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The ARRL Contest Update
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
August 1, 2012
Editor: Ward Silver, N0AX
==> IN THIS ISSUE
- See You On the Ultra-Highs - ARRL UHF Contest
- Mega-message Merriment - Worked All Europe
- CQ WW Tightens Log Deadlines
- Automagic Contest Calendar by DL2NBY
- WRTC 2014 - Testing One, Two...Fifteen!
- ARRL DX Phone - Extended Writeup Online
- Getting a Leg Up on Tower Alignment
- Is a dB or Two Worth the Effort?
- Bring on the Rookies!
NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO
If you are chasing your Worked All States
award (WAS) there can hardly be imagined a better opportunity for
putting those "last few" in the log than the one-day-only North
American QSO Party sponsored by the NCJ. The CW version is this
Saturday and the Phone version is on the 18th - both are 100 watts and
all you have to exchange is your name and state! The Worked All
Europe's CW weekend opens up the fall contest season, too.
BULLETINS
For those of you reading this from outside the United States and Canada
and who have yet to submit your IARU HF Championship log, please be
sure that your Cabrillo log includes the tag line "LOCATION: DX" in the
header at the beginning of the file. If this is missing, the log will
be rejected by the contest's log submission robot. Logs should be
submitted to iaruhf@iaru.org. (Thanks, ARRL Contest Branch Manager,
Sean KX9X)
BUSTED QSOS
OSCAR 1, which launched on December 12, 1961 was actually the first
satellite constructed with private sponsorship, something of which the
amateur community in general, and the amateur satellite community
particularly, is justifiably proud. (Thanks, Paul K9NO)
CONTEST SUMMARY
Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section
August 4-5
- ARRL UHF Contest
- North American QSO Party--CW
- Int'l Lighthouse-Lightship Contest
- TARA Grid Dip Shindig--Digital
- 10-10 Summer Phone QSO Party
- European HF Championship
- South Africa DX SSB Contest
August 11-12
- OK1WC Memorial Contest (Aug 6)
- CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Test (Aug 8)
- Worked All Europe--CW
- Maryland-DC QSO Party
- Fall VHF Sprints
- Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon
- NJQRP Skeeter Hunt--CW
==> NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST
CQ WW Director, Bob Cox K3EST announced, "With the technology available
today and the presence of the Internet practically everywhere, it has
been decided to reduce the log submission time for all CQ contests to
five (5) days. Approximately 70% of all electronic logs (more than
10,000!) were received within 7 days after the contest. We realize that
in some cases circumstances may not allow a timely submission. If an
entrant requires more time to submit a log, an extension can be granted
for legitimate reasons by contacting questions@cqww.com. Send your
email to that address prior to the submission deadline - including
before the contest if you expect to require more time. We encourage
clubs to notify their members of the new deadline as they may not be
aware of the rule change. This is an excellent opportunity for clubs to
help members generate and email Cabrillo-formatted logs if they have
not done so before." CQ Editor, Rich W2VU notes, "The five-day log
submission deadline takes effect with the SSB weekend of the 2012 CQWW
DX Contest in October. The deadline for the 2012 CQWW RTTY DX Contest
(Sept. 29-30) remains 15 October, as published in the July issue of
CQ."
Also from CQ Communications, we receive word that John Lindholm,
W1XX, has stepped down as director of the CQ WW VHF Contest. John ran
the VHF contest for 10 years and quintupled the number of logs
submitted. Steve Bolia, N8BJQ, (who was once the CQ WPX Director) has
graciously agreed to step into John's shoes. In addition to his current
responsibilities as WPX Award Manager, Steve has already been helping
John with VHF Contest log-checking for the past several years. Thanks
to both John and Steve for their service!
Carl Luetzelschwab K9LA presented a July 2012 Webinar reviewing the
recent solar minimum, Cycle 24's present status, and propagation in
relation to the progress of Cycle 24. The effect of trees on HF and MF
propagation and the best height for your antenna were also discussed.
You can find the webinar on the Potomac Valley Radio Club's website
archive of past webinars.
