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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2016-07-27   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   July 27, 2016   
   Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG   
      
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
      
    *  New HF Operators   
    *  Bulletins   
    *  Contest Summary   
    *  News   
    *  Website of the week   
    *  Word to the Wise   
    *  Sights and Sounds   
    *  Results   
    *  Operating Tip   
    *  Technical Topics and Information   
    *  Tech Website of the week   
    *  Conversation   
    *  Contests   
    *  Log Due Dates   
      
      
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS -- THINGS TO DO   
      
   During this somewhat quiet contesting period, the RSGB IOTA (Islands on the   
   Air) event is an opportunity to go into the field and work a number of   
   stations. If you do go, make sure you are aware of the rules, including   
   frequency restrictions, and that you post your planned operation on the IOTA   
   Activation page so others will look for you. If you've not activated an island   
   before, it might be best to pick one with scheduled ferry service,   
   electricity, and other amenities.   
      
   The North American QSO Party, CW, is on August 6th. With a maximum power level   
   of 100 Watts, and 63 possible per-band multipliers, everyone can be on more   
   equal footing. You can also join up with others to field a team of up to five   
   stations.   
      
      
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   Etienne, K7ATN, submits:   
      
   The 39th Annual August UHF Contest lives on with independent sponsorship from   
   V/UHF clubs and individuals around the country. See http://www.augustuhf.org   
   or http://uhfcontest.org   
      
   For those interested in the bands 222MHz and up, for nearly four decades the   
   August UHF Contest has defined what it takes to challenge "The Ultra Highs."   
      
   When the ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization Committee cancelled the UHF Contest   
   in March, several groups stepped in immediately to maintain the event for   
   2016. The contest rules are the same as 2015 with the addition of allowing   
   Mobile entries as Rovers in a single grid square.   
      
   Cabrillo or paper logs will be accepted and the Northern Lights Radio Society   
   will continue to offer its "Rovermania" awards for Rovers operating in this   
   contest on three bands.   
      
   The contest sponsors are encouraging everyone to give these bands a try during   
   the first weekend in August, with potential QSOs on 223.5-FM and 446.0-FM --   
   capabilities that you may already have in an HT or mobile rig. Weak-signal   
   frequencies will likely be the busiest during the contest. Log entries of any   
   size, on paper or electronically submitted, are encouraged. For some logging   
   programs, use "ARRL UHF August" as the contest for correct rules and scoring.   
   See the links above for rules, log submission information, and log forms.   
      
      
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   QRU   
      
      
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   July 28   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   July 29   
      
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
      
   July 30   
      
    *  Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  RSGB IOTA Contest   
      
   August 1   
      
    *  ARS Flight of the Bumblebees   
      
   August 3   
      
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   August 4   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  NRAU 10 Meter Activity Contest   
      
   August 5   
      
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
      
   August 6   
      
    *  TARA Grid Dip Shindig   
    *  10-10 Int. Summer Contest, SSB   
    *  European HF Championship   
    *  WAB 144 MHz Low Power Phone   
    *  North American QSO Party, CW   
    *  August UHF Contest   
      
   August 7   
      
    *  SARL HF Phone Contest   
      
   August 10   
      
    *  NAQCC CW Sprint   
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  RSGB 80 Meter Club Sprint, CW   
      
      
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   YOTA (Youth on the Air) 2016 just finished up in Austria. From the enthusiasm   
   of the tweets of some of the attendees, it appears to have been a success.   
   With workshops ranging from antenna building to contesting to WSPR, the   
   gathering afforded 90 youth attendees the opportunity to learn among their   
   peers. Two US amateurs, Sterling, N0SSC, and Sam, KC2LRC, attended, sponsored   
   in part by the Northern California DX Foundation.   
      
   Doug, KR2Q, the recently appointed CQWW Contest Director, has suspended the   
   single position of Director, in lieu of a triumvirate of co-Directors, to   
   include Scott, W4PA, and Bob, W5OV. Doug states that as all co-Directors are   
   equal, and that the contest leadership will benefit from additional resources   
   and resilience.   
      
   Carnegie Mellon University recently obtained a grant from the National Science   
   Foundation to develop automated means of creating accurate 3D models and   
   collecting high-resolution images using UAVs, with the intent of eliminating   
   the need for humans to climb on or rappel from bridges, towers, and other   
   infrastructure. Imagine being able to have changes in radio tower condition   
   called out for attention automatically.   
      
   Two FlexRadio FLEX-6700 radios were launched into space for rendezvous with   
   the International Space Station on July 18. They are going to be used as part   
   of an experiment receiving AIS (Automatic Identification System) signals from   
   orbit.   
      
   Proper ergonomics can go a long way toward mitigating some of the ill effects   
   of sitting in front of a radio during an entire contest weekend. If sitting   
   isn't your thing, the Altwork Station may provide standing or reclining   
   options. Car seats are also apparently getting smarter at detecting when   
   drivers are too fatigued to continue. Perhaps we'll see desk chairs that can   
   help determine when an operator change is due.   
      
