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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2016-05-18   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   May 18, 2016   
   Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG   
      
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
      
    *  New HF Operators: Dayton Activities via Remote, EU PSK, CQ WPX CW   
    *  Bulletins: Amateur Radio at IMS 2016   
    *  Contest Summary   
    *  News: Four Days In May, Dayton and more   
    *  Word to the Wise: UBN   
    *  Sights and Sounds: Drone Antenna Measurements, Spurious Emissions Band   
    *  Results: A Place to Hang your Clean Sweep Mug   
    *  Operating Tip: End your CQ with CQ   
    *  Technical Topics and Information: TeamViewer for Pi, Pi and Vacuum tube   
       Amp, and more   
    *  Conversation: Continuing Education   
    *  Contests   
    *  Log Due Dates   
      
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO   
      
   With all of the contest-related activities occurring at the Dayton Hamvention   
   during the weekend of May 21st, the US on-the-air contest calendar is sparse.   
   If you're not going to Ohio, why not "tune in" to some of the webcasts   
   emanating from the Dayton Hamvention? Besides the already-available   
   presentation by K3LR "Contest University and Dayton Contester Activity   
   Webinar" (courtesy of WWROF.org), W5KUB is going to have comprehensive Dayton   
   Coverage. Courtesy of Icom, certain sessions of 2016 Contest University will   
   be available via streaming. DARA, the Dayton Amateur Radio Association and   
   Hamvention sponsors, will also be streaming via the Internet. Check the   
   Hamvention Live Coverage page for the schedule. Ham Talk Live also has a   
   number of broadcasts scheduled from Dayton.   
      
   The EU PSK DX Contest on May 21st has distinct OM and YM multi-operator team   
   categories. According to the contest rules, YM denotes 'any operator under 18   
   years of age.'   
      
   The weekend of May 28th, the major contest will be the CQ WPX CW. As prefixes   
   are the multiplier, newly assigned calls can be an advantage. As always, it's   
   good to review the rules before the contest, and remember that this contest   
   also has overlay categories.   
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   CQ RF Professionals - the International Microwave Symposium (www.ims2016.org)   
   (May 23rd-27th) is calling - bring your QSL cards! We hope to see you (and   
   your QSL card) at the Ham Radio Social on Tuesday, May 24th, from 18:30 to   
   20:00 following the panel session "Using Amateur Radio to Enhance Engineering   
   Education" from 17:30 to 18:30. The panel session will be conducted in the   
   main conference area and the social will be held at the nearby San Francisco   
   Marriott at 780 Mission Street. Stop by the ARRL booth during the show to pick   
   up your "Ask Me About Amateur Radio" button or we will have some at the   
   social, as well. While you're there, we'd like your suggestions for   
   publicizing the opportunities and training Amateur Radio provides to STEM   
   students and educators. It will be good to have an "eyeball QSO!" (Ward, N0AX)   
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   Whew!   
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   May 19   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW   
      
   May 20   
      
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
    *  Slobozhansky Sprint Contest   
      
   May 21   
      
    *  UN DX Contest   
    *  NZART Sangster Shield Contest   
    *  Aegean RTTY Contest   
    *  His Maj. King of Spain Contest, CW   
    *  EU PSK DX Contest   
    *  Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  Baltic Contest   
      
   May 22   
      
    *  NZART Sangster Shield Contest   
      
   May 25   
      
    *  SKCC Sprint   
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   May 26   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   May 27   
      
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
      
   May 28   
      
    *  CQ WW WPX Contest, CW   
    *  Portuguese Navy Day Contest, Digital   
      
   May 29   
      
    *  SARL Digital Contest   
      
   June 1   
      
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   FDIM, or Four Days In May, is an annual event in Dayton, Ohio, concurrent with   
   the Dayton Hamvention, sponsored by the QRP Amateur Radio Club International   
   and focused on, as you might imagine, all things QRP. Now in its twentieth   
   year, activities include QRP-oriented seminars during the day on Thursday, a   
   free-to-all Thursday evening "Vendor Night" at the host hotel, the Holiday   
   Inn, Fairborn. Friday features a buildathon and homebrew competition in the   
   afternoon and evening after ample time to visit the Hamvention during the day.   
   Check the website for more information as well as the ticket availability for   
   paid events.   
      
