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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2016-07-13   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   July 13, 2016   
   Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG   
      
      
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
      
    *  New HF Operators: NAQP RTTY   
    *  Bulletins: HS to be active on 6 Meters in upcoming CQWW VHF   
    *  Contest Summary   
    *  News: CQWW Contest Names KR2Q as Director, Grid Pirates, AES-HRO   
       agreement, and more   
    *  Word to the Wise: Cabrillo Pronunciation   
    *  Sights and Sounds: Giants From the Past, W1AW/9 in IARU, and more   
    *  Results: January ARRL VHF, Revision to ARRL 10m Affiliated Club Results,   
       and more   
    *  Operating Tip: It's All About that Rate, for Webinars, Too   
    *  Technical Topics and Information: Big Antennas, Antenna Analyzer Tunes   
       Traps, and more   
    *  Conversation: Radiosport GO   
    *  Contests   
    *  Log Due Dates   
      
      
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS -- THINGS TO DO   
      
   In the upcoming weekend, the NAQP RTTY will have a lot of activity. With a   
   12-hour period, and 100 W power limitation, it's a recipe for a bunch of   
   contacts, and an opportunity to try running or putting together a multi-op.   
   NAQP has a multi-two category, and with the propagation we've had recently it   
   may be possible to be on all of the bands that are open, simultaneously.   
      
      
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   Charly, HS0HCW, has obtained special permission from the Thailand authorities   
   to operate on six meters for the upcoming contest only. Contact him to suggest   
   when there may be a path to HS from your location, using CW, SSB, or RTTY.   
      
      
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   QRU   
      
      
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   July 14   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   July 15   
      
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
      
   July 16   
      
    *  Russian Radio Team Championship   
    *  Trans-Tasman Low-Bands Challenge   
    *  DMC RTTY Contest   
    *  Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  CQ Worldwide VHF Contest   
    *  North American QSO Party, RTTY   
      
   July 17   
      
    *  RSGB Low Power Contest   
      
   July 18   
      
    *  Run for the Bacon QRP Contest   
      
   July 20   
      
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   July 21   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  NAQCC CW Sprint   
    *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data   
      
   July 22   
      
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
      
   July 23   
      
    *  SA Sprint Contest   
      
   July 27   
      
    *  SKCC Sprint   
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
      
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   Doug, KR2Q, has been named Director of the CQ WW DX Contest. Doug is no   
   stranger to the workings of the contest, having been on CQWW Contest Committee   
   since 1979. He is well positioned to consider all of the contest   
   constituencies, having operated at one time or another in all entry   
   categories. Congratulations, Doug!   
      
   Andy, K1RA, compiled an exhaustive report on the Grid Pirates K8GP/R rover   
   operation that took place in the 2016 ARRL June VHF Contest. Terry, W8ZN, and   
   Andy, K1RA, visited five grids, K8GP claiming 838 contacts. Their web report   
   covers their preparation and operation in detail, including pictures, video   
   and audio of some of the memorable DX contacts, as well as a post-contest   
   analysis. (Rich, K1HTV)   
      
   You've likely heard that Amateur Electronic Supply is closing all operations   
   as July 28, after 59 years in business. On July 12, Ham Radio Outlet announced   
   that they have concluded successful discussions to hire a number of AES   
   personnel to staff HRO locations, and furthermore will remodel and reopen the   
   largest North American retail amateur radio showroom in Milwaukee in August,   
   2016. Current AES phone numbers and web addresses will be handled by HRO after   
   July 28.   
      
   Something to contemplate while CQing into a closed band: Researchers think   
   that fiddler crabs attract mates by generating vibrations akin to sending   
   Morse code. The characteristics of their code sending can indicate their size   
   and stamina. (Brian, K1BRF)   
      
      
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   Cabrillo   
      
   Tomahhhhhto, Tomayyyyto, Cabrilloe, Cabreeyo. Just what is the pronunciation   
   of that format for our contest log submissions? This is directly from Trey   
   Garlough, N5KO:   
      
   "Juan Rodr¡guez Cabrillo (Joao Rodrigues Cabrilho) is said to be the first   
   European to navigate the coast of modern day California. Both the Spanish and   
   the Portuguese claim him, so there is no one single correct answer to this   
   question.   
      
   Based on usage that I am exposed to both inside and outside of ham radio,   
   kuh-BREE-yo wins by a 10-to-1 margin, or more, over other variations.   
      