   Be careful working outside in high summer temperatures, and know the   
   difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke.   
      
   Summer is the time to work on antennas outside, but with 48 states currently   
   experiencing very hot weather, are you prepared to tell the difference between   
   heat exhaustion and heat stroke? One is treatable, one is life threatening.   
   The National Weather Service has a tweet to help.   
      
      
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   Trap: A parallel tuned circuit used to electrically isolate one section of an   
   antenna from another.   
      
      
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   HamRadio360.com recently interviewed Wayne, K6KR, regarding the recently   
   released Elecraft KX2, including some of the design decisions. There's even   
   some poetry. Wayne's interview starts at about 32:50.   
      
   Here's a YouTube video of totally remote multi-multi contesting at W4AAW. A   
   number of remoting technologies are used or available at this station, with a   
   discussion of the trade-offs.   
      
   The North American QRP CW Club has posted a video about their organization,   
   which is free to join. The club sponsors novelty challenges during the year,   
   involving working stations, and then combining the letters of the worked calls   
   to complete various phrases. (Paul, N8XMS)   
      
      
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   The results of the 2016 ARRL International DX Contest have been posted to the   
   ARRL website. Notably, W3LPL wrested the top spot in multi-multi from the K3LR   
   team after a 3-year reign, and K9YC achieved more than nine times the score of   
   his closest competitor.   
      
   The 2016 ARRL RTTY Roundup results were recently updated to reflect a minor   
   change to a plaque category.   
      
      
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   Use a second VFO for more contacts. If you're not set up for SO2R (single   
   operator, two radio) operation, or if you're assigned to a band in a multi-op,   
   you can still use a second VFO (SO2V) to line up and work additional contacts   
   or better yet, multipliers, between contacts made using the main VFO. Getting   
   comfortable working the other VFO can also help if you do try SO2R in the   
   future. Some logging programs will assist you in hunting multipliers on the   
   second VFO by providing a bandmap with stations to click.   
      
      
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   Presentations from the 2016 Dayton Antenna Forum are now available on the K3LR   
   website. Included are presentations on (intentionally) bent-element Yagi   
   antennas, the future of the ARRL Antenna Book, low band antennas at W3LPL, and   
   wideband techniques used in OWA antennas.   
      
   IEEE Spectrum recently published what amounts to a history of RFI, but which   
   also includes an overview of some new technologies and services such as 5G and   
   Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS).   
      
   Panadapters are considered one of the new must haves when contesting nowadays,   
   as they increase overall situational awareness. Mark, K6UFO, found a very   
   simple way to add a panadapter to his Elecraft K3: "The Win4K3Suite software   
   now supports the SDRPlay SDR receiver as a panadapter. I ordered an SDRPlay   
   from Ham Radio Outlet. When received, I installed the drivers as described by   
   "Start Here" at SDRPlay, then downloaded and installed Win4K3Suite with a   
   30-day free trial. I connected my K3 and made a few initial settings and the   
   panadapter was working! I wanted to use my Writelog logging software to   
   control the K3, so I used Win4K3's 'AUX/CAT' feature to provide a virtual   
   serial port connection to Writelog while Win4K3 was physically connected to   
   the K3. All of this is documented in the Win4K3 manual. I created a pair of   
   virtual serial ports using Microham software, but Eltima or Com0com would have   
   also worked. Now my K3 connects to Win4K3, and one of Win4K3's 'CAT/AUX ports'   
   connects to my logging software. Both Win4K3 and Writelog can control the   
   radio, and I have a panadapter! I purchased Win4K3 for $50, to bring my total   
   panadapter cost to $200. Other SDR software can be used with the SDRPlay, but   
   Win4K3 is already setup for a K3 and the SDRPlay as a panadapter, so it was   
   very straightforward."   
      
      
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   Doldrums?   
      
   Typical this time of year is to hear about how to beat the summer doldrums,   
   what to read at the beach, and how its difficult to get anything done because   
   people are out of town. This is a time of opportunity. First, there's still   
   the glow of the well-contested IARU from the July 9 weekend. It's a good time   
   to get the station ready for the upcoming contest season at a more leisurely   
   pace, planning instead of reacting. Don't discount the upcoming non-US-centric   
   contests -- the announcements of operations planned for the WAE DX coming up   
   on August 15 in The Daily DX indicate that there will be plenty of activity.   
   I'm personally using the next few weeks to get some auto-switching stub   
   filters working for a multi-op station, re-packaging my CW keyer, working on a   
   remote station, getting my home station in better order, visiting New England   
   and W1AW, finishing a 50 MHz amplifier project, setting up for WSJT, and   
   planning the weekend calendar for the fall. Doldrums? I'll be lucky to finish   
   it all!   
      
