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The ARRL Contest Update
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
April 27, 2011
Editor: Ward Silver, N0AX
==> IN THIS ISSUE
- Find Your Mini-Meter - VHF, 2 GHz, and EME Contests
- New England, FL, NE, and IN QSO Parties
- More Dayton Doings
- Newly Passed - Antenna Zoning by K1VR
- Visalia On Display
- 160 Meter and RTTY Roundup Articles Imminent
- HAMCALC - Needs Some Advice
- To Tube or Not to Tube
- Uncle Leo to All
NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO
It's time to see if those sunspots are up to snuff - give the Ten-Ten
International Spring CW Contest a try. This is open to Technician class
licenses and most CW speeds are lower than in the Big Ones. While
you're at it, pick up some of the rarer New England states in their
regional QSO party.
BULLETINS
There are no bulletins in this issue.
BUSTED QSOS
As entertaining as K5KG may be, his QTH is Siesta Key, not Fiesta! Ted,
NH6YK observes that the cloud over Juan de Nova referred to last time
is not likely volcanic - and he should know, living in Volcano, Hawaii.
And Kazu JK3GAD/M0CFW points out that the example call sign of a
Japanese ham operating in Russia under the new CEPT agreement is
incorrect as Japan is not a CEPT member. Nice to hear from these
sharp-eyed readers.
CONTEST SUMMARY
Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section
30 April - 1 May
- VHF Spring Sprints--432 MHz
- 2 GHz and Up World Wide Contest
- Worldwide EME Contest--5.7 GHz
- Nebraska QSO Party
- Florida QSO Party
- BARTG 75 Sprint
- ARS Spartan Sprint--CW (May 3)
May 7-8
- SNS and NS Weekly Sprints--CW (May 6)
- Microwave Spring Sprint--902+ MHz
- Worldwide EME Contest--2.3 GHz
- Ten-Ten Spring CW Contest,
- 7th Area QSO Party
- Indiana QSO Party
- Radio Club of America QSO Party--Phone
- ARI International DX Contest
- New England QSO Party
==> NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST
The 16th VHF Weak Signal Group banquet will be held on Friday, May
20th, at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Dayton. The speaker will be
Dana Whitlow K8YUM, presenting "Noise at Arecibo- it's not just the
Coqui". For more information contact Tony WA8RJF
directly. If you're still trying to decide whether to go to the Dayton
Hamvention, Ken K4ZW reports that Tim K3LR will provide an overview of
the myriad of contest related activities planned in an upcoming free
PVRC webinar on May 2. QRP operators can attend
the Four Days In May event, as well,
with special programs and streaming video of the Thursday build-along
exercise.
Researchers at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia
have created sheets of graphene
(a planar array of carbon atoms) ten times stronger than steel (under
tension, presumably). It only a matter of time until there are golf
clubs made from this new material - can tower sections be far behind?
Elecraft has announced the XG3
, a miniature,
programmable, 160-2 meter (and higher) synthesized RF signal source
that generates RF with highly accurate levels of -107 dBm (1 uV), -73
dBm (50 uV or S9), -33 dBm (S9+40), and 0 dBm. Built into a T1-sized
enclosure, the XG3 runs on an internal 9-V battery or from an external
power supply. (Thanks, Wayne N6KR and Eric WA6HHQ)
The Boring ARC has decided to "sponsor" a summer Stew Perry Top Band
Distance Challenge (TBDC) event. This
is a great time to get some activity on the band and take advantage of
the good propagation to the southern hemisphere. The date will be June
18th and 19th with the same 1500 UTC start and stop times. Scores will
be compiled in a similar way to the existing PreStew "warmup" in
October. Look for rules and scoring procedures on the Stew Perry TBDC
web site. (Thanks, Brian N9ADG)
Technical papers are being solicited for presentation at the 30th
Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference to be held
September 16-18, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. Please send papers by
email or in print to Maty Weinberg at the ARRL, 225
Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
If new home construction is using a metalized insulation board
it may be a hindrance in that it keeps WiFi and other wireless signals
from making it outside. It might also be a boon to hams in providing a
modicum of shielding to obnoxious radiated emissions from appliances
and computer gear. It won't do anything about conducted emissions but
it could also help keep our signals out of audio gear and the like. As
an added bonus it keeps the aliens from reading your thoughts!
