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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2016-06-29   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   June 29, 2016   
   Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG   
      
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
    *  New HF Operators: RAC Canada Day, Slow Speed Sprint, IARU Contest   
    *  Bulletins: IOTA Contest Information   
    *  Contest Summary:   
    *  News: Rotator Controllers, Antenna Switches, IARU HQ Station Lists, Ham   
       Garage, and more   
    *  Word to the Wise: Pack Roving   
    *  Sights and Sounds: Vintage Field Day, W3LPL Tower   
    *  Results: Minor Article Updates, WRTC Qualifications   
    *  Operating Tip: Shorter CQs   
    *  Technical Topics and Information: Antenna Switches, Mumble Servers,   
       Wireless Test Equipment and more   
    *  Conversation: Building on LOTW   
    *  Contests   
    *  Log Due Dates   
      
      
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO   
      
   This Thursday evening to Friday evening in the US time zones, there will be   
   plenty of activity in the RAC Canada Day contest. Commemorating Canada's   
   Confederation, CW and phone modes are encouraged, including AM and FM on bands   
   where appropriate. Check out the 2016 rules, then plan your operation. For   
   four hours on Friday evening, you can work on your CW in the FISTS Slow-speed   
   Sprint. Speeds 13 WPM and slower are encouraged, and a log submission could   
   earn you a prize. As July 2 and 3 is Independence Day weekend, the domestic   
   contest calendar is otherwise light.   
      
   The weekend of July 9 and 10, the IARU HF Championship contest will be prime.   
   CW and Phone can be used, singly or mixed, depending on your entry category.   
   Remember that if you're entering multi in this contest, only one transmitted   
   signal is allowed at a time. IARU Headquarter stations, ITU zones, and certain   
   IARU personnel are multipliers.   
      
   For a downloadable list of the 2016 IARU Headquarter stations, see the item in   
   the News section below.   
      
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   NG3K requests that if you're participating in the RSGB IOTA 2016 contest using   
   a special call sign, or will be fielding a DXpedition, to please provide this   
   information to his website, so that it can be announced to the IOTA list.   
      
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   Jonesy, W3DHJ, noted that I typo'd Radio in the last issue, but was kind   
   enough to leave open the possibility that I meant "Whirling" in Malagasy.   
      
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   June 30   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   July 1   
      
    *  RAC Canada Day Contest   
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
      
   July 2   
      
    *  Venezuelan Independence Day Contest   
    *  FISTS Summer Slow Speed Sprint   
    *  DL-DX RTTY Contest   
    *  Marconi Memorial HF Contest   
    *  Original QRP Contest   
    *  PODXS 070 Club 40m Firecracker Sprint   
      
   July 3   
      
    *  DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest   
      
   July 4   
      
    *  10-10 Int. Spirit of 76 QSO Party   
    *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW   
      
   July 5   
      
    *  ARS Spartan Sprint   
      
   July 6   
      
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   July 7   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  NRAU 10m Activity Contest   
      
   July 8   
      
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
      
   July 9   
      
    *  FISTS Summer Sprint   
    *  SKCC Weekend Sprintathon   
    *  IARU HF World Championship   
      
   July 10   
      
    *  CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush   
      
   July 13   
      
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB   
      
      
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   If you're participating in the IARU Contest July 9 and 10, you can find a list   
   of IARU headquarter stations compiled and publicized by Joe, OZ0J and Bob,   
   N6TV. At the time of this writing, the link still points to 2015 stations. It   
   will be updated with 2016 information in the next few days. Make sure that you   
   download the most up to date version just before contest start, as changes are   
   likely.   
      
   Array Solutions has announced two new products that may be useful in an   
   automated contest station. The RA-S1 Universal Digital Rotator controller   
   claims manual or automatic control of nearly any rotator brand and model.   
   Manual positioning is possible via knob and button, and it can also be   
   controlled via the popular Yaesu G232A protocol through the built-in serial or   
   USB port. The RAM-34 Pre-amplifier system is designed to make operation on 160   
   meters through 40 meters easier, more reliable, and more controllable by   
   combining switching, filtering, preamplification, and attenuation   
   functions into one unit. Settings can be kept per-band, and functionality is   
   also controllable via the Shacklan network interface.   
      
   Imagine if you could drop by the shacks, or garages, of some amateur radio   
   operators that are specialists in a particular area, for example contesting,   
   of VHF/UHF operation, and you could ask them anything you like. This is the   
   concept behind the monthly paid website QSOTodayCommunity.com. Randy, K5ZD, is   
   currently taking contest-related questions.   
      
