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The ARRL Contest Update
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
August 3, 2011
Editor: Ward Silver, N0AX
==> IN THIS ISSUE
- Surf the Ultra-Highs - ARRL UHF Contest
- A Summer's Day of Fun - NAQP CW
- Ham Overboard - at 200 Miles Up!
- W3ZZ - CSVHF President's Award Recipient
- WRTC-2014 Video by 9V1YC
- Wisconsin QSO Party - Online
- High-resistance Shorts
- Harvesting Wild RF Energy
- RTTY RKKY RNDP
NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO
If working the Islands On the Air (IOTA) contest activated your
foghorn, check out International Lighthouse-Lightship Week. The Worked
All Europe (WAE) CW weekend also features a unusual and challenging
"QTC" aspect of competition. Those of you new to ham radio in the past
three years can enjoy the ARRL's first-ever RTTY version of the Rookie
Roundup , too!
BULLETINS
Your editor spent some time over the past couple of weeks rambling
around the Eastern Seaboard to get a sample of that cool
ocean-moderated summer weather...NOT! Triple-digit temps
notwithstanding, the time spent in the vicinity of ARRL HQ and then on
the North Carolina beach was most enjoyable. Thus, this issue is a mere
shadow of its usual voluminous self but rest assured that the August
16th version will be back to normal.
BUSTED QSOS
Well, the Bumblebees didn't take flight until this past Sunday - I hope
you caught a few in the Flight of the Bumblebees contest. I can't spell
very well, either - it's Friedrichshafen and Phoenix. And the Rohn 9H50
push-up mast has a total extended height of 34 feet, not 50 feet.
(Thanks, Jake K9WN)
CONTEST SUMMARY
Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section
Aug 6-7
- ARRL UHF Contest
- North American QSO Party--CW
- SNS and NS Weekly Sprints--CW (Aug 5)
- Lighthouse-Lightship Week
- TARA Grid Dip Shindig--Digital
- 10-10 Summer Phone QSO Party
- European HF Championship
- South Africa DX Contest--Phone
- NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint--CW (Aug 10)
- CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Test--(Aug 10)
Aug 13-14
- Worked All Europe--CW
- Dominican Republic Contest--Phone
- Maryland-DC QSO Party
- Straight Key Weekend Sprint
==> NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST
You can watch the deployment of ARISSat-1
on NASA's website
beginning at 1400 UTC on Wednesday, August 3, as two Russian cosmonauts
undertake a six-hour spacewalk that will include the satellite's
deployment. Expedition 28 Russian Flight Engineers Sergei Volkov,
RU3DIS, and Alexander Samokutyaev will launch the satellite from the
ISS near the beginning of the spacewalk. You can learn more in this
ARRL website story
and EDN magazine e-newsletter article
.
The southern hemisphere's first-ever Contest University - Brasil
was a big success! Held in Porto
Alegre (PY3) the well-organized 1-1/2 day program of 18 classes
attracted around 200 attendees including a number of unlicensed
students from the host technical school whose club call sign in PY3MHZ.
Faculty included K5ZD, K1DG, W3LPL, W9KNI, LU8ADX/AY8A, CX6VM/CW5W, and
XE1KK. Local presenters included PU5AAD, PY3PR, PY3KD, PY5HSD, PY1NB,
PP5JD, and PY5CC/PP5XX. You can see some of the happenings as YouTube
videos (search for "CTU Brasil"), including
top long-distance attendee PV8DXs video summary
. CTU has now been held in
Dayton, Friedrichshafen, England, Italy, and Brasil...rapidly becoming
a global program. Thanks to the Araucaria DX Group, Icom, and local
companies for supporting CTU! (Thanks, WRTC-2014 co-chairs, Doug K1DG
and Randy K5ZD)
I'm sorry to report the sudden passing of Scott Lehman, N9AG - a member
of the J6DX contest team and their QSL manager as well as for PJ2T and
other J6 and PJ2 calls.
Web Site of the Week - Tim K3LR reports that Gene Zimmerman, W3ZZ
received the Central States VHF Society
(CSVHF) Presidents Award during its 45th annual conference this weekend
in Irving, TX. The CSVHF Presidents award recognizes Gene's unselfish
contribution of his time and knowledge to the Amateur Radio hobby.
These awards arevery rare - there are only two other recipients of this
award in the last 45 years. Congratulations, Gene!
==> SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
The featured item in this category is a new WRTC-2014 video
by professional
videographer James 9V1YC. If you are asked, "What is WRTC and why
should I support it?" you could offer this video as a good start! The
high quality of video production and running time of just under 5
minutes makes it ideal for use at radio club meetings, for introducing
amateur radio to young people, or promoting ham radio at public events.
WORD TO THE WISE
Salt water - can it help your HF signal? After extensive research in a
previously undisclosed beach-front location, I can conclusively report
that the answer is yes!
==> RESULTS AND RECORDS
Tom K9BTQ reports that results for the 2011 Wisconsin QSO Party
are online including a PDF version
of the writeup.
OPERATING TIP
Use a coaster when putting a cold 807 on your log sheets - and use a
pencil since graphite does not run when wet.
==> TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION
For some fun summer techie reading, check out the Design News magazine
"Sherlock Ohms
" column. The
recent "High-Resistance Shorts" is a good example. I attribute shorts
resistance to my failure to watch what I eat on vacation but maybe it
is electrical after all...
Technical Web Site of the Week - What do you think would happen if you
brought one of these
into the near field of a big multi-multi station? (Thanks, Kirk K4RO)
==> CONVERSATION
RTTY RKKY RNDP
We have an excellent opportunity coming up to capitalize on the
computer savvy of new and potential hams! The upcoming ARRL Rookie
Roundup (August 21st, 1800-2400
UTC) will be conducted using RTTY for the first time. While watching
the St Charles Amateur Radio Club's excellent Field Day GOTA station
coach, Jeff AC0SC, lead new hams through the paces of making PSK31 QSOs
I realized that digital operation is probably the most comfortable and
thus the most attractive for someone just getting involved with ham
radio.
Why not phone? After all, everybody can talk, right? Well, sure, but
making a phone QSO is a brand-new and awfully unfamiliar process for
non-hams. Aside from mike fright, general nervousness and
self-consciousness, there is all that QRN and QRM to contend with, the
weird (to rookies) contact protocol and exchange, the
hard-to-understand (again, to rookies) filtered and low-fidelity voice,
and so forth. All of these make it hard for a rookie to jump right in
with confidence.
On the other hand, digital operating lowers the psychological
barriers to entry quite a bit (so to speak). No more scratchy voices -
on RTTY, all you have to do is just line up the signal peaks or get the
ellipses balanced on the display and the software does the rest. No one
will ever hear your nervous voice and the keyboard doesn't care if your
fingers are a little uncertain. The interface is completely familiar to
most people - keyboard and mouse and computer software. The contact
protocol is easy to learn without all the other simultaneous
distractions - select the colored call sign, press the macro key, wait
for the response, accept the information and press another macro key.
Presto - you just made a contest QSO! As the photo shows, even my mom
made a digital contact under Jeff's patient tutelage. In the past 40
years, I could no more get her to make a voice contact than jump off
the high dive - fuggidaboudit! Yet there she was putting a WB0HSI
contact in the log!
So here's your assignment - get together with the Field Day GOTA coach
and reach out to one or two of the most interested rookies. Invite them
over to your station for a Sunday afternoon of operating - for an hour
or the whole contest. If you don't have a GOTA log to work from,
contact the local general-purpose radio club and find those new hams.
Get them on the air! The Rookie Roundup is a low-pressure way to show
how simple contacts can be made using skills they may already have in
an environment with which they are already familiar.
What's that - your station isn't set up for RTTY? This is great
opportunity for YOU, then, isn't it? There is plenty of time to put
together or buy a simple audio interface. Many late-model radios even
have direct data interfaces to simplify the connection even further.
Just do an on-line search for your radio model and RTTY or digital
modes - you may be surprised at how simple it can be. I am a poster boy
for this - I've dabbled in RTTY and PSK31, but having made the
invitation, I am now going to have my station set up for low-power RTTY
and PSK31 operation by the 21st. (I may even get my mom back over
here...)
What's that - your contest software isn't set up for RTTY? Another
great opportunity! The latest word is that the N1MM software package
will have a version that supports RTTY for the Rookie Roundup in time
for the contest. Other contest packages support RTTY and you can
operate the contest using a "General QSO" configuration in most cases.
Another option is to create a free account on In The Log
and enter your contact information separately
from whatever digital mode software you use. As an added bonus,
stations using In The Log can see the scoring totals of all other
Rookie Roundup participants using In The Log, too!
The biggest name in RTTY contesting, Don AA5AU is
thoroughly supportive of the RTTY Rookie Roundup as is CQ WW DX Contest
manager, Ed W0YK. They know how much fun digital mode contesting is and
how easy it is to get going...once you get started.
