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   http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/?issue=2016-08-10   
      
   The ARRL Contest Update   
      
   August 10, 2016   
   Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG   
      
      
   IN THIS ISSUE   
      
    *  New HF Operators: SKCC Sprint, WAE DX, and more   
    *  Bulletins: Avoid Emergency Frequencies   
    *  Contest Summary   
    *  News: Hamvention Move, Huntsville Hamfest Contest Forum, and more   
    *  Word to the Wise: Diplexer   
    *  Sights and Sounds: Contesting and Public Service Communications webinar,   
       Fume Extractor Project   
    *  Results   
    *  Operating Tip: Why is everyone named Milt?   
    *  Technical Topics and Information: Faraday Cage Theory, Designing Digital   
       Radios, FreeSRP   
    *  Conversation: Starting and Maintaining a Weekly Contest   
    *  Contests   
    *  Log Due Dates   
      
      
      
   NEW HF OPERATORS -- THINGS TO DO   
      
   The SKCC Sprintathon will be a good place to work some CW, even if you don't   
   have a boat anchor rig, or any vacuum tubes in your gear. You'll have to   
   examine the rules to understand why tubes are a benefit in this contest. All   
   weekend long the WAE DX CW contest will opportunities to work EU stations, as   
   those are the only ones that count. A special feature of WAE is the exchange   
   of QTCs, which count for additional points. For more traditional fare, the   
   Maryland-DC QSO Party will provide CW, phone, and digital contact   
   opportunities.   
      
   On August 12, the Duke City Hamfest, in Albuquerque, New Mexico will have an   
   HF Academy, focusing on those who have recently upgraded to General or higher.   
   Topics include Rigs, Antennas, Propagation, Modes, Computer use in the shack,   
   and there will be some hands-on demonstrations.   
      
   For the weekend of August 20, the NAQP SSB contest will provide the bulk of   
   domestic contest contacts, but if you've not tried RTTY before, the ARRL   
   Rookie Roundup RTTY is the spot to give it a go.   
      
      
      
   BULLETINS   
      
   The emergence of Tropical Storm Earl prompts the reminder to avoid frequencies   
   on which emergency traffic may be present. You can keep abreast of emergency   
   frequencies and operations by monitoring the IARU region 1 website, and the   
   ARRL website.   
      
      
      
   BUSTED QSOS   
      
   QRU   
      
      
      
   CONTEST SUMMARY   
      
   Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section   
      
   August 11   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  MMMonVHF/DUBUS 144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest   
      
   August 12   
      
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
      
   August 13   
      
    *  WAE DX Contest, CW   
    *  SKCC Weekend Sprintathon   
    *  Maryland-DC QSO Party   
    *  50 MHz Fall Sprint   
      
   August 14   
      
    *  Maryland-DC QSO Party   
      
   August 17   
      
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   August 18   
      
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
   August 19   
      
    *  QRP Fox Hunt   
    *  NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  NCCC Sprint   
      
   August 20   
      
    *  SARTG WW RTTY Contest   
    *  ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest   
    *  Russian District Award Contest   
    *  Himalayan Contest   
    *  North American QSO Party, SSB   
    *  Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  CVA DX Contest, CW   
      
   August 21   
      
    *  SARTG WW RTTY Contest   
    *  SARL HF Digital Contest   
    *  ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY   
      
   August 22   
      
    *  Run for the Bacon QRP Contest   
      
   August 24   
      
    *  SKCC Sprint   
    *  Phone Fray   
    *  CWops Mini-CWT Test   
      
      
      
   NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST   
      
   The Dayton Hamvention has lost its home of 52 years, the Hara Arena, and will   
   be moving to the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio, starting in 2017.   
   According to Tim Duffy, K3LR, the Contest University, Contest Supersuite,   
   Contest Dinner, and other activities revolving around the Crowne Plaza Hotel   
   in Dayton are unaffected. "We fully support DARA and the move. This is a good   
   thing."   
      
   If you happen to be in the Huntsville, Alabama area the weekend of August 20th   
   & 21, the Huntsville hamfest will have a Saturday Contesting Multi-forum, with   
   Tim, AB4B, moderating and presenting "Contesting 101." Craig, K9CT, will be   
   presenting "Simplify your Contest Station," and Chris, NV4B, "VHF/UHF   
   Contesting, Portable Style." Check their website for additional forums and   
   information.   
      
   Kenny, K2KW, suggests that if you want to plot a map of the grids you used in   
   last June's contest, use K1RA's Cabrillo Grid Square Plotter, or WG7J's   
   Gridmapper.   
      