   Not definitive, but hopefully 'good enough' for your purposes. 73!"   
      
      
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   The World Wide Radio Operator Foundation has re-uploaded the webinar "When   
   Giants First Walked the Bands," which is a look back by Doug, KR2Q, of CQWW   
   contest multi-multi operations from 1959 to 1986.   
      
   The 2016 Dayton Contest University videos and slides are now available on the   
   Contest University website, along with some recently posted videos from 2015.   
   The 2016 content may be choppy in some spots -- there was an issue in   
   recording them. The Contest Dinner website has been updated to reflect past   
   speakers and programs, as well as the Contest Hall of Fame. Planning ahead?   
   The Contest Super Suite website has been updated to reflect the dates for 2017.   
      
   Also hot out of Dayton are the Spurious Emissions Band 2016 videos. You may   
   have your own bootlegs on your cellphone, but Bob, N6TV, was plugged into the   
   soundboard.   
      
   Did you work W1AW/9 in IARU last weekend? W1AW/9 was comprised of the phone   
   operation at WB9Z/NV9L, with CW at K9CT. In the IARU contest, headquarters   
   stations are permitted one transmitted signal per band mode, meaning that it's   
   possible to field multi-multi efforts on each mode. Headquarters stations must   
   be in the same zone, so there's flexibility as to where they're deployed.   
   W1AW/9 probably didn't have much inter-mode interference on any band, with   
   about 100 miles of separation between the two operating locations. Both   
   stations live-posted their scores to cqcontest.net, to goad each other to   
   higher scores during the 24-hour period.   
      
   The phone station also livestreamed to Facebook and Periscope. According to   
   Craig, K9CT, "The CW team operated on as many bands as there were open using   
   one transmitter per band. However, there were times where 20 and 40 had many   
   callers and we would change to use an assist station on each band with a   
   transmit interlock. Then we could work multipliers and interleave other   
   stations S&P while the other was running."   
      
      
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   The full results article for the ARRL January VHF Contest has been posted to   
   the ARRL website. The number of logs submitted was about the same as last   
   year, with the Mt. Airy VHF Radio Club having the highest number of submitted   
   logs in the Affiliated Club Competition. Seventy logs were attributed to their   
   members.   
      
   Following the 2015 ARRL 10 Meter Contest, the Medium Category Club Competition   
   was reviewed by the ARRL Contest Branch and adjustments based on member   
   eligibility were made to several club totals. The updated Full Results has   
   been posted to the ARRL website.   
      
   This is a good time to remind everyone that Club Competition rules require   
   clubs to meet specific criteria and provide certain information for each   
   contest. These are defined in section 8 of the General Rules for All ARRL   
   Contests. For example,   
      
    *  Clubs must be ARRL Affiliated, meeting all membership requirements;   
    *  Clubs must specify their club territory circle center or ARRL section   
       for each contest (or a default for all contests);   
    *  Clubs must submit a list of eligible members to the ARRL within 30 days   
       after each contest they enter.   
      
   Please help your club leadership ensure that membership rosters are current --   
   including station locations -- and that the information is submitted in a   
   timely fashion.   
      
   As a matter of fairness to all participating clubs, the ARRL Contest Branch   
   will begin working more closely with clubs to help them meet the rules of the   
   Affiliated Club Competition.   
      
      
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   Speed Watching Webinars   
      
   When watching contest webinars or other video, you can usually speed watch by   
   increasing the video playback speed. This can be a great way to do more   
   viewing in less time -- a rate enhancer for sure! The option for increasing   
   the video speed is generally located under the video settings options.   
      
      
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   Tom, K5RC, has been orchestrating the construction and installation of new 80   
   meter beams at the Comstock Memorial Station, W7RN. It is a big, big project.   
   Some details: The 80 meter beam antenna sports 91-foot elements, weighs 600   
   pounds, and has a 75 foot boom. Force 12 assembled the elements. A 200-foot   
   crane was used to place the antennas onto the monopoles. Many people have been   
   involved in this project, and on installation day, the crew consisted of K7NV,   
   K6NV, KH2TJ, XE2K, K6NA, K6DGW, K5XI, and of course K5RC. Tom has photos on   
   the W7RN website, and HD drone video was captured by AA7XT. You can get a   
   sense of the size of the antenna in this video of the tips being installed.   
   Hector, XE2K, had the task of affixing the antenna to the tower, and he's   
   pictured at the top in the video. He also has an album of photos from the   
   event.   
      