Dr Megacycle, aka Jim KK6MC, provided some resources for and studies of
learning the code - a most important skill for the successful
radiosport practitioner. He refers us to the Koch Method
which is summarized in a chapter of
the ebook "The Skill of Radio-Telegraphy
".
There is an online trainer with exercises for
improving one's skill even if experienced with CW.
As long as we are on the subject of copying CW, Rich KL7RA notes that a
recent biography of Johnny Cash mentions the singer as having been a CW
circuit operator for the U.S. Air Force during the 1950's with a top
speed of about 45 WPM. Rich goes on to wonder why a guy would give up
copying code for $125 per month for a musical career worth "$1 million
billion...seems odd you would give up a cool CW job...but to each his
own."
The rules for the 2011 CQ WW VHF Contest, July 16 - 17, have been
posted on the CQ VHF Contest website . If you
missed the results for the 2010 contest in the February issue of CQ,
the write-up, scores, and expanded results are also on-line there
alongside records updated by Curt, K9AKS. (Thanks, CQ WW VHF Contest
Director, John W1XX)
Kirk NT0Z has released a new book, "Stealth Amateur Radio
" and expects it to be available for
the Kindle ebook reader soon. Kirk also notes that moving his
auto-tuner into the backyard near his antenna helped to reduce RF noise
pickup and common-mode current on his feed line that was causing RFI
inside. You may find that trick of use at your QTH.
Brian NJ1F wrote to let us know that the Yankee Clipper Contest Club
has elected new officers and the full slate can be
viewed on their web site. Similarly, Jack W6FB reported that the
Northern California Contest Club has new leadership,
as well. Thanks to the volunteers who make our organizations go!
If you've been wondering where the Ukrainian hams have gone, they've
lost some HF frequencies lately - 10100-10150 kHz (all of the 30 meter
band) and 14250-14350 kHz. They've also lost a fair amount of UHF and
microwave spectrum. (Thanks, Alex UY0LL)
If you want to keep up with the latest announcements about WRTC 2014,
the organizers have set up a news reader feed
. (Thanks, WRTC-2014 Co-Chair, Randy K5ZD)
Web Site of the Week - Finished just in time for Dayton, the 2nd
edition of "Antenna Zoning" by K1VR is mostly new. Fred claims he's
learned something in the 10 years since the last edition with new
approaches to CC&R problems (now a whole chapter), plus a complete
application for a TV antenna that would otherwise be forbidden by
homeowner association rules. There is more on justifying the need for
height, presenting at a hearing, and dealing with the press. Look for
the sections on drafting a local ordinance, or state statute. VE6SH
added a whole new chapter on Canadian regulation, too.
WORD TO THE WISE
BIP/BOP - No, those are not the sound of water dripping off your feed
lines! BIP - Both In Phase - and BOP - Both Out of Phase are the phase
relationships when driving a stack of two horizontally-polarized Yagi
antennas. BIP aims your signal towards the horizon while BOP creates a
high-angle lobe for working short-skip or high-angle signals. BIP-BOP
switching is explained in this Array Solutions application note
for
modifying their popular StackMatch switching system.
==> SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
The recent International DX Convention in Visalia was a big hit for all
as shown in these great photos in an online album
by Hector XE2K
and the photos elsewhere in this issue by Bob N6TV.
Mark K1RX and Geoff KA1IOR visited K5ZD's station during WPX SSB and
recorded some SO2R operation. There are three videos
- Part 1 is a general
discussion about SO2R while Parts 2 and 3 are of SO2R operating.