   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, predictions, and   
   field day recipes to contest-update@arrl.org   
      
   73, Brian N9ADG   
      
      
      
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   28 Jul - 10 Aug 2016   
      
   An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral is available as a   
   PDF. Check the sponsor's website for information on operating time   
   restrictions and other instructions.   
      
      
   HF CONTESTS   
      
   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.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt, Jul 29, 0100z to Jul 29, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: July 30.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, Jul 29, 0145z to Jul 29, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: July 31.   
      
   NCCC Sprint, Jul 29, 0230z to Jul 29, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial   
   No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: July 31.   
      
   Feld Hell Sprint, Jul 30, 0000z to Jul 30, 2359z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80,   
   40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; (see rules); Logs due: August 3.   
      
   RSGB IOTA Contest, Jul 30, 1200z to Jul 31, 1200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40,   
   20, 15, 10m; RS(T) + Serial No. + IOTA No.(if applicable); Logs due: August   
   7.   
      
   ARS Flight of the Bumblebees, Aug 1, 1700z to Aug 1, 2100z; CW; Bands: 40, 20,   
   15, 10m; Home: RST + (state/province/country) + Power, Bumblebee: RST +   
   (state/province/country) + Bumblebee no.; Logs due: August 15.   
      
   Phone Fray, Aug 3, 0230z to Aug 3, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: August 5.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Aug 3, 1300z to Aug 3, 1400z, Aug 3, 1900z to Aug 3,   
   2000z, Aug 4, 0300z to Aug 4, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: August 6.   
      
   NRAU 10 Meter Activity Contest, Aug 4, 1700z to Aug 4, 1800z (CW), Aug 4,   
   1800z to Aug 4, 1900z (SSB), Aug 4, 1900z to Aug 4, 2000z (FM), Aug 4, 2000z   
   to Aug 4, 2100z (Dig); CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10m Only; RS(T) +   
   6-character grid square; Logs due: August 18.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt, Aug 5, 0100z to Aug 5, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: August 6.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, Aug 5, 0145z to Aug 5, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: August 7.   
      
   NCCC Sprint, Aug 5, 0230z to Aug 5, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No.   
   + Name + QTH; Logs due: August 7.   
      
   TARA Grid Dip Shindig, Aug 6, 0000z to Aug 7, 0000z; PSK, RTTY; Bands: 160,   
   80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; Name + 4-character grid square; Logs due: September 3.   
      
   10-10 Int. Summer Contest, SSB, Aug 6, 0001z to Aug 7, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 10m   
   Only; 10-10 Member: Name + 10-10 number + (state/province/country),   
   Non-Member: Name + 0 + (state/province/country); Logs due: August 22.   
      
   European HF Championship, Aug 6, 1200z to Aug 6, 2359z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160,   
   80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; RS(T) + 2-digit year first licensed; Logs due: August 15.   
      
   North American QSO Party, CW, Aug 6, 1800z to Aug 7, 0559z; CW; Bands: 160,   
   80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs   
   due: August 14.   
      
   SARL HF Phone Contest, Aug 7, 1300z to Aug 7, 1630z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20m;   
   RS + Serial No.; Logs due: August 14.   
      
   NAQCC CW Sprint, Aug 10, 0030z to Aug 10, 0230z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20m; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: August 14.   
      
   Phone Fray, Aug 10, 0230z to Aug 10, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: August 12.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Aug 10, 1300z to Aug 10, 1400z, Aug 10, 1900z to Aug 10,   
   2000z, Aug 11, 0300z to Aug 11, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: August 13.   
      
   RSGB 80 Meter Club Sprint, CW, Aug 10, 1900z to Aug 10, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80m   
   Only; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name]; Logs   
   due: August 17.   
      
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   WAB 144 MHz Low Power Phone, Aug 6, 1400z to Aug 6, 1800z; Phone; Bands: 2m   
   Only; British Isles: RS + serial no. + WAB square, Other: RS + serial no. +   
   country; Logs due: August 27.   
      
   August UHF Contest, Aug 6, 1800z to Aug 7, 1800z; All; Bands: 222 MHz and up;   
   4-character grid square; Logs due: September 6.   
      
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   July 28, 2016   
      
    *  RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship, Data   
      
   July 29, 2016   
      
    *  SA Sprint Contest   
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  SKCC Sprint   
      
   July 30, 2016   
      
    *  GACW WWSA CW DX Contest   
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   July 31, 2016   
      
    *  NCCC Sprint   
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  Original QRP Contest   
    *  RAC Canada Day Contest   
    *  Venezuelan Ind. Day Contest   
    *  Battle of Carabobo International Contest   
      
   August 1, 2016   
      
    *  CQ Worldwide VHF Contest   
    *  FISTS Summer Slow Speed Sprint   
      
   August 8, 2016   
      
    *  FISTS Summer Sprint   
      
   August 9, 2016   
      
    *  CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush   
    *  IARU HF World Championship   
      
      
      
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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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   ... Killing turkeys causes winter.   
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