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The ARRL Contest Update
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
May 23, 2012
Editor: Ward Silver, N0AX
==> IN THIS ISSUE
- Dot Dash Disportation - CQ WPX CW
- Lunaphilic Loquaciousness - Worldwide EME Contest
- New Call Sign Compendia
- Two Views of Wireless History
- Friendship 7 - One Half-Century Ago
- Meet the New Results Authors
- iFixit - No, Really!
- World of Webinars
- A Happy Blur
NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO
The CW weekend of the CQ WPX (Worked PrefiX) Contest will be held in
what looks to be good late-spring conditions - keep your fingers
crossed and the prefix table handy! Digifest is a relatively new
contest that exercises the growing number of digital modes in a single
contest. It also calculates contact point value according to the
distance between stations.
BULLETINS
Dayton contest festivity-goers, Contest University attendees, and those
who watched at home will be sad to learn that the guy who made the
Internet audio-video feeds sing - Tom Samacicio KB4HQA - was in a
serious automobile accident on his way home from the Hamvention and
suffered significant injuries. Cards to Tom's home address (3740 Wake
Robin Way, Cumming, GA 30040) or email messages
are welcome. Your editor and members of the Spurious Emissions band in
particular wish him a speedy recovery along with the readership of the
Contest Update. Online posting of the Dayton contest activity videos
are a far lower priority than Tom's recovery. (Thanks, Tim K3LR)
The weekly SNS and NS CW Sprints
are now preceded by a short RTTY sprint, as well! (Thanks, Ed W0YK)
BUSTED QSOS
Penalty points have been taken from your editor's score for the typo
changing SM3EVR's call sign to SM5EVR - Sorry, Tord! (Thanks, Trey N5KO
and Glenn K6NA) And the photos of WG0AT's operations should be credited
to WG0AT. (Thanks, John AE5X)
CONTEST SUMMARY
Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section
May 26-27
- Worldwide EME Contest
- CQ WW WPX Contest--CW
- QRP ARCI Hootowl Sprint--CW (May 28)
- MI QRP Memorial Day CW Sprint
Jun 2-3
- Ten-Ten Open Season--Digital
- Digifest--Digital
- LZ Open 20 Meter Contest--CW
- Maritime (Canadian) QSO Party
- SEANET Contest
- UKSMG Sporadic E Contest
- IARU Region I Field Day--CW
- Alabama QSO Party
- DARC 10 Meter Digital Contest
- OK1WC Memorial Contest (Jun 4)
- ARS Spartan Sprint--CW (Jun 5)
==> NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST
New releases of the HF Super Check Partial
(SCP) and the VHF Super Check
Partial and Prefill database files are now
available. From the HF release notes we learn that the file is based on
more than 40,000 calls and for the RTTY file, just over 11,000 calls.
That's a lot of active stations! To check the version of the HF SCP
files you are using, look for a call beginning with "VER". Every SCP
file includes the version number in the list of calls as "VERYYYYMMDD".
On the VHF side, the release version number is 20120513_00. Only 2011
plus Jan 2012 Logs were used in building the 2012 release of the VHF
file. For either HF or VHF, W9ZRX notes, "...these files are intended
for use ONLY as an OPERATING AID. Their availability does not mitigate
the responsibility of the user to COPY and ENTER the exchange given to
them during a contest." Even with computing power applied, the contest
remains a test of operator skill! (Thanks, Bob WA1Z and Dave W9ZRX)
WRTC2014, Inc. has announced that a draft of the competition rules
has been made available
for review. These are the rules that will be followed by the onsite
competitors. There will be a 30-day open review period. Comments,
suggestions, and corrections are welcome during the comment period and
should be sent by email . The comment period will
close on June 18, 2012 and the final rules will be released before July
1, 2012. The rules are very similar to those used at WRTC 2010 in
Russia. The most significant change is to rule 16.2.4 that allows both
radios to transmit at any time. (Thanks, Andy N2NT)
Kenwood has released a new HF transceiver, the TS-990S. Roving
Contest Update reporter Bob N6TV took the photo at right and observed,
"The 57-pound TS-990S was displayed under glass with the rear panel
completely covered so it is still quite the mystery box. The
sub-receiver performance is claimed to be equivalent to a TS-590S." Bob
was not sure whether it would support phase lock between the two
receivers for true diversity reception. Bob also asked about including
a waterfall display as part of the spectrum display like the Elecraft
P3 but no news will be available until the Friedrichshafen hamfest. The
price is in the $5,000 to $10,000 range and the radio is expected to be
available by November.