From the Daily DX newsletter for April 25th,
we learn of Rick NE8Z's recent gift-bearing visit to Mount Athos and
Monk Apollo. He created an on-line slide show
and
coincidentally there was a CBS' "60 Minutes
" program on
Mt Athos this past weekend.
EME for QRPers - not an oxymoron at all! - is discussed in this online
video produced by Gary W9XT
. (Thanks, Rich KZ9K)
This Wired Magazine article
asked for help in identifying any of these mysterious scientific
instruments. Heck, hams probably have several of each in their junk
boxes! (Thanks, Jim W6EU)
==> RESULTS AND RECORDS
The extended version of K9AY's 160 Meter Contest writeup is in final
production and should be available online
later this week. The first extended
writeup of 2011 - WS7I's report on the RTTY Roundup - will follow.
After the April 18th SSB Rookie Roundup, scores were received from
several stations without filling out the required submission form.
Please remember that scores must be submitted via the online submission
form to be included in the results. (Thanks, ARRL Contest Branch
Manager, Sean KX9X)
In late-breaking news, the total number of CQ WPX SSB logs submitted
topped 5000 for the first time ever according to CQ WPX Director Randy
K5ZD.
The results of the 2010 New York QSO Party
can be found at the updated NYQP
website. Paul K2DB and Rick W1TY also thank the contest volunteers and
webmaster Scott K2ZS for their help in producing the contest.
Tom K1KI reports that results for the 2010 New England QSO Party
have been posted online. Certificates and
plaques are going in the mail shortly - predominantly to the 9th call
district!
If your logging program only creates ADIF files, try the new ADIF file
converter on the CQ WPX web site or use
the excellent free LM software
by DL8WAA. LM is also a great way to type in your paper log and convert
it to Cabrillo format. (Thanks, CQ WPX Director, Randy K5ZD)
OPERATING TIP
Jim K8MR observes that when trying to correct a logged call sign or
exchange, the delay can cause the other station to repeat the
information and create an unnecessary series of transmissions. His
suggest is to simply use the "TU QRZ" key and catch up while the
computer is sending. Some logging software can be set up to send the
corrected information as well so that everything is confirmed.
==> TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION
George VE3ERP's great package of software ham radio
calculators, HAMCALC, has run into some significant issues in working
with Win7 with the GWBASIC routines used by HAMCALC's many components.
If you could provide guidance or assistance in this area, George is
open for suggestions.
A method of increasing the efficiency of an inverted L or vertical
antenna is to raise the point of maximum current well above ground as
in this "Double L " antenna
for 160 and 80 meters by K2LQ. The same idea could be applied to 80 and
40 meters. (Thanks, Rik van Riel)
Remember when oscilloscopes took two people to lift them and had to
be rolled around on a cart? Well, Chris KL9A found that there's an app
for that now as exemplified by this handy gizmo from Oscium
.
Jack Ganssle of Embedded System Design - also known as N3ALO - took a
good look at the latest offering in more traditional scopes from
Agilent in his column "Scoping Out the New Scopes
"
.
Magnetic light - not as strange as it sounds - may be another
intriguing technology for creating electricity from solar energy and
does not require absorption. The "optical battery
" uses the
surprisingly strong magnetic properties of light traveling through a
non-conductive material to generate current.
Jim W7RY summarized some of the issues associated with dissimilar
metals being used in amateur installations. "Copper should never touch
galvanized material directly without proper joint protection. Water
shedding from the copper contains ions that will wash away the
galvanized (zinc) tower covering. Stainless steel can be used as a
buffer material. However, be aware that stainless steel is not a very
good conductor. If it is used as a buffer between copper and galvanized
metals, the surface area of the contact should be large and the
stainless steel should be thin. Joint compound should also be used to
cover the connection so water cannot bridge between the dissimilar
metals. This is why you want to use tinned wire (or suitable transition
material) not bare copper when connecting to a galvanized tower."
