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The ARRL Contest Update
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
July 6, 2011
Editor: Ward Silver, N0AX
==> IN THIS ISSUE
- A Long Summer's Day - IARU HF Championship
- North American QSO Party - RTTY Style
- New ACOM Amp at Friederichschafen
- Clock of the Long Now
- Bulgarian HF Blog
- 6 Meter Stat Summary
- Belly Up to the Grounding Bar
- Lets Talk Taps
- It's ALL Multiop
NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO
The annual midsummer night's dream of the IARU HF World Championship is
a lot of fun with its summertime propagation (watch 20 at night!),
24-hour format (think the Le Mans road race), and dual-mode operating.
It's an exciting change and a good opportunity to keep your skills
sharp after Field Day. The following weekend features several digital
contests to try, as well!
BULLETINS
There are no bulletins in this issue.
BUSTED QSOS
Bill N5RKD notes that the Chinese radio telescope mentioned last time
will be 500 meters across and Arecibo is 305 meters across.
CONTEST SUMMARY
Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section
July 9-10
- IARU HF World Championship
- SNS and NS Weekly Sprints--CW (Jul 8)
- FISTS Summer Sprint--CW (Jul 8)
- Straight Key Weekend Sprint--
- QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew--CW
July 16-17
- North American QSO Party RTTY
- CQ WW VHF Contest
- CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Test (Jul 13)
- DMC RTTY Contest
- Feld-Hell Telephone Sprint
- Russian Radio Team Championship
- CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush--CW
- Run For the Bacon - Monthly--CW (Jul 18)
==> NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST
Bob W5OV just got back from the big Friederichschafen hamfest in
Bavaria and posted a big photo album
of new
products, shots of the goings-on in the Array Solutions booth,
beautiful pictures of the countryside, and so forth. The most notable
new item was a solid-state 800-watt amplifier from Acom. It apparently
includes a tuner and sounds very attractive. No word on availability in
the US.
The August issue of the RSGB's Radcom will feature The Joy Of
Contesting 2.0 by well-known DXer and contester Mark M0DXR. It's a good
read and makes a good example of how competitive operating - i.e.
radiosport - makes a very attractive entry to ham radio. (Thanks, Tim
K3LR)
Regarding the new Russian prefix assignments mentioned in the previous
issue, Joe W4TV notes a potential problem. "Most contests recognize the
ARRL DXCC list as the basis for multipliers. The DXCC List treats some
of the areas mentioned as being in Europe as Asiatic Russia." Joe
advises waiting for some action by the DXCC Manager before making any
changes in your CTY files.
Felipe PY1NB has recently created a set of statistics tools on the
DX Watch website that uses spotting network
data. The tools include Top Spots Per Band and Continent
, Top Self-Spotters
, and an
interesting Lid Fest . I
guess there is no shortage of data for that last one!
Fred KE7X has written a new book about the Elecraft K3, "The Elecraft
K3: Design, Configuration, and Operation
." Even if you are not a K3
owner but are interested in this top-flight radio, Fred's presentation
make for great radio reading! (Thanks, Ken K0PP)
Here's an interesting website
that helps you figure out what all those strange logos are that seem to
be plastered all over every piece of electronics. We all recognize the
Underwriter Labs mark, but those others? They must mean something,
right? Bueller? I assume NOM doesn't mean "good to eat"!
The largest number of transmitters I encountered in a Field Day
exchange this year was 25 for the W3AO "humungotron" effort. Always WAY
up there, receiving that exchange never fails to raise an eyebrow or
bring on a stare of disbelief on the other end of the QSO as the
possibilities are considered. If you'd like to have a look at what such
an effort entails, have a look at N3ALN's photo album
from the weekend. It makes me
tired just to look at it! Even is 25 seems like a big number, consider
doubling it to 50! The W3AO team hit that mark in 2004 and you can
watch the operation on the video, "The Last BIG Field Day" that can be
purchased from Amateur Radio Video News
(ARVN) for a reasonable cost. (Thanks, Tim K3LR and Gary KN4AQ)
Web Site of the Week - In this faster-faster-faster world, something
with a mission of going slow, slower, slowest certainly is attention
getting! Such is the Clock of the Long Now
- a clock designed to tick
once every year for 10,000 years! (The cuckoo is really, really
patient...) The Long Now Foundation just received an investment from
Jeff Bezos and may be able to start building the clock
"soon",
although I suppose that's a relative term!
WORD TO THE WISE
Invitation - the August 21st Rookie Roundup
will be using RTTY for the first
time. New hams may be more familiar with computer technology and so may
be naturally interested in digital contesting, more than voice or
Morse. Why not invite a new ham over to take part? Now is the time to
make the invitation so that it can be worked into the busy summer
months.
==> SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
Dennis W1UE has a blog underway from
the Bulgarian LZ HF Championship that ran on
July 2nd. Several US teams took part and as of editing this issue, the
final finishing places haven't yet been announced.