   Using a photogenic indoor antenna? The ARRL is looking for some good photos of   
   indoor antennas for an upcoming book. E-mail qst@arrl.org   
      
   You have to be able to hear them to work them, and tinnitus can interfere with   
   that, and life in general. New research points to some ways to treat the   
   symptoms of this chronic condition affecting 50 million people in the US alone.   
      
   According to the recently released Semiconductor Industry Association's   
   International Technology Roadmap report, future innovation in transistor   
   density will not be made by shrinking the size of transistors, but rather   
   through changes in topology or geometry. The de-emphasis on size may occur as   
   soon as 5 years from now. Ars Technica has placed the ITRS report in the   
   context of other trends and industry history.   
      
      
      
   WORD TO THE WISE   
      
   Diplexer - A device that is used to combine different frequencies or bands to   
   a single output, or which can separate a common input into different bands or   
   frequencies. They are common in UHF/VHF mobile applications where 2 meter and   
   440 MHz radios share a single coax cable to feed an antenna. In recent WRTC   
   contests, triplexers have been used to allow two radios on two different bands   
   to simultaneously use a tribander antenna.   
      
      
      
   SIGHTS AND SOUNDS   
      
   Contesting can help hone the communications skills required for Public   
   Service Communications. An ARRL Webinar encourages PSC personnel to give   
   contesting a try.   
      
   Contesters and amateurs involved in Public Service Communications should   
   have a lot in common. The ARRL Webinar, Contesting as Training for Public   
   Service Communications, by Ward, N0AX, discusses the similarities and might   
   provide an impetus for greater contest participation. It could also be the   
   basis for a program at a future emergency communications meeting.   
      
      
      
   The Fredrichschafen hamfest is a favorite for contesters, too. For the over 20   
   years, the Barvarian Contest Club has held a dinner at a family restaurant   
   during the event. Pictured from L to R: Helmut, DK6WL, Rudolf, DJ3WE, Manfred   
   DJ5MW, Manfred, DK2OY (back row), Bernd DL9YAJ (front row), Olaf DK5OS,   
   Wolfgang, DL3LAB, Sandy, DL1QQ, Ben, DL6RAI, Andreas, DC6RI, Luise, DL2MLU,   
   Gerard, PA1TX, Hartmut,DL5KUT, Uli, DM5EE, John AG7N, Alex KE7WUD. A larger   
   version of this picture is located at https://www.dropbox.com/s/   
   ho2k6uy6o76qtp/DE_N7QT_1.jpg [Photo courtesy of Rob, N7QT]   
      
   Many of the steps like soldering, cutting, or painting, which might be   
   necessary in homebrewing a project for your station yield gases, smells, or   
   particulates. Here's an instructable showing a simple way build a fume   
   extractor and fume box for small projects.   
      
   The Louisiana Contest Club will have its regional meeting at the Shreveport,   
   Louisiana Hamfest on August 13.   
      
      
      
   RESULTS AND RECORDS   
      
   The results of the 2016 Minnesota QSO Party (PDF) have been posted. Over 23   
   thousand contacts were made by the contest participants! The write-up includes   
   details of a frosty combined MNQP and NPOTA operation by N0ECK. (Mark, WA0MHJ)   
      
   Preliminary results of the July NAQP RTTY contest are available at the NCJ   
   website. The NAQP RTTY Contest Manager, Mark, K6UFO, requests that any   
   problems be reported to him via e-mail.   
      
      
      
   OPERATING TIP   
      
   This one is from Bob, K8IA: It has become tradition to honor the memory of   
   contesters that have recently become Silent Keys by using their names in the   
   contest exchange. You may have recently heard "Milt" being used in the NAQP   
   CW, in memory of Arizona Outlaw Contest Club member Milt Jensen, N5IA, who   
   passed away recently.   
      
      
      
   TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION   
      
   Faraday Cages work...how, exactly? One person's journey to understand them on   
   a physics level yielded a number of surprises, and questions the accuracy of   
   conventional explanations.   
      
   As RF design goes nearly all digital, this EDN article provides a look at what   
   it's like to design radios using digital building blocks. One of the biggest   
   changes is that the design environment may provide a working prototype without   
   the necessity of building any hardware.   
      
   FreeSRP is an SDR that covers 70 MHz to 6 GHz, and is open source and open   
   hardware. What's more impressive it was designed and built from scratch by a   
   motivated 18-year-old. He discusses how he did it and talks about the platform   
   in this Reddit.   
      