   Scientists have found bacteria that directly live off of electricity. They   
   were found by looking in locations that are rich in minerals, but poor in   
   typical bacterial foodstuffs, for example a gold mine. Now, if we can just get   
   them to copy CW!   
      
   Scott, N3FJP, announces the availability of Amateur Contact Log 5.6, as well   
   as updates to all his contest logging programs. The list of new features and   
   capabilities is long, and includes improvements in API functionality and the   
   sharing of CW sending between applications. Of particular note to contesters   
   is Scott's explanation of his change of opinion on call history databases,   
   resulting in implementation of call history functions. You can read all about   
   it in his announcement.   
      
   Bizarre lightning phenomena have occasionally been described in discussions   
   involving antennas, towers, and grounding. One type is 'ball lightning' which   
   generally describes an observation of a spherical glowing shape of light   
   associated with traditional lightning conditions. Hypotheses have been   
   developed that link the cause of ball lighting to plasmas or clouds of very   
   small particles, and a new article in Nature proposes that ball lightning   
   consists of confined bubble of intense microwave radiation. If ball lightning   
   is explained by this theory, protecting against it would present challenges   
   beyond those of conventional lightning. Ball lightning has been observed to   
   pass through glass, form inside of closed rooms, or inside of metal-skinned   
   aircraft. Additional protective measures would be necessary to deal with any   
   strong microwave component.   
      
   Bob, K8IA, analyzed the values of the exchange used by operators he worked in   
   the recent All Asian DX CW Contest. As this number is supposed to be the age   
   of the operator, it appears to mirror the operator age demographics noted by   
   the CQ WW Contest survey.   
      
   The Potomac Valley Radio Club (PVRC) recently received an ARRL Certificate of   
   Merit for Outstanding Service to the Amateur Radio Community. ARRL Section   
   Manager Marty Pittinger, KB3MXM, presented the award to PVRC President Bud,   
   W3LL, with Tom Abernethy, W3TOM, ARRL Atlantic Division Director in attendance.   
      
   Dave, K1NYK, enjoyed the positive tone in the recent ARS Technica article on   
   Amateur Radio, which likened characteristics of our community to members of   
   the Maker movement.   
      
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   Pack Roving   
      
   Pack Roving is a technique that mobile or portable VHF/UHF contest stations   
   use to take advantage of particular multiplier scoring rules in a contest. It   
   involves multiple rover stations moving in concert and making contacts with   
   one another while visiting new grid squares. Depending on a particular   
   contest's rules, if four rovers each visit a different grid square, work each   
   other, then change position to a new grid square six times, each rover could   
   earn six multipliers plus eighteen contacts per band. Some contests also count   
   grid square visits as a multiplier. As rovers are often equipped with multiple   
   bands, scores can add up quickly. Roving techniques and contest rules have   
   co-evolved through the years. The Southern California Contest Club has used   
   this technique with great success, and N6NB's roving website provides some   
   historical perspective.   
      
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   Eric, NO3M, built a replica 1930's era transmitter from scratch for 2016 field   
   day, and was using it under the call W8CDX. Featuring a four-tube exciter and   
   203A amplifier stage, he eventually achieved over 100 watts output. One cannot   
   help thinking that we take modern gear too much for granted as he describes   
   using hand capacitance to zero-beat the transmitter to the stations worked.   
   Eric's article includes links to additional pictures, and WA3TTS's video of   
   the transmitter in operation. Eric and friends had such a blast that they're   
   going to be adding 20 and 80 meters next year, and operate the entire weekend.   
      
   This is a sight you do NOT want to see. Frank, W3LPL, experienced an EF0   
   tornado on June 21, which caused the failure of this 200-foot AB-105 tower.   
   Frank intends to have its replacement in the air by the fall.   
      
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   The 2015 ARRL RTTY Roundup and 2015 ARRL 10 meter Full Results articles had   
   minor changes which are now reflected on the website.   
      
   New scores have been incorporated into the qualification standings for   
   WRTC-2018. IARU Region 1 Field Day scores have been taken into account.   
      
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   Shorten your CQs   
      
   Under most circumstances, keep your CQs brief. Any potential callers are going   
   to tune to your frequency, hear your CQ message, and decide whether to call   
   you based on how workable you are. Workability is subjective. Unless you're a   
   multiplier or valuable in points, potential callers probably won't hang around   
   for slow or sloppy sending, or anything that indicates the potential to waste   
   time, like a long CQ. Time is rate, after all. There are times to have a   
   longer CQ, such as when you need to get spotted by the RBN, or when on RTTY   
   using 75 WPM Baudot and the short CQ message time may be too short to allow   
   callers to get zero beat.   
      
