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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2016-06-15   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   June 15, 2016   
   Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG   
      
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
      
    *  New HF Operators: Magic and Top Band Contests, Field Day, and more   
    *  Bulletins: Contest Update Survey, ARRL Field Day Map   
    *  Contest Summary   
    *  News: IDXC will have Contest Academy in 2017, Human Power, and more   
    *  Word to the Wise: BIC   
    *  Sights and Sounds: VPN for Remote Instructional videos, 2016 Contest   
       Dinner Pictures, TV Tower Drone Film, and more   
    *  Results & Records: ARRL 10 Meter Contest, USA ARDF Championships, and   
       more   
    *  Operating Tip: Getting Spotted by the RBN   
    *  Technical Topics and Information: Vacuum tubes and silicon, TAPR 20m TX,   
       SDR Dongles for Satellites   
    *  Conversation:   
    *  Contests   
    *  Log Due Dates   
      
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS -- THINGS TO DO   
      
   During the upcoming weekend there are contests spanning the range from 160   
   meters to 6 meters and above. The Magic Band and Top Band provide difficult   
   challenges, but for different reasons. Though not traditionally the season for   
   it in the northern hemisphere, the summer Stew Perry Top Band Distance   
   Challenge (TBDC) will be exciting the ionosphere between 1.8 and 2.0 MHz. In   
   addition to domestic contacts, there could be opportunities to work southern   
   hemisphere stations if the conditions are right and your station is capable,   
   as TBDC entrants are encouraged to spend extra time pulling out weak ones   
   because of their potential LP and QRP bonus points. If you've not tried 160   
   meters before, remember that success on this band is greatly affected by   
   electrical storm noise, RFI from electrical devices of all sorts, and the   
   ability of stations to have effective signals due to the required antenna   
   sizes. These reasons, combined with fewer hours of darkness, make each Q on   
   this band at this time of year all the more precious.   
      
   Six meters isn't technically HF, but with the memorable DX openings last   
   weekend in the ARRL VHF contest, it may pay to be there if the band is open   
   next weekend. Long-haul ionospheric contacts on 6 meters are influenced by the   
   capriciousness of atmospheric electron densities, combined with having your   
   antennas pointed in the right direction at the right time. The SMIRK Contest   
   is on June 19. If you'd like to play, make sure you're aware of the 6 meter   
   band plan. It's possible to work intercontintental DX on 6, and it's more   
   efficient if everyone cooperates by using the "DX Window" as it's intended.   
      
   For even more QSO opportunities, the West Virginia QSO Party and ARRL Kids Day   
   Contest activities will also be taking place the weekend of June 19. Kids Day   
   is an opportunity to share your enthusiasm for operating with younger friends   
   or family members by helping them to make contacts on their air. The   
   "suggested" exchange is name, age, location, and favorite color, but those are   
   just suggestions. The point is to provide a fun and positive experience.   
      
   The weekend of June 25 is domestically given over to the ARRL Field Day Event.   
   Almost as a reflex, you'll hear "But it's not a contest" spoken as an apology,   
   a lament, and a mantra. Field Day experiences are shaped by the participants,   
   and can be as "contesty" or as casual as you'd like. Regardless of the   
   seriousness of the effort, the event is an opportunity to maintain good   
   operating habits, and learn from other operators. If you want to participate   
   in a group or club's Field Day effort, you can find a Field Day operation on   
   the ARRL website.   
      
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   Many of your fellow readers have already taken the Contest Update Survey, but   
   we'd still like YOUR input! What would you like to see more of in the Contest   
   Update? How can we improve? How can we serve you better? Please take a moment   
   to fill out a brief reader survey. Your comments are also always welcome at   
   any time via e-mail to contest-update@arrl.org. Thanks!   
      
   Is your club or organization putting on a public Field Day event? Don't forget   
   to add it to the ARRL field day locator website.   
      
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   None were detected!   
      