EME'ers are well-acquainted with the various "wobbles" of the Moon
as it travels along its orbit. Here's a visualization
in the form of a time-lapse video from the Goddard Space Flight Center.
It uses data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to compress one
month into 12 seconds and one year into 2.5 minutes. (From the AMSAT
Weekly Bulletin, ANS-177)
Cory WA3UVV found a scrolling license plate frame
online. He suggests trying
messages such as "Follow me to Field Day". With a ham license plate, it
could be a novel form of PR for Amateur Radio!
Another space-related animation depicts
key events of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, which will launch
in late 2011 and land a rover, Curiosity, on Mars in August 2012.
Sooner or later these are going to have a ham radio on them and then
will they count as a multiplier? (From the AMSAT
Weekly Bulletin, ANS-184)
Field Day operators who dealt with the wrath of Donner and Blitzen this
past weekend may wish to take a gander at this art installation
and consider the
possibilities!
Old-time QSL aficionados will enjoy this very cool story about Otto
Eppers , a guy who drew
the cartoons for a bunch of those old cards.
==> RESULTS AND RECORDS
Curt K9AKS has been keeping 6 meter stats and he reports that of the
fourteen stations who worked at least 280 grids in any year on 6
meters, eight did so in 2011. Four more stations followed with at least
268 grids in 2011. The very highest totals, 337, 314 and 310, however,
were achieved in 2010. In fact, the highest thirteen grid totals (over
280) were all worked in either 2010 or 2011. A couple of pretty good
years on six - very widespread openings brought high grid totals. Eight
stations claimed over 1200 QSOs on 6 this year, but none over 1500
where the top four all time totals still reside. Four of the top ten
all-time QSO totals are claimed for 2011. The trends are clear; in
years with good conditions, grid and QSO totals will continue to rise.
All of the results, certificate and plaque winners for the 2010 Ontario
QSO Party are now
available on the OQP website. PDF certificates are available and plaque
winners will receive their prize by mail. A special thanks to
compiler-in-chief, Bob VE3KZ. (Thanks, Don VE3XD)
OPERATING TIP
It has been observed that many Field Day operators tended to run their
pileups like a traffic net. For example, a caller would be acknowledged
without giving an exchange, leading to an extra round of communications
in every contact. For example,
- CQ FD KO0A
- [pileup]
- W1ABC go ahead
- KO0A de W1ABC 1A EMA
- W1ABC 2A MO
- QSL
- TU FD KO0A
While this is OK on a directed net, it's not efficient during Field
Day. Similarly, calling a station and giving the full exchange is a way
to check into a traffic net but doesn't work well otherwise. So we have
some mentoring to do about effective technique. If you don't think this
is a significant waste of time, consider having to say the extra
back-and-forth 1000 times in a row before you could begin regular
operation!
==> TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION
Jim W6RMK reminds us of the ubiquitous and inexpensive "grounding bar
" used
inside a circuit breaker box. Each bar has plenty of holes with clamp
screws on each one. Used with an anti-oxidation compound, these make
great grounding busses for radials and ground wires.
And as far as laying those radials...why dig when your lawn will
bury the radials for you? Cut your grass very short - then within hours
lay the radials by hand, held down by galvanized landscape pins (a
short piece of galvanized wire bent double works just fine) and with
the end of each wire wrapped around a pin pushed deep. Set the mower a
bit higher for the next few cuttings. Water to keep the sod growing at
a fast rate - if needed. In four weeks or so all radials will self-bury
and be gone under the sod. After five years the radials are down about
6 inches - all on their own. (Thanks, Tim K3LR)
Here's a video tour of a
professional PC board manufacturer (Advanced Circuits). If you ever
wanted to know just how it's done, take this tour and listen to the
explanation!
Microwave Journal just ran an informative article on the materials used
to make cables
.
Food for thought!
Julius N2WN had to pull some ground rods while relocating a couple of
verticals. He uses copper tubing but this would work with rods too.
Take a pipe wrench and gently break the rod loose by twisting back and
forth. Once loose, apply a slight upward pressure and basically
"unscrew" the rods from the ground.
The current issue of Nuts and Volts
magazine includes a "Bat Detector" ultrasonic receiver. What does this
have to do with radio? It contains a nice discussion of heterodyning in
a different context, for one thing. Also, the use of ultrasonics could
create an interesting parallel to radiosport, using different frequency
ranges and a simple ultrasonic transmitter, no licenses required!
Technical Web Site of the Week - Tapped antenna loading coil design is
aided by two online calculators. The first one
estimates the coil inductance value for a given frequency, radiator
length, and position of the coil along the radiator. The second
gives you the
number of windings you'll need for a given coil diameter, length, and
given inductance value. (Thanks, Pete W1PNS)
==> CONVERSATION
It's ALL Multi-op
Wasn't Field Day fun? Even for the dyed-in-the-wool single-ops, the
annual Field Day cooperative adventures and misadventures are a great
antidote to the "all by myself" perspective. I think that's one reason
why yesteryear's great W1ICD QST covers of June and July were so
resonant with so many. Team building and planning, followed by the
inevitable collision with reality, are such a deep part of Amateur
Radio. And if it can be humorous and fun along the way, well, who's to
quibble with that?