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   RemoteQTH.com has a new modular antenna switch kit that could be useful in   
   your station-building activities. By combining multiple modules, it can scale   
   in the number of antennas or in the number of transceiver to what the   
   application requires.   
      
   Trung, W6TN, details how a Mumble server can be set up to serve audio from a   
   remote radio, in the context of accessing a remote Elecraft KX3 from a mobile   
   phone. A Mumble audio server could be a component you need for your remote   
   station.   
      
   Adding wireless network capability to some of our serial-attached contest gear   
   is easier with inexpensive chips like the ESP8266. There's a wealth of   
   information now available on how to utilize this chip, and one person went so   
   far as to WiFi enable his Fluke Multimeter.   
      
   With 6-26 MHz coverage, Tim, K3HX, suggests with tongue firmly in cheek that   
   one of these 200-ton monster antennas (PDF) would make for a memorable 2017   
   Field Day.   
      
   The Senior Director of Audio Engineering for NPR suggested a method for not   
   allowing changes to certain microphone settings: using epoxy to make the   
   setting permanent. The complete interview also discusses other details which   
   broadcasters are concerned about in a 'commercial' environment.   
      
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   Building on LOTW   
      
   Here's something I've not heard lately with regards to ARRL Logbook of the   
   World (LOTW) usage: "It's too hard to set up and use." Sure, there were   
   teething pains. In those early days, some of the concepts and details needed   
   to set up and maintain the chain of trust for QSO confirmations were new and   
   unfamiliar. My perception in speaking with other hams is the complaints have   
   diminished as LOTW utility and benefits have become apparent.   
      
   Most of us didn't realize it at the time, but amateurs were on the cutting   
   edge of technology when we used LOTW, as the procedures LOTW uses for signing   
   and uploading are essentially the same thing that many people now casually use   
   years later for electronic signing of documents.   
      
   Perhaps the earliest enthusiastic contest supporters of LOTW were RTTY   
   operators. In the first few years of LOTW operation, I recall being very   
   impressed that a double-digit percentage of my ARRL RTTY Roundup QSOs were   
   confirmed when I uploaded my log five hours after the contest ended.   
      
   The LOTW log submission process has been made even easier over time by the   
   excellent built-in support of logging programs. Whether in batches or   
   contact-by-contact, it's become nearly effortless to get contacts into LOTW   
   once the setup has been done in your logging program.   
      
   With millions of confirmed QSOs now in the LOTW database, we're beginning to   
   see non-ARRL entities using LOTW information as the 'ground truth' for   
   certificates and achievements. They're doing so by using LOTW's programming   
   interfaces with appropriate credentials to 'view' QSO information.   
      
   One example of this is Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC)'s WRTC-2018 Worked   
   WRTC Qualification Regions Award, which for the years 2015, 2016, and upcoming   
   2017 recognizes confirmed contacts with the 29 WRTC Qualification Regions.   
   Rather than requiring what could be tedious record keeping, uploading, and   
   submission, by allowing the DARC Community Logbook site to access your LOTW   
   records the process is streamlined, as LOTW is directly queried for qualifying   
   contacts.   
      
      
   Anticipating the future, I hope we see a substantial number of 3rd party   
   applications or contests-within-a-contests built to use LOTW data and   
   programming interfaces, and the signup for those applications simplified to   
   the point that we can access those applications with just a few clicks.   
      
   That's all for this time. Remember to send contesting related stories, book   
   reviews, tips, techniques, press releases, errata, schematics, club   
   information, pictures, stories, blog links, predictions, and radio-related   
   jokes to contest-update@arrl.org   
      
   73, Brian N9ADG   
      
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   30 Jun - 13 Jul 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, Jun 30, 0300z to Jun 30, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40,   
   20, 15, 10m; Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (stat   
   /province/country); Logs due: July 2.   
      
   RAC Canada Day Contest, Jul 1, 0000z to Jul 1, 2359z; CW, Phone; Bands: 160,   
   80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2m; VE: RS(T) + province/territory, non-VE: RS(T) +   
   Serial No.; Logs due: July 31.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, Jul 1, 0145z to Jul 1, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: July 3.   
      
   NCCC Sprint, Jul 1, 0230z to Jul 1, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No.   
   + Name + QTH; Logs due: July 3.   
      
   Venezuelan Independence Day Contest, Jul 2, 0000z to Jul 3, 2359z; CW, SSB,   
   PSK; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: July 31.   
      