The 2012 inductees to the CQ Contest Hall of Fame were celebrated at
the Dayton Contest Dinner. The first was Lothar Wilke, DL3TD (SK), a
leading contester and promoter of contesting in Germany. Under his
leadership, DA0HQ won the IARU World Championship 11 times. It was good
to see a number of German hams there to honor his memory and the full
ceremony will take place at the Friedrichshafen hamfest
. The second inductee was
on-hand to receive his honor -- Jim Reisert, AD1C - he maintains and
constantly updates the CTY country and prefix files on which all of us
depend for proper operation of our logging software. Jim is also an
active contester with a lot of top scores under his belt. In addition,
Gail Sheehan, K2RED, Managing Editor for CQ magazine also received an
award of recognition for her 30 years of service to the CQ WW and WPX
Contest Managers and the contest community.
On this anniversary of the Joplin tornado, it is a good idea to remind
US hams to have the NOAA/NWS weather station frequencies programmed
into their handheld VHF radio memories.
162.400/425/450/475/500/525/550 MHz
Your editor has them programmed into the "top" seven channels - meaning
the memories with the highest numbers. With the "usual" channels
(favorite repeaters, simplex frequencies, etc) beginning at memory 1,
the WX channels are never more than a few clicks away. This can be very
handy when the clouds roll in.
Web Site of the Week - Dave W6NL turned up a great website "QSL Cards
from the Past " by W8JYZ featuring many old
QSL cards, including many of famous hams, such as a 1929 card from
David Packard 9DRV before he founded
Hewlett-Packard. Dave also recommends "The History of Wireless: How
Creative Minds Produced Technology for the Masses
" by Ira Brodsky.
The book begins with critical elements of research by scientists like
Volta and Hertz, moving along through subsequent developments right up
to the present day - and beyond.
==> WORD TO THE WISE
Contest University Glossary - Pat N9RV did a lot of leg work and
created an extensive glossary of all the contest jargon we take for
granted. Presented to the Contest University
students at the Dayton Hamvention, you
too can use it as soon as it is posted on the ARRL Contest website
.
==> SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
From AMSAT bulletin ANS-141, "51 years ago on
May 5, 1961, NASA launched the Mercury-Redstone 3 rocket carrying Alan
B. Shepard, Jr. aboard the Freedom 7 capsule. Shepard successfully
became America's first man in space, making a brief but historic
suborbital test flight that propelled American astronauts into the
space race of the 1960s. NASA has compiled a video
from from
photographs taken by a film camera mounted to the Freedom 7 spacecraft.
Compare the view in 1961 with the latest generation of space video we
routinely receive from the ISS!
The "falling derrick" technique of raising medium and small towers
seems to be catching on as in this YouTube video
. I'm not sure the human
counterweight is a very good idea but the video does illustrate the
idea pretty well. (Thanks, Steve N2IC)
If you had a good time at the Dayton Hamvention, you might also enjoy
the latest music video
from Andrew
and Lissa of the Ham Band. In fact, there seem to be three Lissas in
this one! Bela Fleck of banjo fame is featured, too. (Thanks, Doug
K1DG)
Wouldn't this
have
been just the thing for a pre-computer logging multi-multi or maybe
your next Field Day operation?
==> RESULTS AND RECORDS
Great contest result writeups from two new authors will be on-line
by the end of this
week for the 2011 ARRL 10 Meter Contest (Scott K7ZO) and the 2012
January VHF Sweepstakes (Kevin W9GKA). Featuring a lot of graphics and
in-depth analysis, you'll definitely want to read these. The 6 meter
"play-by-play" maps developed by John K9JK will really whet your
appetite for the upcoming ARRL June VHF QSO Party. Ken WM5R has also
updated the 10 Meter Contest records which have a lot of new call
signs! Section records for the September VHF QSO Party have been
updated to 2011. Comments and corrections are welcome (although we
already know about a minor problem with the million-plus scores in the
Multi-Op table). (Thanks, ARRL Contest Branch Manager, Sean KX9X)
The results of last year's CQ-M contest
are now available online.
You'll find the rules there, too. (Thanks, Henk PA5KT)
The Kansas City DX Club hosted the annual CW Pileup Contest
at the Dayton Hamvention
again this year. For the past couple of years Chuck NO5W's "horse race"
display of real-time action (seen at right) has drawn lots of viewers
and 2012 was no different. The winner was Dave K5GN with 76 calls out
of the possible 100 - a very high score, indeed! Dave last won the
contest during his last visit to the KCDXC hospitality suite - 30 years
ago! First prize was a Yaesu FT-450 - we think Dave will come back next
year to defend his title.
