*** forwarder's note***
Please see the html version of this electronic newsletter for correct
display of any url reproduced. These may be garbled in transfer
between networks.
*** end forwarder's note ***
The ARRL Contest Update
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
November 10, 2010
Editor: Ward Silver, N0AX
==> IN THIS ISSUE
- ARRL Phone SS and Collegiate Championship
- Rattle Cross The Pond - WAE Digital
- Missing Your Calling
- A Soapbox Of Fun
- Contest Helmet
- Field Day and August UHF Results
- Tube Caps - Not What You Think
- Ballooning Antennary
- Sights For Sore Eyes
NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO
If you have been thinking about RTTY contesting and would like to see
how it plays for DX contacts, the Worked All Europe
(WAE) Digital contest is this coming weekend.
Check out the interesting QTC feature of this contest, too. And the
following weekend - join the excitement of ARRL Sweepstake's "second
half" on phone.
BULLETINS
Your editor is currently out of his office and pestering the
inhabitants of ARRL HQ in theirs during a bi-annual visit to Newington.
This cuts down on the available time for collecting and editing
newsletter material, so this issue is a bit attenuated. Besides, don't
you have antenna work to finish up?
Don't forget that both ARRL Sweepstakes and CQ WW have moved the log
due date earlier than in past years! ARRL SS logs are due 15 days after
the contest (23 Nov for CW Sweepstakes) and CQ WW SSB logs are due on
Nov 21.
BUSTED QSOS
No reported bugs or "unintended features" in the last issue!
CONTEST SUMMARY
Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section
Nov 13-14
- CWops Mini-CWT Test (Nov 10)
- Worked All Europe DX Contest--Digital
- Japan International DX Contest--Phone
- OK-OM DX Contest--CW
- Kentucky QSO Party
- CQ WE (Western Electric)
- Straight Key Weekend Sprint
Nov 20-21
- ARRL November Sweepstakes--Phone
- Collegiate ARC Championship--Phone
- Mongolia DX Contest
- LZ DX Contest
- All Austria 160 Meter Contest--CW
- RSGB 1.8MHz Contest--CW
- Homebrew and Oldtime Contest--CW
- Run For the Bacon--CW (Nov 22)
==> NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST
Having received a number of comments about "missing calls" during last
weekend's CW Sweepstakes, the ARRL Contest Branch would like to make it
clear that the Sweepstakes exchange MUST contain the call sign of the
transmitting station. Yes, you have to send your call along with the
serial number, precedence (your category abbreviation), check and
section. It is not necessary to send the call sign of the receiving
station before the exchange, but it is good practice to do so when
stations are very close together and it might be unclear who is the
intended recipient. This will be clarified in the contest rules.
Lest you think a monster station is required to make a big
Sweepstakes score, Ralph N5RZ's CW Sweepstakes log of 1421 QSOs and 79
sections was made using a TH6DXX tribander at 50', a 2-element tri-band
delta loop at 50', an 80 meter inverted vee at 50', and a
ground-mounted Butternut vertical. The most important part of any
contest station is between the ears!
The next issue of the Finnish contesting magazine PileUP!
will see daylight on Jan
2, 2011. Compiled by volunteers, the editors are looking for your
contributions on propagation, antennas, station accessories,
international contest coordination, contesting history, your thoughts
on this year's fall contest season, and humor! Contact the editors with
your ideas - contributions are due by 31 Dec. (Thanks, Pileup! Editor
Ilkka OH1WZ )
Another couple of post-Sweepstakes reports have appeared that folks
are sending around emails trying to confirm a QSO or some part of the
exchange. Um, the contest was over at 0300Z on Sunday, fellas. "Log
scrubbing", in which you go back and change the log to what you think
you "should" have logged, isn't OK. The time between the end of the
contest - when you put your metaphorical pencils down - and the log due
date is to make sure your log file is properly constructed, that you
have the right category of submission and operator information, and to
resolve any computer file issues - NOT to go back and change the logged
information. The proper response to any such fishing for information is
that you'll be glad to discuss it after the log submission deadline.
Check out the ARRL's "HF Contesting Guidelines
" for more information.