   FISTS Summer Slow Speed Sprint, Jul 2, 0000z to Jul 2, 0400z; 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:   
   August 1.   
      
   DL-DX RTTY Contest, Jul 2, 1100z to Jul 3, 1059z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; RST + QSO No.; Logs due: July 10.   
      
   Marconi Memorial HF Contest, Jul 2, 1400z to Jul 3, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80,   
   40, 20, 15, 10m; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: July 17.   
      
   Original QRP Contest, Jul 2, 1500z to Jul 3, 1500z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20m;   
   RST + Serial No. + "/" + Power category; Logs due: July 31.   
      
   PODXS 070 Club 40m Firecracker Sprint, Jul 2, 2000z to Jul 3, 2000z; PSK31;   
   Bands: 40m Only; RST + (state/province/country); Logs due: July 16.   
      
   DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest, Jul 3, 1100z to Jul 3, 1700z; RTTY, Amtor,   
   Clover, PSK31, Pactor; Bands: 10m Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: July 18.   
      
   10-10 Int. Spirit of 76 QSO Party, Jul 4, 0001z to Jul 11, 0000z; CW, SSB,   
   PSK31, RTTY, FM, AM; Bands: 10m Only; 10-10 Member: Name + 10-10 number +   
   (state/province/country), Non-Member: Name + 0 + (state/province/country);   
   Logs due: July 25.   
      
   RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW, Jul 4, 1900z to Jul 4, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80m   
   Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: July 11.   
      
   ARS Spartan Sprint, Jul 5, 0100z to Jul 5, 0300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: July 7.   
      
   Phone Fray, Jul 6, 0230z to Jul 6, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: July 8.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Jul 6, 1300z to Jul 6, 1400z, Jul 6, 1900z to Jul 6,   
   2000z, Jul 7, 0300z to Jul 7, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: July 9.   
      
   NRAU 10m Activity Contest, Jul 7, 1700z to Jul 7, 1800z (CW), Jul 7, 1800z to   
   Jul 7, 1900z (SSB), Jul 7, 1900z to Jul 7, 2000z (FM), Jul 7, 2000z to Jul 7,   
   2100z (Dig); CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10m Only; RS(T) + 6-character grid   
   square; Logs due: July 21.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, Jul 8, 0145z to Jul 8, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: July 10.   
      
   NCCC Sprint, Jul 8, 0230z to Jul 8, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No.   
   + Name + QTH; Logs due: July 10.   
      
   FISTS Summer Sprint, Jul 9, 0000z to Jul 9, 0400z; 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:   
   August 8.   
      
   SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Jul 9, 1200z to Jul 11, 0000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80,   
   40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE");   
   Logs due: July 17.   
      
   IARU HF World Championship, Jul 9, 1200z to Jul 10, 1200z; CW, Phone; Bands:   
   160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; IARU HQ: RS(T) + IARU Society, Non-HQ: RS(T) + ITU   
   Zone No.; Logs due: August 9.   
      
   CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush, Jul 10, 2000z to Jul 10, 2159z; CW; Bands: 20m   
   Only; RST + (state/province/country) + class + (member no./power output); Logs   
   due: August 9.   
      
   Phone Fray, Jul 13, 0230z to Jul 13, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: July 15.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Jul 13, 1300z to Jul 13, 1400z, Jul 13, 1900z to Jul 13,   
   2000z, Jul 14, 0300z to Jul 14, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: July 16.   
      
   RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB, Jul 13, 1900z to Jul 13, 2030z; SSB; Bands:   
   80m Only; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: July 14.   
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   See SKCC Weekend Sprintathon and RAC Canada Day events, above   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   June 30, 2016   
      
    *  MARAC USA QSO Party   
    *  IARU Region 1 Field Day, CW   
    *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB   
      
   July 1, 2016   
      
    *  UKSMG Summer Contest   
    *  VK Shires Contest   
    *  Phone Fray   
      
   July 3, 2016   
      
    *  IARU Region 1 50 MHz Contest   
    *  SEANET Contest   
      
   July 4, 2016   
      
    *  Stew Perry Topband Challenge   
    *  AGCW VHF/UHF Contest   
    *  Alabama QSO Party   
    *  Ukrainian DX Classic RTTY Contest   
      
   July 6, 2016   
      
    *  West Virginia QSO Party   
      
   July 10, 2016   
      
    *  WAB 50 MHz Phone   
      
   July 11, 2016   
      
    *  His Majesty King of Spain Contest, SSB   
      
   July 12, 2016   
      
    *  REF DDFM 6m Contest   
      
   July 13, 2016   
      
    *  ARRL June VHF 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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