      
      
   CONVERSATION   
      
   Starting and Maintaining a Weekly Contest   
      
   Practice reinforces skills, and you can consistently practice those skills   
   with weekly contests such as the CW Ops Mini-T contest, the Phone Fray, or the   
   Northern California Contest Club's Thursday night CW and RTTY Sprints. All of   
   these contests share a relaxed intensity - the stakes are low, but the   
   competition level can be high. Scores are self-reported to 3830scores.org. I   
   asked Dean, NW2K, director of the Phone Fray, and Ken, K6MC, NCCC RTTY Sprint   
   Director, for their comments on what it takes to run a contest on a weekly   
   basis. Dean, who got the Phone Fray started just about a year ago, opines:   
   "Certainly, the mechanics are important (e.g. rules, log submission and   
   adjudication, presentation of results.) However, the most important task is   
   marketing, the creation of a sense of excitement among the ops about the event   
   and the associated challenges. It's not enough that the event is fun. It needs   
   to be compelling to get hams on the air. I'm not good   
   at marketing and I have a lot to learn. Starting Phone Fray was interesting   
   and I wanted to try moving beyond '599 5' and have the contest exchange   
   actually 'perform work.' Initially, I designed it to have an unconventional   
   scoring system akin to what one might find in video games. In it, the degree   
   of challenge was variable. New contesters could play since the scoring system   
   had an entry level for new folks. Mid-level contesters found mid-level   
   challenges and experts had a window into maximum challenge. Without going into   
   the details, the contest exchange had a certain complexity, which conveyed   
   important information...simply. I wanted the unconventional event to be SSB so   
   that new contesters felt most welcome. (The contest would have a) New   
   exchange, new scoring, new and veteran participants. The station is certainly   
   a key component...but the initial Phone Fray put operator skills at the top.   
   After a disciplined review of the initial Phone Fray rules by a dozen of our   
   best contesters, it was decided to scale back the contest's complexity. It was   
   felt that a NAQP SSB style event held weekly for 30 minutes was innovative   
   enough for launch. If successful, 'special' events could be held on occasion   
   to test some of the unconventional ideas. I'm grateful to the reviewers, the   
   NCCC NS, the CWops CWT, and Matt NQ6N for all the excellent input and   
   inspiration. Phone Fray just celebrated its first birthday. Winning rates are   
   120-150 QSOs/hour and participation continues to grow. Marketing is still the   
   primary challenge; we need to get more SSB ops on the air on Tuesday evenings.   
   We haven't slipped in a 'special' event yet....but perhaps soon! I believe   
   firmly that we need to be more innovative in designing new contests. "   
      
   Ken also mentions promotion in his comments: "When I took over from the   
   previous person I did spend some time sending emails to contest clubs and RTTY   
   Sprint participants. Other than the weekly announcements I don't really do   
   very much now. Sprint format is not overly popular and combined with the   
   mid-week time we have marginal turnout. But those of us that are active enjoy   
   it so it keeps us going. We do get new people to join in on and off so we are   
   a little successful at introducing RTTY Sprinting to some. I've never worked   
   in sales so I don't have a background that would assist in promotion of our   
   event. As far as goals, I look at it as a chance to get new people to try RTTY   
   as well as Sprints. For the ongoing folks it really is a practice session,   
   similar to spending time copying cw. It also gives folks a chance to check out   
   equipment before the weekend, especially since RTTY activity is not great   
   other than in contests. In my case it was a chance to learn something about   
   SO2R, which was totally new to me when I returned to contesting after a   
   35-year absence. So I think practicing a new skill as well as learning are the   
   main goals."   
      
   Both gentlemen are doing a fine job promoting their contests. If you're   
   starting a new contest, promotion appears to be key, as well as making the   
   format and rules appealing to a wide range of skills. If you've not done so   
   yet, give each of these weekly contests a try!   
      
   That's all for this time. Remember to send contesting related stories,   
   contesting pictures, book reviews, tips, techniques, press releases, errata,   
   schematics, club information, pictures, stories, blog links, predictions, and   
   favorite twitter handles to contest-update@arrl.org   
      
   73, Brian N9ADG   
      
      
      
      
   CONTESTS   
      
   11 Aug - 24 Aug 2016   
      
   An expanded, downloadable PDF version of QST's Contest Corral is available.   
   Check the sponsor's website for information on operating time restrictions and   
   other instructions.   
      
      
   HF CONTESTS   
      
   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.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt, Aug 12, 0100z to Aug 12, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: August 13.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, Aug 12, 0145z to Aug 12, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: August 14.   
      
   NCCC Sprint, Aug 12, 0230z to Aug 12, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial   
   No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: August 14.   
      
   WAE DX Contest, CW, Aug 13, 0000z to Aug 14, 2359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: August 29.   
      
   SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Aug 13, 1200z to Aug 15, 0000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80,   
   40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE");   
   Logs due: August 21.   
      
   Maryland-DC QSO Party, Aug 13, 1600z to Aug 14, 0400z, Aug 14, 1600z to Aug   
   15, 0000z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2, 432; MDC:   
   entry class + county, non-MDC: entry class + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: September 13.   
      
   Phone Fray, Aug 17, 0230z to Aug 17, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: August 19.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Aug 17, 1300z to Aug 17, 1400z, Aug 17, 1900z to Aug 17,   
   2000z, Aug 18, 0300z to Aug 18, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: August 20.   
      
   QRP Fox Hunt, Aug 19, 0100z to Aug 19, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20m Only; RST +   
   (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: August 20.   
      
   NCCC RTTY Sprint, Aug 19, 0145z to Aug 19, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules);   
   Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: August 21.   
      
   NCCC Sprint, Aug 19, 0230z to Aug 19, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial   
   No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: August 21.   
      
   SARTG WW RTTY Contest, Aug 20, 0000z to Aug 20, 0800z, Aug 20, 1600z to Aug   
   21, 0000z, Aug 21, 0800z to Aug 21, 1600z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   RST + Serial No.; Logs due: September 12.   
      
   Russian District Award Contest, Aug 20, 0800z to Aug 21, 0800z; CW, SSB;   
   Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; RU: RS(T) + District code, non-RU: RS(T) +   
   QSO No.; Logs due: August 31.   
      
   Himalayan Contest, Aug 20, 1200z to Aug 21, 1200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20,   
   15, 10m; VU: RS(T) + VU State, non-VU: RS(T) + Power; Logs due: September 20.   
      
   North American QSO Party, SSB, Aug 20, 1800z to Aug 21, 0559z; SSB; Bands:   
   160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name;   
   Logs due: August 28.   
      
   Feld Hell Sprint, Aug 20, 2000z to Aug 20, 2159z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80,   
   40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; (see rules); Logs due: August 24.   
      
   CVA DX Contest, CW, Aug 20, 2100z to Aug 21, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; RST + type/UF(see rules); Logs due: September 15.   
      
   SARL HF Digital Contest, Aug 21, 1300z to Aug 21, 1630z; RTTY, PSK31; Bands:   
   80, 40, 20m; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: August 28.   
      
   ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY, Aug 21, 1800z to Aug 21, 2359z; RTTY; Bands: 80,   
   40, 20, 15, 10, 6m; NA: Name + 2-digit year first licensed + (st   
   te/province/XE area/DX); Logs due: August 24.   
      
   Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, Aug 22, 0100z to Aug 22, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160,   
   80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs   
   due: August 28.   
      
   SKCC Sprint, Aug 24, 0000z to Aug 24, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15,   
   10m; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./power); Logs due:   
   August 26.   
      
   Phone Fray, Aug 24, 0230z to Aug 24, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15m;   
   NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: August 26.   
      
   CWops Mini-CWT Test, Aug 24, 1300z to Aug 24, 1400z, Aug 24, 1900z to Aug 24,   
   2000z, Aug 25, 0300z to Aug 25, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m;   
   Member: Name + Member No., non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs   
   due: August 27.   
      
      
   VHF+ CONTESTS   
      
   MMMonVHF/DUBUS 144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest, Aug 11, 2200z to Aug 13,   
   2200z; Any; Bands: 2m Only; Signal report; Logs due: September 15.   
      
   50 MHz Fall Sprint, Aug 13, 2300z to Aug 14, 0300z; not specified; Bands: 6m   
   Only; 4-character grid square; Logs due: August 27.   
      
   ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest, Aug 20, 0600 (local) to Aug 22, 0000 (local); Any;   
   Bands: 10 GHz to light; 6-Character Maidenhead Locator; Logs due: October 18.   
      
   See SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, above.   
      
   See Maryland-DC QSO Party, above.   
      
   See ARRL Rookie Roundup RTTY, above.   
      
      
   LOG DUE DATES   
      
   August 12, 2016   
      
    *  Phone Fray   
      
   August 14, 2016   
      
    *  ARS Flight of the Bumblebees   
    *  SARL HF Phone Contest   
    *  North American QSO Party, CW   
    *  NAQCC CW Sprint   
      
   August 15, 2016   
      
    *  SMIRK Contest   
    *  European HF Championship   
      
   August 17, 2016   
      
    *  DMC RTTY Contest   
      
   August 18, 2016   
      
    *  NRAU 10 Meter Activity Contest   
      
   August 22, 2016   
      
    *  10-10 Int. Summer Contest, SSB   
      
      
      
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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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