Regular US rural type mail boxes are observed to work well for
protecting outdoor gadgets as they have to seal well. The few drain
holes let the water out so that they will protect most anything once
the door is closed. (Thanks, Mike K5WMG)
Tom KK3OQ has posted videos
of homebrewed PCB fabrication, PIC chip experiments, high powered LED
projects, Arduino applications, QRP kit builds, and Electronics
Tourism.
More and more reports surface of "temporary" rope guys stretching or
failing, leading to tower "incidents". Luckily, the reports don't
mention fatalities but there have certainly been some near misses, such
as to regular climbers Don K4ZA and John W2GD. Don't mess around - use
steel or Phillystran guys if you or someone else is going to be on that
tower. Field Day is coming and the temptation to take short cuts "just
for the weekend" is strong - be safe!
Machinist's Workshop magazine tested penetrating oils for break-out
torque on rusted nuts. They "scientifically rusted" nuts and bolts,
treated them with various commercial penetrants and one home brew
mixture, and then measured the torque required to remove them. The
results?
- No penetrant - 516 pounds
- WD-40 - 238 pounds
- PB Blaster - 214 pounds
- Liquid Wrench - 127 pounds
- Kano Kroil - 106 pounds
A homebrew mix of automatic transmission fluid and acetone was also
reported to have worked but that is disputed in several online
discussions. (Thanks, Tim K3LR)
Technical Web Site of the Week - The theory and operation of RF
amplifier tubes is by no means a dead technology as many contesters
well know. There is plenty of good information about them on the web
including this Eimac classic
. KK5DR also has a web
page full of good material about the
care and feeding of these beasties. You can read all this while waiting
for the filaments to warm up. (Thanks, Dave WA3GIN)
==> CONVERSATION
Uncle Leo to All
I got into the ham radio game a few years too late for the reign of
World Radio Labs gear but my Novice QSL collection included many cards
from other Novices bearing that self-confidence-building "My QTH" arrow
pointing right to your station's location. (My QSLs were from the
Little Print Shop.) It is now, much later, that I am learning more
about what Leo Meyerson, W0GFQ who passed away last week at the age of
100, meant to so many. I pass the editorial baton to my friend Rich
Strand, KL7RA, for his wistfully wry recollections of his relationship
with "Uncle Leo".
73, Ward N0AX
Ham radio lost one of its finest members last week when Leo Meyerson,
W0GFQ went Silent Key. At a recent
gathering to help him celebrate his 100th birthday he mentioned he
really didn't do that much for the hobby but as a young teenager with a
new Novice license I can tell you that he did.
We called him "Uncle Leo" and he owned the magic ham radio store across
the mighty Missouri river from Omaha, Nebraska [where Rich lived - Ed.]
in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Every weekend I and my friends would try to
make the pilgrimage to the World Radio Laboratories (WRL) just to walk
the aisles of ham radio "stuff" and it was packed with "stuff". Of
course all the famous WRL gear like the Globe King, Scouts and Chiefs
with the Galaxy line, but also "stuff". All kinds of surplus military
receivers and just about anything you could imagine as a kid but had no
chance of buying ever in your life.
On the way out the door there was a large wooden box of crystals.
All on 7173.333 kc and every Novice within three hundred miles had that
frequency. It was Uncle Leo who told me not to keep the xtal's on top
of the hot transmitter but to use his xtal holder case. I believe he
also made xtals and I would skip lunch at school, so to speak, to have
the few bucks to buy a new freq each visit. Back then a man's worth was
measured in the number of rocks he had on the chief operating desk.
I bought a pair of headphones, probably WW2 B-29, and at 8 pounds with
a head clamp pressure of 15 lbs per square inch just a tad
uncomfortable. Uncle Leo to the rescue. I was able to find in the WRL
the solution. What appeared to be toilet plunger cups were really
headphone cushions that fit the B29 headset perfect. And they were
cheap. No mention of the fact they caused your ears to sweat and the
cups would heat weld to the side of your head and soon dispense an
awful smell. They worked great.