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   June 16   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   June 17   
      
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
      
   June 18   
      
    *  All Asian DX Contest, CW   
    *  SMIRK Contest   
    *  Ukrainian DX Classic RTTY Contest   
    *  IARU Region 1 50 MHz Contest   
    *  AGCW VHF/UHF Contest   
    *  Stew Perry Topband Challenge   
    *  West Virginia QSO Party   
    *  Kids Day Contest   
    *  Feld Hell Sprint   
      
   June 19   
      
    *  WAB 50 MHz Phone   
      
   June 20   
      
    *  Run for the Bacon QRP Contest   
      
   June 22   
      
    *  SKCC Sprint   
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   June 23   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  NAQCC CW Sprint   
    *  RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship, SSB   
      
   June 24   
      
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
      
   June 25   
      
    *  Ukrainian DX DIGI Contest   
    *  His Maj. King of Spain Contest, SSB   
    *  ARRL Field Day   
      
   June 29   
      
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   The International DX Convention in Visalia, California, will expand its 2017   
   program by providing a full set of seminars on Friday, April 21. This is in   
   addition to the concurrent Contest Academy and DX University tracks offered on   
   that day. Hotel reservations for the IDXC will open on June 15, 2016.   
      
   The US Army and Marines are looking into using human-generated power for the   
   increasing technology carried by soldiers. By utilizing knee joint motion, 10   
   to 12 W of power can be harvested. Perhaps Amateur Tadio operators interested   
   in portable or SOTA-type operations will also have this option in the future.   
      
   While touchscreens are a relatively new innovation for ham gear, consumer   
   electronics have deployed hundreds of millions of them in all sorts of   
   devices. Next year, Samsung may ship a cellular phone with a non-planar, or   
   maybe even bendable, display. The technology could enable nearly any surface   
   shape to also be a touchscreen.   
      
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   "BIC" - Butt In Chair   
   You can't be making contest QSOs if you're not in front of the radio. Some   
   hams are able to do 48 hours straight without a break. Nevertheless, it's   
   considered more healthy to move around at periodic intervals.   
      
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   Jan-Eric, SM3CER maintains the SM3CER Contest Calendar, but took time away to   
   attended the International DX Convention in Visalia, California in 2016.   
      
   K9ZW, a FlexRadio and FlexRadio Maestro owner, is using Raspberry Pi hardware   
   and SoftEther VPN Software for a remote station. By accessing his remote   
   station using a VPN, he is able to avoid firewall tunneling and a number of   
   other issues. For setup, he followed a two-part YouTube video posted by K6OZY.   
   This same technology could also be used in conjunction with other remote   
   hardware to sidestep firewall configuration issues.   
      
   Bob, N6TV, has shared his photos taken during the 2016 Contest Dinner in   
   Dayton, Ohio. W2GD was the featured speaker at the event, where Rich, KL7RA   
   (SK), and Tod, K0TO, were inducted into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame.   
      
   One of the 2016 New York City Drone Film Festival's official selections is a   
   2-minute video of a climber on a 1500 foot TV tower. The video was shot in   
   South Dakota on a clear fall day.   
      
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   The full results article for the ARRL 10 Meter Contest is now available. Over   
   4100 logs were submitted for the 43rd running of the contest!   
      
   The 2016 Amateur Radio Direction Finding USA National Championships were held   
   in Killeen, Texas in April 2016. The complete results are available on the   
   Texas ARDF website.   
      
   Results of the South Carolina QSO Party have been posted on the SCQP website.   
   Two hundred forty-five logs were received, the highest number so far. The 2017   
   SCQP will occur on February 25, 2017.   
      
   From some of the ARRL June VHF Contest soapbox reports on 3830scores.com, it   
   appears many parts of the US had wonderful 6 meter sporadic E propagation last   
   weekend.   
      
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   Getting Spotted by the Reverse Beacon Network   
      
   If you want to have big scores, you know it's "all about that rate," and   
   you're going to have to run a frequency. It's important that you maintain a   
   consistent stream of "assisted" callers to feed your rate, and one of the ways   
   to do that is to maximize your potential to be spotted. One way to get spotted   
   is to be heard by the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN). The RBN works by scanning   
   the bands looking for stations transmitting "CQ-like" messages. To get   
   spotted, it's key to have your CQ message be on that the RBN network will   
   recognize. A message like "CQ TEST N9ADG" is one format that can work, with   
   two caveats: All parts of the message should be sent at a consistent speed,   
   with proper spacing between elements, and the message should be sent twice,   
   although a recent test showed that I was able to get spotted by sending my   
   call just once. If your favorite CQ message isn't one that is compatible with   
   RBN, you might want to have an additional RBN-friendly message that you send   
   periodically. To see stations spotting you in real time, try the URL   
   http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=0&c=YOURCALL&t=dx   
      
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   A hybrid of silicon wafer and vacuum tube technology may allow electronics to   
   continue to shrink. While the ever-diminishing physical size of conventional   
   silicon wafer devices increases the potential for leakage via quantum   
   tunneling, vacuum technology exploits the same effect for faster switching.   
   This research is sponsored by Boeing.   
      
