   of," while thinking, "don't exchange any USB storage devices with THAT guy.   
   Remember to not open any of his e-mail attachments, either."   
      
   What would have been a more comprehensive response?   
      
   First, the answer to, "what is a bad guy going to do, anyway?" The smug but   
   accurate answer is, "anything they can." It's not just the good guys that read   
   about how the NSA exploits networks; the bad guys do too, and they write   
   automated tools to do their work. Initially, their army of script-driven robot   
   attackers look for network devices that are vulnerable to gain a toehold.   
   There are plenty of devices that are potentially vulnerable; there's even a   
   search engine that will help find them by the message they use to   
   self-identify. Some network routers, firewalls, and cable modems, have   
   vulnerabilities. Exploits and vulnerabilities are even bought and sold among   
   the black hats. All it takes is one device that's vulnerable, and some   
   unwanted software is running on that device making it capable of launching   
   attacks on all of the other devices on your network. Compromised computers   
   will be scanned for financial information; keystroke capture software may be   
   installed so everything that's typed gets sent somewhere for later analysis;   
   new root certificates may get installed, which will allow further nefarious   
   software to be installed when you browse the web. You could suddenly be be   
   locked out of all of your files, including your electronic logbook, or be   
   sending spam e-mail to all of your ham friends in your address book. You could   
   become an electronic pariah. The bad guys could also get access to whatever   
   devices are running your ham gear, but they'd likely prefer your bank accounts   
   and your identity information. Even if there are laws in place to protect you   
   financially from identity theft, it is a long and arduous process to put your   
   financial and virtual self back together. Security is all about cost-benefit   
   trade-offs -- you want to be as costly and difficult a target as possible for   
   a potential hacker. Understand and implement security practices that apply to   
   your situation. In general, protect yourself however you can. Use strong   
   passwords. Change default passwords. Keep your software and hardware up to   
   date. Scan for viruses and other malware. Back up your data. Use a firewall,   
   and don't open any more ports in your firewall than necessary.   
      
   See you in the NAQP RTTY?   
      
   73, Brian N9ADG   
      
   PS. Send your contest-related pictures, links, humor, press releases, and   
   comments to contest-update@arrl.org.   
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   25 Feb - 9 Mar   
      
   An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral in PDF format is   
   available. Check the sponsor's website for information on operating time   
   restrictions and other instructions.   
      
   HF CONTESTS   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Feb 24, 1300z to Feb 24, 1400z, Feb 24, 1900z to Feb 24,   
   2000z, Feb 25, 0300z to Feb 25, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: February 27.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, Feb 26, 0145z to Feb 26, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: February 28.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt, Feb 26, 0200z to Feb 26, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: February 27.   
      
   NCCC Sprint Ladder, Feb 26, 0230z to Feb 26, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40,   
   20, 15, 10, 6m; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: February 28.   
      
   CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB, Feb 26, 2200z to Feb 28, 2200z; SSB; Bands: 160m   
   Only; W/VE: RS + (state/province), DX: RS + CQ Zone; Logs due: March 4.   
      
   REF Contest, SSB, Feb 27, 0600z to Feb 28, 1800z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; French: RS + Department/Prefix, non-French: RS + Serial No.; Logs due:   
   March 15.   
      
   UBA DX Contest, CW, Feb 27, 1300z to Feb 28, 1300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; ON: RST + Serial No. + province, non-ON: RST + Serial No.; Logs due:   
   March 15.   
      
   South Carolina QSO Party, Feb 27, 1400z to Feb 28, 0059z; CW, Digital, Phone;   
   Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; SC: RS(T) + County, non-SC: RS(T) +   
   (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: March 29.   
      
   North American QSO Party, RTTY, Feb 27, 1800z to Feb 28, 0559z; RTTY; Bands:   
   80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs   
   due: March 6.   
      
   High Speed Club CW Contest, Feb 28, 0900z to Feb 28, 1100z, Feb 28, 1500z to   
   Feb 28, 1700z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; Members: RST + HSC No.,   
   non-Members: RST + "NM"; Logs due: March 20.   
      
   SARL Digital Contest, Feb 28, 1300z to Feb 28, 1600z; PSK, RTTY; Bands: 80,   
   40, 20m; RST + QSO No.; Logs due: March 6.   
      
   North Carolina QSO Party, Feb 28, 1500z to Feb 29, 0059z; CW, Phone, Digital;   
   Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2m; NC: County, non-NC: (state/pro   
   ince/country); Logs due: March 21.   
      
   AGCW YL-CW Party, Mar 1, 1900z to Mar 1, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; YL: RST +   
   Serial No. + "/YL/" + name, OM: RST + Serial No. + "/" + name; Logs due: March   
   31.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt, Mar 2, 0200z to Mar 2, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: March 3.   
      
   Phone Fray, Mar 2, 0230z to Mar 2, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: March 4.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Mar 2, 1300z to Mar 2, 1400z, Mar 2, 1900z to Mar 2,   
   2000z, Mar 3, 0300z to Mar 3, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: March 4.   
      