WRL had copperweld wire. I was going to be cheap and buy the 18 gauge
but finally did things right for once and bought the 12. Very heavy
roll tightly wound in a surprisingly small package. Trying to get the
exploded slinky of wire out of my bedroom that evening is best
described by my mom. I had the world's first 80 meter dipole that was
only 20 feet long counting the "coils" and even after some high
Nebraska winds didn't really stretch out that much.
Uncle Leo would give a Novice a free WAS map, in color. If you can find
a 1950-60's copy of Popular Electronics, look for the "Novice of the
Month" column and often you would see that map on their shack wall. I
hope all of you who covered Uncle Leo's picture with your QSL card have
a few moments of guilt. I did.
The hams reading this from the 50-60's who knew Uncle Leo and the WRL,
maybe got your first rig or built one of his transmitter kits and
continued on in ham radio to be contesters, will recognize what he did
for the hobby and we say, "73 Uncle Leo, BEST DX OM SK."
73, Rich KL7RA
==> CONTESTS
27 April through 10 May
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
Nebraska QSO Party--Phone, CW, Digital, from Apr 30, 1100Z to May 1,
1700Z . Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, 144. Frequencies: CW: 1.805 and 35 kHz
above band edge, Nov/Tech--10 kHz above band edge; Phone--1.915, 3.865,
7.265, 14.265, 21.365, 28.465, 146.460. Exchange: RS(T), NE county or
S/P/C. Logs due: May 31. Rules
Florida QSO Party--Phone, CW, from Apr 30, 1600Z to May 1, 0159Z and
May 1, 1200Z to May 1, 2159Z. Bands (MHz): 7-28. Frequencies: Multiple
operating periods; CW 7.025-7.035, 14.040-14.050, 21.040-21.050,
28.040-28.050; Phone 7.18-7.19, 14.265-14.275, 21.340-21.350,
28.480-28.490. Exchange: RS(T), FL county or S/P/C. Logs due: 30 days.
Rules
BARTG 75 Sprint-- Digital, from Apr 30, 1700Z to Apr 30, 2100Z . Bands
(MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: Serial. Logs due: Jun 1. Rules
ARS Spartan Sprint-- CW, from May 3, 0200Z to May 3, 0400Z . Bands
(MHz): 3.5-28. Monthly on the first Monday evening local time.
Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and power. Logs due: 2 days. Rules
SNS and NS Weekly Sprints-- CW, from May 6, 0200Z to May 6, 0300Z .
Bands (MHz): 1.8-14. Weekly on Thursday evenings local time. Exchange:
Serial, name, and S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days. Rules
Ten-Ten Spring CW Contest-- CW, from May 7, 0001Z to May 8, 2359Z .
Bands (MHz): 28. Exchange: Call sign, name, 10-10 number, state. Logs
due: 15 days. Rules
7th Area QSO Party--Phone, CW, Digital, from May 7, 1300Z to May 8,
0700Z . Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, 144. Frequencies: CW--40 kHz above
band edge; SSB--1.845, 3.855, 7.235, 14.255, 21.355, 28.455. Exchange:
State and county code. Logs due: Jun 5. Rules
Indiana QSO Party--Phone, CW, from May 7, 1600Z to May 8, 0400Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8-28. Frequencies: CW--1.805 and 40 kHz above the band edge on
80-10 meters, SSB--1.845, 3.820, 7.190, 14.250, 21.300, 28.400.
Exchange: RS(T) + S/P or IN county, DX RS(T) only. Logs due: Jun 15.