   Titanium Dioxide, a chemical typically known for its use as a component of   
   paint pigment, is being used to make high-resolution lenses. The method of   
   their construction is novel, akin to the way that silicon wafers are   
   fabricated. In some anticipated uses, focus would be achieved by computation   
   instead of physical movement. Researchers are also examining the potential to   
   electrically tune parameters of the lenses, which can modulate optical   
   transmission.   
      
   TAPR has had a Raspberry Pi shield available for 20 meter WSPR use for a   
   while. This is a complete WSPR transmitter, including low-pass filter, on a   
   single board. What you may not know is that the board is not confined to just   
   WSPR modes. With suitable software, CW, SSB, SSTV, and other modes can be used   
   with the hardware.   
      
   SDR "dongles" continue to be used as building blocks for experimentation and   
   utility, such as receivers for the Reverse Beacon Network. In a recent blog   
   article, GOMX-3 satellite data is decoded using Gnu Radio by some enthusiasts   
   including some Amateur Radio operators. The GOMX-3 satellite's mission is to   
   collect ADS-B transmissions over portions of the globe not covered by   
   terrestrial receivers for retransmission to ground stations. For even more SDR   
   inspiration, the RTL-SDR website provides a wide range of information.   
      
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   Thank You   
      
   If you have an opportunity to participate in a club Field Day effort this   
   year, take a moment to look around and see if you can identify those   
   individuals that are making it happen. They volunteered to contribute their   
   time and effort to make and be a part of something larger and different than   
   just "1D." If you are so inclined, you might even look for somewhere to jump   
   in and help. Maybe there's a job that would be easier with a second person.   
   Whether it's helping to pull stations from a pileup, or filling in for someone   
   who called in sick, extra hands are always useful at events that require a lot   
   of logistics.   
      
   Clubs with strong records of successful events realize that official   
   recognition of consistent contribution is key to staying strong, and   
   developing new volunteers. For example, in the Western Washington DX Club,   
   there are a number of awards presented annually for service to the club. The   
   "Most Valuable Player" is awarded to the "member whose service to the club   
   over time has been invaluable, allowing the club to succeed on the air and in   
   club activities. They're always working to get the job done and make things   
   run smoothly for the rest of us. Not only that, they display the kind of   
   public, on-the-air behavior and qualities that put us all in a good light."   
   The general membership is polled for their nominations for the award, and the   
   awards are made at the annual holiday dinner meeting.   
      
   While volunteers do it for their own reasons, it's never wrong to simply say,   
   one way or another, "Thank you for helping make this possible." It's always   
   appreciated.   
      
   That's all for this time. Remember to complete the Contest Update reader   
   survey, and send contesting related stories, flea market pictures, book   
   reviews, tips, techniques, press releases, errata, schematics, club   
   information, pictures, stories, blog links, predictions, and Field Day horror   
   stories to contest-update@arrl.org   
      
   73, Brian N9ADG   
      
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   16 Jun - 29 Jun 2016   
      
   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, Jun 15, 1300z to Jun 15, 1400z, Jun 15, 1900z to Jun 15,   
   2000z, Jun 16, 0300z to Jun 16, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: June 18.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, Jun 17, 0145z to Jun 17, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: June 19.   
      
   NCCC Sprint, Jun 17, 0230z to Jun 17, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial   
   No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: June 19.   
      
   All Asian DX Contest, CW, Jun 18, 0000z to Jun 20, 0000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80,   
   40, 20, 15, 10m; RST + 2-digit age; Logs due: July 20.   
      
   Ukrainian DX Classic RTTY Contest, Jun 18, 1200z to Jun 19, 1159z; RTTY;   
   Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; Ukraine: RST + 2-letter oblast, non-Ukraine: RST +   
   Serial No.; Logs due: July 4.   
      
   Stew Perry Topband Challenge, Jun 18, 1500z to Jun 19, 1500z; CW; Bands: 160m   
   Only; 4-Character grid square; Logs due: July 4.   
      