   Elektor has updated its 2007 SDR receiver in the new form of an Arduino   
   shield. The claimed range is from 150 KHz to 160 MHz. A video has been posted   
   of the board in action, used with SDR-Sharp, decoding SSB and CW signals on 40   
   meters. It appears the Arduino assumes the role of the USB interface in the   
   original design, and that I-Q outputs are still processed by a PC.   
      
   In the January VHF Contest results, letters were used to denote the band   
   capabilities of each station. The "P" designator is for light communications.   
   The Internet of Things (IOT) Industry is now considering using light instead   
   of RF for communications for data transmission between devices to avoid RF   
   congestion.   
      
   Larry, N6NC, suggests a method for using an antenna analyzer to determine the   
   resonant frequency of an antenna trap. As a parallel L-C circuit, he found   
   inductive coupling to be necessary: "Wind 8 turns of #14 AWG wire at one wire   
   diameter spacing around a 3/8" to 1/2" diameter tube or dowel. Solder the coil   
   to a PL-259 or BNC connector, and cover it with heat shrink tubing. When   
   plugged into an analyzer, and inserted into the trap, the analyzer will act as   
   a grid dip meter using the analyzer's SWR meter." Dave, KG0ZZ, has a YouTube   
   video illustrating how to perform this measurement.   
      
      
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   Radiosport GO   
      
   When talking about growing radio contesting and engaging youth, computer games   
   are often mentioned as having the mindshare that we wish our hobby had. Over   
   the last few days, you may have heard of Pok‚mon GO, a new game that is a   
   variation of an old card collecting game that has rapidly captured the   
   interest of gamers of every age. It's a big deal, and getting bigger. From   
   July 5th to July 8th, the percentage of the 90+ million Android phone users in   
   the US playing this game went from zero to five percent. In just four days.   
   While we were participating in the IARU contest over the weekend, the game   
   gained hundreds of thousands of users. Its daily usage is already approaching   
   that of Twitter. It's an opportunity to watch a phenomenon happening right in   
   front of us.   
      
   To play, you must install the application on your smartphone. The application   
   doesn't come with instructions or have any manuals. It's free to play. You   
   have to either experiment with the application to figure it out, or find a   
   mentor who has used it before. The premise is that you start with nothing, and   
   advance in the game by collecting, developing, or winning Pok‚mon characters,   
   which you can find by walking around outdoors and consulting the game   
   application.   
      
   What makes this game so appealing? One of Pok‚mon GO's innovations is that the   
   Pok‚mon world is an overlay to our real world, with your phone showing you   
   Pok‚mon that exist at particular places. You can visit new places to find   
   particularly rare Pok‚mon. Another innovation is, that travelling at   
   human-powered speeds by walking or biking in the physical world can reward the   
   player with additional Pok‚mon opportunities. Once you have gained experience,   
   you can also join a team or battle other players in particular places to   
   achieve higher status and more Pok‚mon.   
      
   Pok‚mon GO has recaptured the interest of many previous Pok‚mon players who   
   thought themselves too old to be playing Pok‚mon. Anecdotal information   
   indicates that nostalgia for past Pok‚mon fun, combined with the perceived   
   virtuosity of walking or running to find characters makes it okay to play   
   again as an adult. Of course, there are already reports of people cheating by   
   driving in cars, flying drones, or using other techniques that are viewed as   
   unethical.   
      
   Aspects of the game have analogues in our hobby -- we generally start with no   
   experience, and then learn by doing, sometimes with the help of a mentor. We   
   might always be on the quest for our next DX entity, or that next multiplier.   
   We develop skills that allow us to best other players in pileups or in   
   contests. We can compete by travelling to particular locations that give us an   
   advantage, like grids, mountaintops, or rare multipliers. We can compete   
   singly, but we can also team to achieve. Also similar -- the original Pok‚mon   
   was viewed as "moribund" until the new GO version appeared. Pok‚mon has   
   reinvented itself through use of technology and modern engagement metaphors.   
   Pok‚mon is not just a card game anymore. Some new players will never touch a   
   card.   
      
   Radio contesters have continuously drawn upon new technology and techniques to   
   compete more effectively. That contest sponsors in general don't offer modern   
   features like on-demand contests, instantaneous and continuous scoring, and   
   faster turnaround of contest results makes us appear quaint. But will it still   
   be radio contesting if players of the future don't have to physically touch a   
   radio?   
      