   The Northern Ohio DX Association invites all Contesters and DXers to attend   
   their hospitality suite at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Dayton, Ohio, Thursday   
   through Saturday evenings during the Dayton Hamvention. You can enjoy munchies   
   and beverages while visiting with members and friends of the NODXA as the   
   hospitality suite itself celebrates a 20-year milestone. (Ohio/Penn DX   
   Bulletin)   
      
   Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur, an operating guide   
   written by John, ON4UN, and Mark, ON4WW, is now in the custodianship of the   
   IARU. The PDF booklet is available in over 25 different languages, and a   
   PowerPoint presentation suitable for club meetings is also available in three   
   languages. (Kip, W6SZN via WWDXC reflector)   
      
   RTTY contesters at Dayton will be gathering for a RTTY Contest Dinner on   
   Thursday evening, May 19th. On Saturday, May 21st, one place they'll likely   
   find them is at the RTTY Contesting Forum, 10:30-11:45 AM, room 3, Hara Arena.   
   (Ed, W0YK, via RTTY Reflector)   
      
   Jim George, N3BB, the author of Contact Sport, will be signing copies of his   
   book at the Dayton Hamvention. You can find him at his own booth at the Arena,   
   or at the Contest Dinner.   
      
   DX Engineering has announced the acquisition of Clifton Laboratories, and   
   intends to continue manufacturing their branded products. According to a press   
   release sent out by DX Engineering, "Each item's part number, design specs,   
   and impeccable quality remains the same--it will just be built by DX   
   Engineering and carry the DX Engineering name. DX Engineering is also   
   committed to offering parts and tech support for owners of Clifton   
   Laboratories' legacy products." The full line of Clifton Laboratories products   
   will be in production and available at DX Engineering by mid-summer 2016.   
      
   DX Engineering has also acquired TW Antennas, continuing the availability of   
   the TransWorld Antenna. The TransWorld Antenna appeals to those desiring   
   portable HF capability, but with durability suitable for a permanent   
   installation.   
      
   Jim West "accidentally" co-invented the electret microphone in 1964, with the   
   first models commercially made available in 1968. Today over two billion are   
   produced annually. He continues to contribute as a professor of both   
   Mechanical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering at Johns   
   Hopkins' Whiting School of Engineering. (Bill, K2PO)   
      
   The annual Dayton Contest Dinner has sold out, for the first time ever!   
   Courtesy of Icom, you can also stream Saturday's Contest Dinner keynote   
   featuring John Crovelli, W2GD, beginning at 2230 UTC. Contest University for   
   2016 has also sold out. Don't forget that some Contest University sessions   
   will be streamed via the Internet.   
      
   The ARRL NW Division Convention in Seaside, Oregon, June 3rd-5th, features at   
   least two seminars which may be of interest to younger hams, or their parents:   
   "Show Me the Money! Scholarship Opportunity for Hams" by N7XBY, and "How to   
   get Youth involved in Amateur Radio" by K7APS.   
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   UBN - Usually used in the context of "UBN Report," it stands for Unique, Bad,   
   Not-in-log, the categories into which contacts are sorted during the log   
   scoring process when they cannot be confirmed by other logs. For example, if   
   WX7XX is in my log, but nobody else in the contest worked WX7XX (and WX7XX   
   doesn't submit a log for scoring), that contact will be classified as   
   "Unique." "Bad" contacts are mistakes made in making the contact, including   
   miscopied calls or exchanges. "NILs" are contacts reported in your log, but   
   the station you (believe) you have worked doesn't have your contact in their   
   log. How the contacts in these categories affect your score depends on the   
   rules for that particular contest.   
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   At the recent International DX Convention in Visalia, CA. N6BT's Next   
   Generation Antennas displayed this whimsical antenna in the shape of a   
   flamingo, as well as a drone Tom uses for antenna measurements. The flamingo   
   design is a follow-on to the FP-1 sun flower sculpture HF antenna. Both   
   designs have been used for Field Day.   
      
   After their successful run at the Palace Hotel Ballroom, The Spurious   
   Emissions Band will be playing in the Presidential Ballroom, Crowne Plaza   
   Hotel, Dayton, Ohio, for one night only: Friday, May 20th, 2016, 10 PM.   
      