Rules
Radio Club of America QSO Party--Phone, from May 7, 1700Z to May 8,
0459Z . Bands (MHz): 3.5-21. Exchange: RS, QTH, name, equipment. Rules
ARI International DX Contest--Phone, CW, Digital, from May 7, 2000Z to
May 8, 1959Z . Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T), serial or Italian
province. Logs due: 30 days. Rules
New England QSO Party--Phone, CW, Digital, from May 7, 2000Z to May 8,
0500Z and May 8, 1300Z to May 8, 2400Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28.
Frequencies: Multiple operating periods; CW--3.540, 7.035, 14.040,
21.040, 28.040; SSB--3.850, 7.180/280, 14.280, 21.380, 28.380.
Exchange: RS(T) and S/P or New England county. Logs due: 30 days. Rules
VHF+ CONTESTS
VHF Spring Sprints--Phone, CW, Digital, from Apr 27, 7 PM to Apr 27, 11
PM . Bands (MHz): 432. Exchange: Grid Square (6-character preferred).
Logs due: 14 days. Rules
2 GHz and Up World Wide Contest--Phone, CW, Digital, from Apr 30, 6 AM
to May 1, 8 PM . Bands (MHz): 2.4G+. Exchange: 6-char grid locator.
Logs due: 60 days. Rules
Worldwide EME Contest--Phone, CW, from Apr 30, 0000Z to May 1, 2400Z .
Bands (MHz): 5.7G. Exchange: TMO/RS(T) and "R". Logs due: Jun 25. Rules
Nebraska QSO Party--Phone, CW, Digital, from Apr 30, 1100Z to May 1,
1700Z . Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, 144. Frequencies: CW: 1.805 and 35 kHz
above band edge, Nov/Tech--10 kHz above band edge; Phone--1.915, 3.865,
7.265, 14.265, 21.365, 28.465, 146.460. Exchange: RS(T), NE county or
S/P/C. Logs due: May 31. Rules
Microwave Spring Sprint--Phone, CW, Digital, from May 7, 6 AM to May 7,
1 PM . Bands (MHz): 902+. Exchange: Grid Square (6-character
preferred). Logs due: 14 days. Rules
Worldwide EME Contest--Phone, CW, from May 7, 0000Z to May 8, 2400Z .
Bands (MHz): 2.3G. Exchange: TMO/RS(T) and "R". Logs due: Jun 25. Rules
7th Area QSO Party--Phone, CW, Digital, from May 7, 1300Z to May 8,
0700Z . Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, 144. Frequencies: CW--40 kHz above
band edge; SSB--1.845, 3.855, 7.235, 14.255, 21.355, 28.455. Exchange:
State and county code. Logs due: Jun 5. Rules
==> LOG DUE DATES
27 April through 10 May
April 28 - RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data
April 30 - Oklahoma QSO Party
April 30 - SP DX Contest
April 30 - ARLHS Annual Spring Lites QSO Party
May 1 - BARTG HF RTTY Contest
May 1 - New Mexico QSO Party
May 1 - Feld Hell Sprint
May 1 - UBA Spring Contest, SSB
May 1 - EU Spring Sprint, SSB
May 3 - QCWA Spring QSO Party
May 3 - Missouri QSO Party
May 4 - 222 MHz Spring Sprint
May 9 - 10-10 Int. Spring Contest, Digital
May 9 - PODXS 070 Club PSK 31 Flavors Contest
May 10 - Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest
==> ARRL INFORMATION
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==> ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's
Contest Calendar and SM3CER's
Contest Calendar .
The ARRL Contest Update is published every other Wednesday (26 times
each year). ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by
editing their Member Data Page as described at
http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/.
Copyright (c) 2011 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All
Rights Reserved
the ARRL COntest UPdate posted to the ls_arrl echo via
Radio REscue NEt operations BBS, 1:116/901 thanks to Daryl
Stout, n5vlz, sysop of the THunderbolt BBS, 1:382/33.
Address all comments and questions to the editor as described in this
electronic newsletter.
---
* Origin: (1:116/901)
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