   UKEICC 80m Contest, Mar 2, 2000z to Mar 2, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only;   
   4-Character grid square; Logs due: March 2.   
      
   NRAU 10m Activity Contest, Mar 3, 1800z to Mar 3, 1900z (CW), Mar 3, 1900z to   
   Mar 3, 2000z (SSB), Mar 3, 2000z to Mar 3, 2100z (FM), Mar 3, 2100z to Mar 3,   
   2200z (Dig); CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10m Only; RS(T) + 6-character grid   
   square; Logs due: March 17.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, Mar 4, 0145z to Mar 4, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: March 6.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt, Mar 4, 0200z to Mar 4, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: March 5.   
      
   NCCC Sprint, Mar 4, 0230z to Mar 4, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No.   
   + Name + QTH; Logs due: March 6.   
      
   ARRL International DX Contest, SSB, Mar 5, 0000z to Mar 7, 0000z; SSB; Bands:   
   160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; W/VE: RS + (state/province), non-W/VE: RS + power;   
   Logs due: April 5.   
      
   Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, Mar 5, 0600z to Mar 5, 0629z, Mar 5, 0630z to Mar 5,   
   0659z, Mar 5, 0700z to Mar 5, 0729z, Mar 5, 0730z to Mar 5, 0800z; CW; Bands:   
   40, 20m; RST + Serial No. + suffix of previous QSO ("QRP" for 1st QSO); Logs   
   due: March 12.   
      
   Open Ukraine RTTY Championship, Mar 5, 1800z to Mar 5, 2059z (Low Band), Mar   
   5, 2100z to Mar 5, 2359z (Low Band), Mar 6, 0800z to Mar 6, 1059z (High Band),   
   Mar 6, 1100z to Mar 6, 1359z (High Band); RTTY; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; 2-letter regional abbrev. (state/province/canton, etc.) + Serial   
   No.(restart serial no. for high band); Logs due: March 21.   
      
   UBA Spring Contest, CW, Mar 6, 0700z to Mar 6, 1100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; ON:   
   RST + Serial No. + UBA Section, non-ON: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: March 20.   
      
   DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest, Mar 6, 1100z to Mar 6, 1700z; RTTY, Amtor,   
   Clover, PSK31, Pactor; Bands: 10m Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: March 21.   
      
   SARL Hamnet 40m Simulated Emerg Contest, Mar 6, 1200z to Mar 6, 1400z; SSB;   
   Bands: 40m Only; Class A: RS + Serial No. (starting with 201), Class B: RS +   
   Serial No. (starting with 401), Class C: RS + Serial No. (starting with 601),   
   Class D: RS + Serial No. (starting with 801), Non-participants: RS + Serial   
   No. (starting with 001); Logs due: March 13.   
      
   RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data, Mar 7, 2000z to Mar 7, 2130z; RTTY, PSK;   
   Bands: 80m Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: March 14.   
      
   ARS Spartan Sprint, Mar 8, 0200z to Mar 8, 0400z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: March 10.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt, Mar 9, 0200z to Mar 9, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: March 11.   
      
   Phone Fray, Mar 9, 0230z to Mar 9, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: March 11.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Mar 9, 1300z to Mar 9, 1400z, Mar 9, 1900z to Mar 9,   
   2000z, Mar 10, 0300z to Mar 10, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: March 12.   
      
   AWA John Rollins Memorial DX Contest, Mar 9, 2300z to Mar 10, 2300z, Mar 12,   
   2300z to Mar 13, 2300z; CW; Bands: 40, 20m; RST + Eqpt Type + Eqpt Year; Logs   
   due: April 10.   
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   See NCCC Sprint Ladder, North Carolina and South Carolina QSO Parties, above.   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   25 Feb - 9 Mar 2016   
      
   February 25, 2016   
      
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW   
      
   February 26, 2016   
      
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  Russian PSK WW Contest   
    *  SKCC Sprint   
      
   February 27, 2016   
      
    *  ARRL School Club Roundup   
    *  Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  SARL Youth Day Sprint   
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   February 28, 2016   
      
    *  NCCC Sprint Ladder   
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  AGCW Straight Key Party   
    *  PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint   
    *  Run for the Bacon QRP Contest   
      
   February 29, 2016   
      
    *  Triathlon DX Contest   
      
   March 1, 2016   
      
    *  Winter Field Day   
    *  OMISS QSO Party   
      
   March 2, 2016   
      
    *  ARRL January VHF Contest   
      
   March 4, 2016   
      
    *  YL-ISSB QSO Party, CW/SSB   
      
   March 6, 2016   
      
    *  YLRL YL-OM Contest   
      
   March 7, 2016   
      
    *  British Columbia QSO Party   
    *  FISTS Winter Slow Speed Sprint   
    *  FYBO Winter QRP Sprint   
    *  Vermont QSO Party   
      
   March 8, 2016   
      
    *  F9AA Cup, CW   
      
      
   ARRL Information   
      
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   ACKNOWLEDGMENTS   
      
   ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest   
   Calendar and SM3CER's Contest Calendar.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
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   year). ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their   
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   )\/(ark   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
      
   ... Before you can learn to be free you need to be free to learn...   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)