Kevin W9GKA writes, "Congratulations to Zack W9SZ for being awarded
the 2012 June gavel last night at the Society of Midwest Contesters
hospitality suite in Dayton ! Zack has done a
great job over the years at activating everything up through 24 GHz and
most of the time in portable conditions with only a few watts and using
equipment he scratch built."
OPERATING TIP
Study propagation for the summer contests - it's changing rapidly.
Propagation for the end-of-May WPX CW contest is very different than
for the end-of-March WPX SSB contest. Adjust your strategy or pick your
categories accordingly!
==> TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION
Steven K9IER writes, "For years, I've enjoyed reading iFixit without
ever thinking about its applicability to our needs, especially a new
ham wanting to build stuff and needing electronic skills
. In
addition, they offer a supply of tools and things that support the
interests of a repair person or just any curious ham."
The slim new book, "The ABCs of Software Defined Radio
" by
Martin Ewing, AA6E is an excellent introduction to the practical
characteristics and use of SDRs. Avoiding the usual math-heavy
treatments of SDR and DSP, the book includes a few block diagrams but
focuses on what SDR does and how it affects operating. With nearly
every new radio incorporating digital technology to greater and greater
extents, this is a good first read to start you down the on-ramp to the
SDR highway.
Two recent articles on the Electronic Design web site make good
reference reading. The first explains the difference between voltage
feedback and current feedback op amps
.
A second goes through all of the new (and old) amplifier operating
classes
,
explaining the differences.
Jim K9YC has discovered a line-loss modeling program called SimSmith
, a Java application written by
Ward AE6TY with documentation available from the program's website. One
application is translating impedance measured at the shack end of a
feed line to impedance at the antenna. The resulting SWR data can then
be used to design matching networks, for example.
Technical Web Site of the Week - Microwave Journal
offers a number of live and archived
webinars in association with Besser and Associates. The most recent
entry is Mixers and Frequency Conversion
and an extensive archive of previous material is available from the
Events page.
==> CONVERSATION
A Happy Blur
The Dayton Hamvention generally goes like this for me:
- Step One - preparation
- Step Two - panic as preparation falls behind
- Step Three - leave for Dayton anyway
- Step Four - engage in several days of high-bandwidth hamming
- Step Five - drive home wondering "What just happened?"
This year was no different. There is so much to see and so many
friends to greet that you just have to forget about doing it "all". I'm
not even sure anyone knows what "all" is, anyway! Sometimes I feel like
a dog with its head outside the car, ears flapping in the wind, happily
barking at anything and everything - "Hey! Hey! Hey!" (as well as
asking, "You gonna eat that?")
I really enjoy the Visalia International DX Convention, too - it's like
Sweepstakes in that you can find and work every multiplier - but the
Dayton Hamvention is like the CQ World Wide. There's no way you'll even
hear every mult, much less work them! If you go, be prepared to come
back having left more than a few things undone and faces unseen.
Just wandering around listening to the sounds was very cool - over here
was the chatter of antique telegraph sounders. Around the corner was
the busy stitching at one of the several embroidery booths as another
call sign went on another new baseball cap. Audio Alley sported lots to
listen to - every time I went by one of the Ham Nation
hosts was busy giving an interview or telling a story. Radio noise and
conversations were everywhere. It is possibly the one place left on
Earth where conversations on handhelds outnumber those on mobile
phones.
And thanks to the Dayton Hamvention committee, led by Mike Kalter
W8CI, for a lot of hard work that paid off over the weekend. The
weather could not have been better and attendance seemed to be very
good with a big Friday turnout, especially. Putting on such a big show
is a lot of work and takes a lot of time that might be put to other
uses, such as ham radio operating. We appreciate it!
I'll be posting photos from Dayton throughout the next couple of issues
- some of people, some of gear - it was all good. Support your local
hamfest(s) this year - you won't regret it. Maybe even serve on the
planning committee or volunteer your time at an information booth or in
the parking lot. And do put Dayton on your "bucket list" if you haven't
been there yet.
73, Ward N0AX
==> CONTESTS
23 May through 5 June 2012
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
CQ WW WPX Contest--CW, from May 26, 0000Z to May 27, 2400Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST and serial. Logs due: Jun 20. Rules
QRP ARCI Hootowl Sprint--CW, from May 27, 8 PM to May 27, Midnight.
Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST, S/P/C QRP number or power. Logs
due: 14 days. Rules
MI QRP Memorial Day CW Sprint--CW, from May 28, 2300Z to May 29, 0300Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, MI QRP number or power. Logs
due: 30 days. Rules
Ten-Ten Open Season--Digital, from Jun 2, 0000Z to Jun 3, 2400Z. Bands
(MHz): 28. Exchange: Call, name, S/P/C, member numbers. Logs due: 15
days. Rules
Digifest--Digital, from Jun 2, 0400Z to see website. Multiple operating
periods. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST and grid square. Logs due:
7 days. Rules
LZ Open 20 Meter Contest--CW, from Jun 2, 1100Z to Jun 2, 1500Z. Bands
(MHz): 14. Exchange: 6-digit serial and serial from previous QSO. Logs
due: 10 days. Rules
Maritime (Canadian) QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Jun 2, 1200Z to Jun 3,
0300Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50,144, Frequencies: 25 to 50 kHz from band
edge. Exchange: Maritime county or S/P/C. Logs due: 1 month. Rules
SEANET Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Jun 2, 1200Z to Jun 3, 1200Z.
Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Frequencies: CW--3.525, 7.025, 14.025, 21.025,
28.025, SSB--3.540/3.790, 7.090, 14.320, 21.320, 28.320. Exchange:
RS(T), serial. Logs due: Jul 31. Rules
IARU Region I Field Day--CW, from Jun 2, 1500Z to Jun 3, 1459Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST, serial. Rules - see IARU society websites
Alabama QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Jun 2, 1600Z to Jun 3, 0400Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8-28. Frequencies: CW--1.810, 3.545, 7.045, 14.045, 21.045,
28.045; PH--1.865, 3.855, 7.230, 14.250, 21.300, 28.450. Exchange:
RS(T) and AL county or S/P/C. Logs due: 30 days. Rules
DARC 10 Meter Digital Contest--Digital, from Jun 3, 1100Z to Jun 3,
1700Z. Bands (MHz): 28. Exchange: RST, serial number. Logs due: 14
days. Rules
OK1WC Memorial Contest--Phone,CW, from Jun 4, 1600Z to see website.
Bands (MHz): 3.5, 50, 144, Frequencies: First through fourth Monday of
each month; see website for bands. Exchange: RS(T) and serial. Logs
due: 7 days. Rules
ARS Spartan Sprint--CW, from Jun 5, 0200Z to Jun 5, 0400Z. Bands (MHz):
3.5-28. Frequencies: Monthly on the first Monday evening. Exchange:
RST, S/P/C, and power. Logs due: 2 days. Rules
VHF+ CONTESTS
Worldwide EME Contest--Phone,CW, from May 26, 0000Z to May 27, 2400Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.2G. Exchange: TMO/RS(T) and "R". Logs due: Jun 25. Rules
UKSMG Sporadic E Contest--Phone,CW,Digital, from Jun 2, 1300Z to Jun 3,
1300Z. Bands (MHz): 50, Frequencies: No QSOs below 50.080 or from
50.100-130 MHz. Exchange: RST, member nr, 6-char grid locator. Logs
due: Jul 1. Rules
OK1WC Memorial Contest--Phone,CW, from Jun 4, 1600Z to see website.
Bands (MHz): 3.5, 50, 144, Frequencies: First through fourth Monday of
each month; see website for bands. Exchange: RS(T) and serial. Logs
due: 7 days. Rules
==> LOG DUE DATES
23 May through 5 June 2012
- May 23 - RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data
- May 26 - Feld Hell Sprint
- May 27 - Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
- May 28 - QRP to the Field
- May 29 - SP DX RTTY Contest
- May 29 - 50 MHz Spring Sprint
- May 30 - International Vintage Contest HF
- May 31 - BARTG Sprint 75
- May 31 - Florida QSO Party
- May 31 - Nebraska QSO Party
- May 31 - AGCW QRP/QRP Party
- May 31 - Holyland DX Contest
- May 31 - CQ Manchester Mineira DX Contest
- May 31 - MIE 33 Contest
- May 31 - QRP Minimal Art Session
- June 1 - South Dakota QSO Party
- June 2 - 7th Call Area QSO Party
- June 2 - Portuguese Navy Day Contest
- June 2 - Slobozhansky Sprint Contest
- June 3 - WAB LF Phone
- June 4 - EU PSK DX Contest
- June 5 - New England QSO Party
==> 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) 2012 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All
Rights Reserved
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