Array Solutions has just announced
affordable band-pass filters for 160 (AS-160) through 10 meters
(AS-10). Shown at right, these are designed for Field Day operations,
club purchases, and DXpeditions. The filters are an improved version of
the I.C.E. model 403-411 two-resonator filters and are symmetrical so
that they can be connected in either orientation. The website includes
vector network analyzer data
on the
filters, too.
Dave W9GRX requests that VHF+ contesters send a copy of their recent
logs "for use in compiling the VHF Super Check Partial (SCP) Database.
This is a complement to the excellent HF Contest SCP Database
maintained by WA1Z. Logs are kept in confidence. The previous year of
logs is deleted when the June Database is released. The various files
can be found at www.k3lr.com/w9zrx/ . The
trailing / is required. Cabrillo files should be emailed to
zephd@indy.rr.com.
Many DX cluster nodes are now carrying Reverse Beacon Network
(RBN) spots in addition to traditional
spots. If you go to the online DX Cluster directory
and check only the boxes
for AR Cluster and CC Cluster, you will find cluster nodes that offer
that option identified in the left-hand column. Both ARCluster and CC
Cluster offer extensive filtering options particularly designed for
handling Skimmer spots. (Thanks, Pete N4ZR)
Is there an iPad app for logging contacts? Hans K0HB reports finding
"HamLog" in the online store at a cost of 99 cents.
Hans also reports excellent results from new hearing aids featuring a
Bluetooth link to a stereo audio source. "Wow! It's like you have your
head inside the radio! No headset needed! I don't need to abandon CW
after all." Sounds like he likes it. Many new models feature this
wireless link including both behind-the-ear and in-the-ear aids.
Here's a ham in the news - the new Prime Minister of Serbia is Ivica
Dacic, YU1YU. Will a tribander appear over the presidential residence?
(Thanks, Venci Z39Z)
Steve Powlishen K1FO
became a Silent Key this past week. Steve designed high-performance
antennas that are standards in the VHF+ contest community. He was also
a QST and QEX author with several ground-breaking articles on VHF+
antennas and amplifiers.
Web Site of the Week - David K2DSL relayed word of this Google Calendar
formatted online contest calendar
by DL2NBY. By
clicking the Google icon at the bottom right, you can add this calendar
to your own Google Calendar.
WORD TO THE WISE
ID - it's not just for ragchews anymore! The availability of Internet
spotting networks does not remove the requirement to send your call
sign in contests - we need to know who you are!
==> SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
The WRTC 2014 team was busy checking out their
station design with 15 stations participating in the IARU HF
Championship under "WRTC Conditions". Event co-chair, Randy K5ZD,
"...drove 7.5 hours and 286 miles over the weekend. Visited 7 of the 13
stations . It was very impressive
to see all of the stations look so professional - and similar! The
enthusiasm and effort of the volunteers was truly outstanding." Allen
N2KW took many photos of the Sholan Farms site
and "Beam Team" leader K1RX also
provided a photo tour of his
efforts, too.
The London Olympics special station 2O12L is making a lot of QSOs on
the bands - here's their website showing a
pretty nice set-up. (Thanks, Bob N6TV)
Bob N6TV also discovered an online audio archive
maintained by OL5Q. The audio is in
Ogg Vorbis format and more information about playing these files is
available from the Wikipedia
.
Tim, N6WIN has created an extensive website
about his VP9 operation
with Kurt W6PH during the 2012 ARRL DX Phone contest - great info about
Bermuda and operating from VP9!
The Mars Science Laboratory is going to be landing on the Red Planet on
August 5th - its advanced landing mechanism has heightened the
curiosity of millions around the world. For some pre-landing
preparation, AMSAT Bulletin ANS-211 including
the following videos:
- "19 Minutes to Earth"
about the Viking orbiter (1976)
- "Seven Minutes of Terror
"
on the Curiousity rover's landing from JPL
- "The Science of Curiosity: Seeking Signs of Past Mars Habitability
"
also by JPL
- An overview
of
the Mars Science Laboratory mission and rover, hosted by Wil Wheaton
There's a lot going on overhead lately and here's a neat story about a
satellite
that will beam 200 watts of Morse code down to Earth as visible light!
Deployment from the ISS is scheduled for Sep 6.