   West Virginia QSO Party, Jun 18, 1600z to Jun 19, 0200z; CW, SSB, Digital;   
   Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; WV: RS(T) + county, non-WV: RS(T) +    
   state/province/country); Logs due: July 6.   
      
   Kid's Day Contest, Jun 18, 1800z to Jun 18, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 17,   
   15, 12, 10, 2m repeaters; name + age + QTH + favorite color; Logs due: July 18.   
      
   Feld Hell Sprint, Jun 18, 2000z to Jun 18, 2159z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80,   
   40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; (see rules); Logs due: June 22.   
      
   Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, Jun 20, 0100z to Jun 20, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160,   
   80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs   
   due: June 26.   
      
   SKCC Sprint, Jun 22, 0000z to Jun 22, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./power); Logs due: June   
   24.   
      
   Phone Fray, Jun 22, 0230z to Jun 22, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: June 24.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Jun 22, 1300z to Jun 22, 1400z, Jun 22, 1900z to Jun 22,   
   2000z, Jun 23, 0300z to Jun 23, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: June 25.   
      
   NAQCC CW Sprint, Jun 23, 0030z to Jun 23, 0230z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20m; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: June 25.   
      
   RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB, Jun 23, 1900z to Jun 23, 2030z; SSB; Bands:   
   80m Only; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: June 30.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, Jun 24, 0145z to Jun 24, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: June 26.   
      
   NCCC Sprint, Jun 24, 0230z to Jun 24, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial   
   No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: June 26.   
      
   Ukrainian DX DIGI Contest, Jun 25, 1200z to Jun 26, 1200z; RTTY, PSK63; Bands:   
   80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; UR: RST + 2-letter Oblast, non-UR: RST + QSO No.; Logs   
   due: July 26.   
      
   His Maj. King of Spain Contest, SSB, Jun 25, 1200z to Jun 26, 1200z; SSB;   
   Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; EA: RS + province, non-EA: RS + Serial No.;   
   Logs due: July 11.   
      
   ARRL Field Day, Jun 25, 1800z to Jun 26, 2100z; All; Bands: All, except 30,   
   17, 12m; W/VE: Number of transmitters (see rules) + Operating class + ARRL/RAC   
   section, DX: Number of transmitters (see rules) + Operating class + "DX"; Logs   
   due: July 26.   
      
   Phone Fray, Jun 29, 0230z to Jun 29, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: July 1.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Jun 29, 1300z to Jun 29, 1400z, Jun 29, 1900z to Jun 29,   
   2000z, Jun 30, 0300z to Jun 30, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: July 2.   
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   SMIRK Contest, Jun 18, 0000z to Jun 20, 0000z; CW, Phone; Bands: 6m Only;   
   SMIRK No. (optional) + 4-character grid square; Logs due: August 15.   
      
   IARU Region 1 50 MHz Contest, Jun 18, 1400z to Jun 19, 1400z; CW, SSB; Bands:   
   6m Only; RS(T) + QSO No. + locator; Logs due: July 3.   
      
   AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, Jun 18, 1400z to Jun 18, 1700z (144), Jun 18, 1700z to   
   Jun 18, 1800z (432); CW; Bands: 144 MHz, 432 MHz; RST + "/" + Serial No. + "/"   
   Power class + "/" + 6-character grid locator; Logs due: July 4.   
      
   WAB 50 MHz Phone, Jun 19, 0900z to Jun 19, 1500z; SSB; Bands: 6m Only; British   
   Isles: RS + serial no. + WAB square, Other: RS + serial no. + country; Logs   
   due: July 10.   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   June 16, 2016   
      
    *  NRAU 10 Meter Activity Contest   
      
   June 17, 2016   
      
    *  Portuguese Navy Day Contest   
    *  Portuguese Navy Day Contest, Digital   
    *  Phone Fray   
      
   June 18, 2016   
      
    *  NZART Sangster Shield Contest   
    *  Asia-Pacific Sprint, SSB   
    *  HA3NS Sprint Memorial Contest   
    *  PVRC Reunion   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  NAQCC CW Sprint   
      
   June 19, 2016   
      
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
    *  DRCG WW RTTY Contest   
    *  SKCC Weekend Sprintathon   
      
   June 20, 2016   
      
    *  10-10 Int. Open Season PSK Contest   
      
   June 22, 2016   
      
    *  RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship, CW   
      
      
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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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