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   Ward, N0AX, opines that a "top gun Sweepstakes operator" must live here. (Tom,   
   K1KI, via Ward, N0AX)   
      
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   Encourage search-and-pounce operators to call you more quickly by including a   
   trailing CQ in your RTTY CQ message. If an operator is tuning up or down the   
   band, and they encounter your CQ message, they'll know they can call you if   
   they copy your call and 'CQ'. For example, if my CQ message is "CQ BARTG N9ADG   
   N9ADG CQ," an operator tuning the band and landing on my frequency between my   
   two callsigns will know they can call me immediately. Without the trailing CQ,   
   they would copy just my callsign, not knowing would have to wait for my next   
   CQ. If I take too long to send the CQ message, or if the S&Per is impatient,   
   they might just move along. Adding CQ to your 'thank you' message may achieve   
   a similar effect.   
      
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   TeamViewer, the remote desktop and control software, has found wide   
   applicability in a number of amateur applications for remote control,   
   monitoring, and plain convenience. It's free for personal, non-commercial use.   
   Mark, K6UFO points out that TeamViewer Host is now available for the Raspberry   
   Pi. "This should have some great uses for control across the internet of   
   individual equipment, special projects, stations, etc." After installing   
   TeamViewer host on a Raspberry Pi 2 or Raspberry Pi 3, that device can be   
   controlled by any other device running TeamViewer. (Mark, K6UFO)   
      
   A Kickstarter Project that combines the Raspberry Pi AND vacuum tube   
   technology? This design is for a tube audio amplifier. Thinking about it a   
   different way, who's going to do a single tube transceiver that uses a   
   Raspberry Pi (or other single board computer) for the bulk of the signal chain   
   functions, and a tube for the RF PA and vintage feel? (Elektor.com newsletter)   
      
   During the recent IDXC event, I spoke with a few amateurs who were attempting   
   to get their remote contest sites on the Internet via wireless. Here's an EDN   
   article on one person's journey to decipher the various router Wi-Fi settings   
   necessary to get their outbuilding better connected.   
      
   John, W7FU, will be focusing on SDR in his two presentations at the ARRL NW   
   Division Convention at Seaside, Oregon, June 3rd-5th. The first seminar,   
   entitled "Ham Friendly DSP", illustrates the open source, graphically based   
   computer software used for the SDR. The second seminar, entitled "VHF, UHF,   
   Microwave SDR transceiver", will focus on the hardware and RF aspects of his   
   50 MHz through 6 GHz transceiver.   
      
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   Continuing Education   
      
   As many others are doing right now, I'm looking forward to heading to Dayton   
   for the annual Hamvention. Despite earning a '9' call in the early 80s while   
   living in Illinois, I'd never been to Hamvention until about six years ago, so   
   I don't have first hand experience of what everyone tells me that I missed --   
   the heyday of the outdoor flea market. I've only known the Hara-based event as   
   about what it is today, give or take six years.   
      
   A big part of what I look forward to in attending the Hamvention is a way to   
   stave off complacency in my skills and understanding of the hobby. In being   
   able to stop by the vendor booths and talk with the people behind a new   
   product, I seem to always find something interesting that I can use in the   
   shack. I'm also inspired by the drive and grit it took for these folks to take   
   risks, do something different, manufacture something new, and be willing to   
   talk about it.   
      
   Attending a few of the various meetings and fora helps me understand   
   unfamiliar topics and see what other hams are interested in, as measured by   
   audience engagement and room capacity. My perception is that some of the best   
   information emerges from an engaged audience's questions and feedback.   
      
   The constellation of contest-focused events which occurs seven miles away at   
   the Crowne Plaza in downtown Dayton complements the activities at the   
   Hamvention. In it's 24th year, the upstart Contest Dinner has sprouted it's   
   own ecosystem of hospitality suites and activities, and is now flanked by   
   Contest University and Topband Dinner.   
      
   I'll be attending Thursday's Contest University. I hope to pick up new ideas   
   from "MultiOperator Hints and Kinks" by W3LPL, go outside my comfort zone in   
   "Improving Single Operator 2 Radio (SO2R) Techniques" by N2NT, and keep up to   
   date with "The Advantages of Waterfall Displays for Contesting and DXing" by   
   N6TV, while being able to rub elbows with other attendees I've met or will be   
   meeting during contests. Because this fall's N9ADG has to be better than last   
   year's N9ADG.   
      
   That's all for this time. Remember to send contesting related stories,   
   pictures of flea market finds, new product sightings, book reviews, tips,   
   techniques, press releases, errata, schematics, club information, pictures,   
   stories, blog links, predictions, and field day recipes to conte   
   t-update@arrl.org   
      
   73, Brian N9ADG   
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   18 May - 1 Jun 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, May 18, 1300z to May 18, 1400z, May 18, 1900z to May 18,   
   2000z, May 19, 0300z to May 19, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: May 21.   
      
   RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW, May 19, 1900z to May 19, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80m   
   Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: May 26.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, May 20, 0145z to May 20, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: May 22.   
      
   NCCC Sprint, May 20, 0230z to May 20, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial   
   No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: May 22.   
      
   Slobozhansky Sprint Contest, May 20, 1800z to May 20, 1959z (SSB), May 20,   
   2000z to May 20, 2159z (CW); CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80m; Serial No. +   
   Administrative District (URDA,RDA,province,state); Logs due: June 10.   
      
   UN DX Contest, May 21, 0600z to May 21, 2100z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; Kazakhstan: RS(T) + District Code, non-Kazakhstan: RS(T) + QSO No.; Logs   
   due: June 5.   
      
   NZART Sangster Shield Contest, May 21, 0800z to May 21, 1100z, May 22, 0800z   
   to May 22, 1100z; CW; Bands: 80m Only; ZL: RST + Serial No. + Branch No.,   
   non-ZL: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: June 18.   
      
   Aegean RTTY Contest, May 21, 1200z to May 22, 1200z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20,   
   15, 10m; RST + QSO No.; Logs due: June 15.   
      
   His Maj. King of Spain Contest, CW, May 21, 1200z to May 22, 1200z; CW; Bands:   
   160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; EA: RST + province, non-EA: RST + Serial No.; Logs   
   due: June 6.   
      
   EU PSK DX Contest, May 21, 1200z to May 22, 1200z; BPSK63; Bands: 80, 40, 20,   
   15, 10m; EU: RST + EU area code, non-EU: RST + QSO No.; Logs due: May 27.   
      
   Feld Hell Sprint, May 21, 1600z to May 21, 1759z, May 21, 2000z to May 21,   
   2159z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; (see rules); Logs due:   
   May 25.   
      
   Baltic Contest, May 21, 2100z to May 22, 0200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80m Only;   
   RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: June 10.   
      
   SKCC Sprint, May 25, 0000z to May 25, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./power); Logs due: May   
   27.   
      
   Phone Fray, May 25, 0230z to May 25, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: May 27.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, May 25, 1300z to May 25, 1400z, May 25, 1900z to May 25,   
   2000z, May 26, 0300z to May 26, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: May 28.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, May 27, 0145z to May 27, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: May 29.   
      
   NCCC Sprint, May 27, 0230z to May 27, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial   
   No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: May 29.   
      
   CQ WW WPX Contest, CW, May 28, 0000z to May 29, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40,   
   20, 15, 10m; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: June 3.   
      
   Portuguese Navy Day Contest, Digital, May 28, 0800z to May 28, 2359z; Digital;   
   Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; NRA Club: Member No. + CQ Zone, non-member: QSO   
   No. + CQ Zone; Logs due: June 17.   
      
   SARL Digital Contest, May 29, 1300z to May 29, 1600z; PSK, RTTY; Bands: 80,   
   40, 20m; RST + QSO No.; Logs due: June 5.   
      
   Phone Fray, Jun 1, 0230z to Jun 1, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Jun 1.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Jun 1, 1300z to Jun 1, 1400z, Jun 1, 1900z to Jun 1,   
   2000z, Jun 2, 0300z to Jun 2, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: Jun 4.   
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   See Feld Hell Sprint, above.   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   May 19, 2016   
      
    *  NRAU 10m Activity Contest   
      
   May 20, 2016   
      
    *  AGCW QRP/QRP Party   
    *  Phone Fray   
      
   May 21, 2016   
      
    *  Microwave Spring Sprint   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   May 22, 2016   
      
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
    *  Run for the Bacon QRP Contest   
      
   May 23, 2016   
      
    *  10-10 Int. Spring Contest, CW   
      
   May 26, 2016   
      
    *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW   
      
   May 28, 2016   
      
    *  50 MHz Spring Sprint   
    *  Arkansas QSO Party   
      
   May 31, 2016   
      
    *  Holyland DX Contest   
    *  MIE 33 Contest   
    *  VOLTA WW RTTY Contest   
      
   June 1, 2016   
      
    *  Indiana QSO Party   
    *  SBMS 2.3 GHz and Up Contest and Club Challenge   
    *  QRP to the Field   
      
      
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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   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
      
   ... I know the runny green stuff's potato. What's the black gravel?   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)