A chart of the electromagnetic spectrum adorns a lot of workshops,
offices, and ham shacks - here's a free download version
from Unihedron
and a full-size printed copy can be purchased as well. (Thanks, AMSAT
Bulletin ANS-197)
Speaking of well-equipped shacks, does your shack need a "makeover"?
Jake K9WN turned up this oldie-but-goodie
from
the Yankee Clipper Contest Club archives.
Lightning at 7,207 images per second is just as impressive - and maybe
more - than a real-time strike. You can see for yourself in this
high-speed movie on Astronomy Picture of the Day
.
==> RESULTS AND RECORDS
The work of the Regional writeup authors has been collected and the
2012 ARRL DX Phone extended results article
is now online. Although
there are a couple more to add, thanks to all of the volunteers who
contribute to this article. Diego LU8ADX tells the tale in both Spanish
and English for contesters from Central and South America.
Certificates for the 2011 ARRL August UHF Contest should be hitting the
mailboxes shortly. They are in the spiffy new graphic format that was
so well-received for the ARRL June VHF Contest. (Thanks, ARRL Contest
Branch Manager, Sean KX9X)
The 14th running of the NCCC Sprint Ladder
, 'NSL XIV - Spring 2012' has come to a
close with 67 unique stations participating. Congratulations to
winners:
Atlantic: Eric ('Ty') Tichansky, NO3M
East Central: Tor Clay, N4OGW
West Central: Todd Dravland, WD0T
West: Danny Eskenazi, K7SS
NCCC: Ken Keeler, N6RO
The 15th Sprint Ladder begins tomorrow night (Aug 3, 0230-0300Z) on 5
bands during the single 30-minute contest period! (Thanks, Bill N6ZFO
and Ken KE3X for the NCCC Sprint Contest)
The Oceania DX (OCDX) contest committee reports the results
of the 2011 contest
are now available. "What a difference one year can make! After many
years of hibernation the 10 meter band finally exploded back to life
with more than 20% of the action in the 2011 contest occurring on this
band. The 2011 OCDX contest was the biggest so far with a total of 1259
logs being submitted. In particular it was pleasing to see an 81%
increase in the number of logs submitted from North American stations.
(Thanks, Brian ZL1AZE for the OCDX Contest Committee)
The final results of the UBA Contest CW 2012 are online at the UBA
website
including downloadable contest certificates
.
(Thanks, Marc ON7SS/OO9O)
Results of the 2012 Ukrainian DX Classic RTTY Contest
are already available at the
contest website. (Thanks, Leon UT7CL)
OPERATING TIP
Retired USCG Radioman, Chris K4HC relays that "the proper meanings of
the Procedural Words Roger and Wilco are:
Roger - Message received and understood
Wilco - Message received and understood, and I will comply.
Therefore, saying "Roger Wilco" is akin to saying "73's". The two are
NEVER used together. Hollywood got it wrong on this one."
==> TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION
With several generations of Rohn tower sections "in play" across the
land, there are reports of difficulties in getting them to fit
together. Rich KL7RA devised a handy gauge of copper pipe to help with
alignment chores. "I soldered two 90-degree ¾-inch elbows to a pipe. It
measured a perfect fit for the top legs of Rohn 25 as a quick check. If
my leg gauge didn't fit I would put that section aside and [used] a big
pipe to bend the leg in or out. The ¾-inch pipe matches the OD of the
top legs very closely to indicate misalignment and fits inside the
bottom of the legs."
Pat N9RV weighs in with some advice for Rohn 25 tower builders, as
well. "File off the galvanizing [slag] first. There are at least two
problems to tower fit - legs out of round and legs not true (slightly
bent). Mate pairs of sections and mark them. Correct for legs out of
round (oval) by pounding simultaneously with sledges on the wide parts
until they are sufficiently close to circular (both sections). Correct
for legs out of true by spreading or compressing using something that
is stiff and can give you leverage (such as a [length] of pipe)."
Locknuts or lockwashers? Grant KZ1W writes that "Engineering tests
show that double nuts
properly tightened are superior to lock washers and the Nylock nut is
somewhat better as the second nut. Even if the nylon insert degrades
(there are non-nylon inserts as well) the double nut friction still is
better than a lockwasher. There are other choices as well to insure the
fastener stays tight. Perhaps the easiest and most reliable is Loctite.