So what's holding you back? Recruit a rookie or two, get your station
configured, clear off the operating desk and have some summertime fun.
Who knows, you might find yourself jumping into an RTTY contest or two
yourself? There are more "Dig" checks in the Contest Corral's
mode column every month!
73, Ward N0AX
==> CONTESTS
3 August through 16 August
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
North American QSO Party--CW, from Aug 6, 1800Z to Aug 7, 0600Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: Name and state. Logs due: 14 days. Rules
SNS and NS Weekly Sprints--CW, from Aug 5, 0200Z to Aug 5, 0300Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8-14. Exchange: Serial, name, and S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days.
Rules
Lighthouse-Lightship Week--Phone,CW,Digital, from Aug 6, 0000Z to Aug
7, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Frequencies: See website. Exchange:
Serial or ARLHS mbr/light nr and name, S/P/C. Logs due: Aug 31. Rules
TARA Grid Dip Shindig--Digital, from Aug 6, 0000Z to Aug 6, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 160-28, 50. Exchange: Name and 4-char grid square. Logs
due: Sep 3. Rules
10-10 Summer Phone QSO Party--Phone, from Aug 6, 0001Z to Aug 7, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 28. Exchange: Call, name, 10-10 number, S/P/C. Logs due:
Aug 22. Rules
European HF Championship--Phone,CW, from Aug 6, 1200Z to Aug 6, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T), last two digits of 1st year
licensed. Logs due: Aug 31. Rules
South Africa DX Contest--Phone, from Aug 7, 1300Z to Aug 7, 1630Z.
Bands (MHz): 3.5-14. Exchange: RS and serial. Logs due: 14 Aug. Rules
NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint--CW, from Aug 10, 0030Z to Aug 10, 0230Z.
Bands (MHz): 3.5-14. Frequencies: Monthly on 2nd Tuesday or 3rd
Wednesday (alternating). Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and NAQCC mbr nr or
power. Logs due: 4 days. Rules
CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Test--CW, from Aug 10, 1300Z to Aug 11, 0400Z -
multiple operating periods. Bands (MHz): 3.5-14. Frequencies: 18 to 28
kHz above band edge. Exchange: Name and member number or S/P/C. Logs
due: 2 days. Rules
Worked All Europe--CW, from Aug 13, 0000Z to Aug 14, 2359Z. Bands
(MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST and serial (see Web for QTC rules). Logs
due: 15 days. Rules
Dominican Republic Contest--Phone, from Aug 13, 0000Z to Aug 14, 0000Z.
Bands (MHz): 3.5-7. Exchange: RS and serial. Logs due: 4 Sep. Rules
Maryland-DC QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Aug 13, 1600Z to Aug 14,
0400Z to Aug 15, 0000Z - multiple operating periods. Bands (MHz):
1.8-28, 50-440, Frequencies: see website. Exchange: Maryland
County/City or S/P/C. Logs due: Sep 14. Rules
Straight Key Weekend Sprint--CW, from Aug 14, 0000Z to Aug 14, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member number. Logs
due: 5 days. Rules
VHF+ CONTESTS
ARRL UHF Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Aug 6, 1800Z to Aug 7, 1800Z.
Bands (MHz): 222+. Exchange: 4-char grid square. Logs due: Sep 6. Rules
TARA Grid Dip Shindig--Digital, from Aug 6, 0000Z to Aug 6, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 160-28, 50. Exchange: Name and 4-char grid square. Logs
due: Sep 3. Rules
Maryland-DC QSO Party--Phone,CW,Digital, from Aug 13, 1600Z to Aug 14,
0400Z to Aug 15, 0000Z - multiple operating periods. Bands (MHz):
1.8-28, 50-440, Frequencies: see website. Exchange: Maryland
County/City or S/P/C. Logs due: Sep 14. Rules
Straight Key Weekend Sprint--CW, from Aug 14, 0000Z to Aug 14, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member number. Logs
due: 5 days. Rules
==> LOG DUE DATES
3 August through 16 August
August 2 - PODXS 070 Club 40m Firecracker Sprint
August 3 - MI QRP July 4th CW Sprint
August 3 - ARS Flight of the Bumblebees
August 4 - ARS Spartan Sprint
August 8 - FISTS Summer Sprint
August 9 - IARU HF World Championship
August 10 - ARCI Summer Homebrew Sprint
August 10 - DL-DX RTTY Contest
August 14 - WAB 144 MHz QRO Phone
August 16 - CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush
==> 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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