Sitting around in one of the few remaining dry spots on Saturday
night with the rest of the night owls of the St Charles Amateur Radio
Club (KO0A) and waiting for the barrage of thunderstorms to pass us by,
it was an opportunity to share some stories and a few laughs. Some of
us were brand-new to the game and others old hands, but we were all
sharing a common goal and had our shoulders to the same wheel. There
were many hands to share the set up and just as many to take it all
down again on Sunday. The memories of that weather-filled night won't
distinguish between Tech, General, and Extra.
John Sluymer, VE3EJ, in his recent CQ Contest Hall of Fame acceptance
speech stated as much by recounting just how many of his achievements
depended on more than just himself. So many times through the speech,
he came back to "again, multiop." Although recognized for his personal
achievements, John richly deserves his position on the HOF list even
more because of his acknowledgement that all of us get here with many
helping hands.
Even if we send in our logs as "Single-Op" in a contest, it's more
than likely that more than one person was involved in getting a station
going. Family members pitch in - or help make space in your life for
you to do the work. Antenna-raising work parties - think "Seven Beams
for Seven Brothers" - are as fundamental a part of ham radio as you can
get. And then there are the after-meeting-meetings when tips and tricks
and troubleshooting techniques are traded.
No, there's little in our stations that is truly a single-op effort.
Certainly, it would be a lonely hobby without all of you out there.
Thanks for helping your fellow hams and almost-hams and
going-to-be-hams. Maybe Marconi did it himself but even Guglielmo
needed a pair of ears on "the other end" to receive that first
trans-Atlantic "S".
73, Ward N0AX
==> CONTESTS
6 July through 19 July 2011
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
IARU HF World Championship--Phone,CW, from Jul 9, 1200Z to Jul 10,
1200Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST and IARU zone. Logs due: 30
days. Rules
SNS and NS Weekly Sprints--CW, from Jul 8, 0200Z to Jul 8, 0300Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8-14. Exchange: Serial, name, and S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days.
Rules
FISTS Summer Sprint--CW, from Jul 8, 2000 EDT to Jul 8, 2400 EDT. Bands
(MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, name, FISTS number or pwr. Logs
due: 30 days. Rules
Straight Key Weekend Sprint--CW, from Jul 10, 0000Z to Jul 10, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member number. Logs
due: 5 days. Rules
QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew--CW, from Jul 10, 2000Z to Jul 10, 2400Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, QRP number or power. Logs
due: Aug 12. Rules
CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Test--CW, from Jul 13, 1300Z to Jul 14, 0400Z
and See website, See website to , See website. Bands (MHz): 3.5-14.
Frequencies: Multiple operating periods, twice monthly on 2nd and 4th
Wed, 18 to 28 kHz above band edge. Exchange: Name and member number or
S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days. Rules
DMC RTTY Contest--Digital, from Jul 16, 1200Z to Jul 17, 1200Z. Bands
(MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST and serial. Logs due: Aug 18. Rules
Feld-Hell Telephone Sprint--Digital, from Jul 16, 1600Z to Jul 16,
1800Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Frequencies: Monthly on 3rd Saturday.
Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Feld-Hell member nr or age. Logs due: 7 days.
Rules
North American QSO Party RTTY--Digital, from Jul 16, 1800Z to Jul 17,
0600Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: Name and S/P/C. Logs due: 14
days. Rules
Russian Radio Team Championship--Phone,CW, from Jul 17, 0700Z to Jul
17, 1459Z. Bands (MHz): 7-28. Exchange: RS(T) and ITU zone or 3-letter
code. Logs due: Jul 18. Rules
CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush--CW, from Jul 17, 2000Z to Jul 17, 2159Z.
Bands (MHz): 14. Exchange: RST, serial, category, CQC member nr. Logs
due: 30 days. Rules
Run For the Bacon - Monthly--CW, from Jul 18, 0100Z to Jul 18, 0300Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Flying Pig nr or power.
Rules
VHF+ CONTESTS
CQ WW VHF Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Jul 16, 1800Z to Jul 17,
2100Z. Bands (MHz): 50,144. Exchange: 4-digit grid square. Logs due:
Sep 1. Rules
Straight Key Weekend Sprint--CW, from Jul 10, 0000Z to Jul 10, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member number. Logs
due: 5 days. Rules
==> LOG DUE DATES
6 July through 19 July 2011
July 10 - WAB 50 MHz Phone
July 12 - REF DDFM 6m Contest
July 13 - ARRL June VHF QSO Party
July 15 - His Maj. King of Spain Contest, SSB
July 16 - VK/Trans-Tasman 160m Contest, Phone
July 18 - Kid's Day 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
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