The medium strength grade (blue 242) can be disassembled with hand
tools (no heat required). However, the bolt surface should be clean so
use the Loctite to prevent SS galling."
Assembling our favorite connector (the PL-259) is a never-ending source
of suggestions and favorite procedures. Here's a good process
for PL-259's with the
RG-58/59/8X adapters by K6MHE from W5FC's website that has the benefit
of allowing you to see what the finished solder job looks like.
(Thanks, Paul W9AC)
But will they make a Smart Toolbag for tower work? This Gadget Freak
Case #221
presents "Smart Toolbox Finds the Right Tool".
A free online EDN course
covers the fundamentals of off-grid, stand-alone photovoltaic (PV)
systems, with a good overview of the technologies, topologies and
electronics that make up such systems. An earlier course--Fundamentals
of Solar: Grid Connected--focused on PV systems connected to the power
grid; if you're considering connecting your system to the grid at any
point, please check out that course, too.
Aggregate concrete finishes can look more attractive than plain
concrete surfaces. Scott W5WZ explains the difference: "Aggregate
concrete (in our market more commonly called "washed concrete") is
simply regular concrete that is finished differently. Instead of using
trowels to get the smooth surface, at that point in the curing process,
the upper layer of cement is washed away with water to expose the
aggregate which is contained in the ready-mix. This principle works
well on mixes of strength between 2500 & 4500 PSI, albeit the stronger
mixes require more precise timing of the washing operation." He notes
that your local ready-mix plant will help you get the look and strength
you need.
Technical Web Site of the Week - Is 1 or 2 dB worth the bother? Judge
for yourself at Dave AB7E's "Minimum Discernable Difference
" website.
==> CONVERSATION
Bring On the Rookies!
In just over two-and-a-half weeks (Aug 19th) the August edition of the
ARRL's Rookie Roundup contest will
hit the airwaves for six hours - 1800 through 2359Z. This is a perfect
opportunity to give those promising new operators you met at Field Day
some hands-on time in the shack. It's important to put the word out
early so that busy end-of-the-summer weekend time can be added to the
all-important Master Refrigerator Calendar.
This is the digital edition of Rookie Roundup - meaning RTTY. Many
younger hams are far more comfortable wrangling a keyboard than they
are a microphone or Morse key so encourage them to "drop by and make a
few QSOs". I'll bet they find it exciting and interesting enough to
stay for quite a while!
There have been some recent changes in the Rookie Roundup rules to
encourage teamwork and group mentoring. After receiving a number of
requests for it, the Multioperator category is now a reality. Any
number of Rookie operators may now band together at a single QTH and
take turns operating using a single call and submitting a single score.
This also works for a stream of operators dropping in for some chair
time. Note that Multioperator teams are allowed only a single
transceiver.
In the new Team Competition up to five Rookie Single-Operator
entrants can operate from separate stations and combine their scores
for a cumulative team score. Team members can be located anywhere. Note
that Multioperator entrants and non-Rookies are not eligible to be part
of a Team, only Rookie Single-Operators. Operators are also limited to
being on only one team for each RR. Team registration will begin one
week before each RR starts; look for the link to Team Registration in
the At-A-Glance section of the ARRL's Rookie Roundup
web page. How about your club
challenges another local club to see whose team of Rookies do the most
rounding up?
As always, Non-Rookies are encouraged to help the Rookies through
on-site Elmering during the contest and by getting on the air and
working Rookies in the event itself. If you're not on RTTY, this event
is a great testing ground for hooking up the necessary pieces - just a
couple of cables and your contest logging software, most likely - will
get you going.
If you're considering hosting a couple of new members - put out the
word today! An email to the club email reflector or website is a good
way to get started. If your club newsletter comes out at the beginning
of the month - be sure to send the editor a note. And then follow up
with photos and an after-event report to encourage more activity
throughout the contest season.