   That's all for this time. Remember to send contesting related stories, flea   
   market pictures, book reviews, tips, techniques, press releases, errata,   
   schematics, club information, pictures, stories, blog links, and predictions   
   to contest-update@arrl.org.   
      
   73, Brian N9ADG   
      
      
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   14 Jul - 27 Jul 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, Jul 14, 0300z to Jul 14, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40,   
   20, 15, 10m; Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (stat   
   /province/country); Logs due: July 16.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt, Jul 15, 0100z to Jul 15, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: July 16.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, Jul 15, 0145z to Jul 15, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: July 17.   
      
   NCCC Sprint, Jul 15, 0230z to Jul 15, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial   
   No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: July 17.   
      
   Russian Radio Team Championship, Jul 16, 0700z to Jul 16, 1459z; CW, SSB;   
   Bands: 40, 20, 15, 10m; RRTC: RS(T) + 3-character code, Non-RRTC: RS(T) + ITU   
   Zone No.; Logs due: July 16.   
      
   Trans-Tasman Low-Bands Challenge, Jul 16, 0800z to Jul 16, 1400z; CW, Phone,   
   Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40m; RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: July 23.   
      
   DMC RTTY Contest, Jul 16, 1200z to Jul 17, 1200z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: August 17.   
      
   Feld Hell Sprint, Jul 16, 1400z to Jul 16, 1759z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80,   
   40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; (see rules); Logs due: July 20.   
      
   North American QSO Party, RTTY, Jul 16, 1800z to Jul 17, 0559z; RTTY; Bands:   
   80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs   
   due: July 24.   
      
   RSGB Low Power Contest, Jul 17, 0900z to Jul 17, 1200z, Jul 17, 1300z to Jul   
   17, 1600z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20m; RST + Serial No. + Power; Logs due: July 25.   
      
   Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, Jul 18, 0100z to Jul 18, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160,   
   80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs   
   due: July 24.   
      
   Phone Fray, Jul 20, 0230z to Jul 20, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: July 22.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Jul 20, 1300z to Jul 20, 1400z, Jul 20, 1900z to Jul 20,   
   2000z, Jul 21, 0300z to Jul 21, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: July 23.   
      
   NAQCC CW Sprint, Jul 21, 0030z to Jul 21, 0230z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20m; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: July 24.   
      
   RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data, Jul 21, 1900z to Jul 21, 2030z; RTTY, PSK;   
   Bands: 80m Only; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: July 28.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt, Jul 22, 0100z to Jul 22, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: July 23.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, Jul 22, 0145z to Jul 22, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: July 24.   
      
   NCCC Sprint, Jul 22, 0230z to Jul 22, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial   
   No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: July 24.   
      
   SA Sprint Contest, Jul 23, 2100z to Jul 23, 2300z; CW, SSB; Bands: 40, 20m;   
   RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: July 29.   
      
   SKCC Sprint, Jul 27, 0000z to Jul 27, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./power); Logs due: July   
   29.   
      
   Phone Fray, Jul 27, 0230z to Jul 27, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: July 29.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Jul 27, 1300z to Jul 27, 1400z, Jul 27, 1900z to Jul 27,   
   2000z, Jul 28, 0300z to Jul 28, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: July 30.   
      
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   CQ Worldwide VHF Contest, Jul 16, 1800z to Jul 17, 2100z; Any Mode; Bands: 6,   
   2m; 4-character grid square; Logs due: July 31.   
      
   Also, see the Feld Hell Sprint, above   
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   July 15, 2016   
      
    *  Phone Fray   
      
   July 16, 2016   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   July 17, 2016   
      
    *  SKCC Weekend Sprintathon   
    *  Marconi Memorial HF Contest   
      
   July 18, 2016   
      
    *  Kid's Day Contest   
    *  DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest   
      
   July 19, 2016   
      
    *  ARR BPSK63 Contest   
      
   July 20, 2016   
      
    *  All Asian DX Contest, CW   
    *  RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB   
      
   July 21, 2016   
      
    *  NRAU 10 Meter Activity Contest   
      
   July 25, 2016   
      
    *  10-10 Int. Spirit of 76 QSO Party   
    *  UFT QRP Contest   
      
   July 26, 2016   
      
    *  Ukrainian DX DIGI Contest   
    *  ARRL Field Day   
      
      
      
   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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   )\/(ark   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
      
   ... Purely out of curiosity, how old is your daughter?   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)