73, Ward N0AX
==> CONTESTS
1 August through 14 August 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
Int'l Lighthouse-Lightship Contest--Phone, CW, Digital, from Aug 4,
0000Z to Aug 5, 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: Serial or ARLHS
mbr/light nr and name, S/P/C. Logs due: Aug 31. Rules
TARA Grid Dip Shindig--Digital, from Aug 4, 0000Z to Aug 4, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: Name and 4-char grid square. Logs
due: Sep 3. Rules
10-10 Summer Phone QSO Party--Phone, from Aug 4, 0001Z to Aug 5, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 28. Exchange: Call, name, 10-10 number, S/P/C. Logs due:
Aug 20. Rules
European HF Championship--Phone, CW, from Aug 4, 1200Z to Aug 4, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T), last two digits of 1st year
licensed. Logs due: Aug 31. Rules
North American QSO Party--CW, from Aug 4, 1800Z to Aug 5, 0600Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: Name and state. Logs due: 14 days. Rules
South Africa DX SSB Contest--Phone, from Aug 5, 1300Z to Aug 5, 1630Z.
Bands (MHz): 3.5-14. Exchange: RS and serial. Logs due: 14 Aug. Rules
OK1WC Memorial Contest--Phone, CW, from Aug 6, 1600Z - see website.
Bands (MHz): 3.5, 50, 144, First through fourth Monday of each month;
see website for bands. Exchange: RS(T) and serial. Logs due: 7 days.
Rules
CWops Monthly Mini-CWT Test--CW, from Aug 8, 1300Z - see website. Bands
(MHz): 1.8-28. Multiple operating periods, twice monthly on 2nd and 4th
Wed. 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 11, 0000Z to Aug 12, 2359Z. Bands
(MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST and serial (see website for QTC rules).
Logs due: 15 days. Rules
Maryland-DC QSO Party--Phone, CW, Digital, from Aug 11, 1600Z - see
website. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50-440. Exchange: Maryland county/city or
S/P/C. Logs due: Sep 14. Rules
Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon--CW, from Aug 12, 0000Z to Aug 12,
2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member nr if
member. Logs due: 5 days. Rules
NJQRP Skeeter Hunt--CW, from Aug 12, 1700Z to Aug 12, 2100Z. Bands
(MHz): 3.5-28. Frequencies: QRP calling frequencies. Exchange: RST,
S/P/C, Skeeter number or power. Logs due: 30 days. Rules
VHF+ CONTESTS
ARRL UHF Contest--Phone, CW, Digital, from Aug 4, 1800Z to Aug 5,
1800Z. Bands (MHz): 222+. Exchange: 4-char grid square. Logs due: Sep
6. Rules
Fall VHF Sprints--Phone, CW, Digital, from Aug 11, 2000Z to Aug 11,
2400Z. Bands (MHz): 50. Exchange: 4-character grid square. Logs due: 30
days. Rules
TARA Grid Dip Shindig--Digital, from Aug 4, 0000Z to Aug 4, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: Name and 4-char grid square. Logs
due: Sep 3. Rules
OK1WC Memorial Contest--Phone, CW, from Aug 6, 1600Z - see website.
Bands (MHz): 3.5, 50, 144, First through fourth Monday of each month;
see website for bands. Exchange: RS(T) and serial. Logs due: 7 days.
Rules
Maryland-DC QSO Party--Phone, CW, Digital, from Aug 11, 1600Z - see
website. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50-440. Exchange: Maryland county/city or
S/P/C. Logs due: Sep 14. Rules
Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon--CW, from Aug 12, 0000Z to Aug 12,
2359Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50. Exchange: RST, QTH, name, member nr if
member. Logs due: 5 days. Rules
==> LOG DUE DATES
1 August through 14 August 2012
- August 1 - DRCG Long Distance Contest, RTTY
- August 1 - SMIRK Contest
- August 1 - ARS Flight of the Bumblebees
- August 3 - MI QRP July 4th CW Sprint
- August 4 - North American QSO Party, RTTY
- August 10 - DL-DX RTTY Contest
- August 13 - FISTS Summer Sprint
- August 14 - CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush
- August 14 - IARU HF World Championship
==> 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
the ARRL COntest UPdate posted to the ls_arrl echo via
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Address all comments and questions to the editor as described in this
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