Web Site of the Week - For a bowl full of bite-sized reading fun, try
Dink N7WA's collection of the current 3830 SS CW soapbox
comments from 3830 score
postings. You'll find comments from Sweepstakes and other major
contests, too! While you're at it, don't forget to post your photos and
stories on the ARRL Soapbox page
, too.
WORD TO THE WISE
"I can copy 45 wpm. Unfortunately I can only remember 10 wpm." (Thanks,
Bill W9OL)
==> SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
After last weekend's head-banger of a CW Sweepstakes, the contest
helmet imagined by Jeff K1NSS of Dashtoons
will surely make total sense!
Have you ever wondered what Sweepstakes sounds like overseas? Nick
VK2DX (aka VK1AA) provides this nice snapshot of SS contest signals
on the 40
meter band in urban Sydney, VK2. This was gray line propagation to the
US East Coast, an hour before local sunset. WX3B (at W3LPL) and W9RE
were the strongest signals, peaking well over S9. Here's another
snapshot an hour after sunset
. All the
above signals are 12,000-15,000 km from VK2!
George K5TR has posted a number of interesting high-rate contest
audio recordings online. For example, during a 359 contact hour, he has
posted WAV files of the fastest 10 minutes
and the entire hour
. Here's an MP3 of a
179 contact clock hour
in ARRL Phone Sweepstakes. Jose CT1BOH has some very cool recordings of
him doing some CW contests ,
including a few from P40E . (He is
using two radios, so you will hear the audio from both.) And if you
have ever wondered what it sounds like to be on the other end of one of
those big DXpedition pileups, here is 9V1YC operating on 20 meters from
VP8GEO . The wideband
noise you hear in this recording is the 20 meter SSB station's phase
noise.
==> RESULTS AND RECORDS
ARRL Contest Branch Manager, Sean KX9X, announces that Field Day
results are online and the extended online version of the August UHF
report by John K9JK will be posted on the ARRL Contest results Web page
in the next few days
when supporting items such as Log Checking Reports are finished.
Certificates for the 2009 ARRL 160 Meter Contest have been mailed and
should be appearing in mailboxes across the land.
Nearly seven days after loading the 9482-QSO CQ WW SSB K3LR log into
the ARRL's Logbook Of the World, eQSL, and the CQ WW email robot,
what's the result? LOTW confirmations totaled 1743 confirmations or
18.9% based on net QSOs, with eQSL confirmations at 1356 or 14.7%. With
international postage approaching $1, plus return postage, the card
itself, and an envelope, the savings are substantial, to say nothing of
the time savings. "Very cool," says Tim.
OPERATING TIP
With the long exchange of Phone Sweepstakes coming up - remember to
breathe! Before giving your exchange, inhale so that you can say it all
smoothly without interruption. Leave out the unnecessary and
time-consuming phrases ("please copy" and "you are" come to mind) and
give out the information in the same order every time. A regular
breathing rhythm actually has a calming effect, helps minimize
confusion, and fights off the dreaded "Uh..." panic attacks. Sound
calm, cool, and collected like a veteran! (And don't forget to give
your call in the exchange as required.)
==> TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION
From the online QST "Way-back machine" of searchable archives, Brad
AA1IP contributed this outstanding example of the ham's proclivity for
reuse in the July 1965 issue. "Try using the lid from a toothpaste tube
as an attractive knob. Select a rubber grommet with an outside diameter
that will fit tightly inside the toothpaste lid and at the same time
will fit tightly over the control shaft, so that the combination will
not slip. There are many styles, shapes and colors of toothpaste lids
available." Brad wonders if that would still work on equipment
containing a cavity magnetron. Arnie CO2KK chimed in with the
observation that the wheels from broken toy cars and trucks also make
great controls!
The daily LF through 6 meter propagation forecasts
by Thomas NZ4O are back after a ten
month period of illness. Welcome back, Thomas!
The popular software package of calculators HAMCALC by George VE3ERP
cannot drive printers connected to computer USB ports, but there is a
solution in the form of DOS2USB . The trial
version can be used for 15 days for free and converted to a permanent
license for a small fee.
Technical Web Site of the Week - With the 160 meter contest season
looming, dreams of full-size verticals supported by balloons take shape
in the minds of the antenna-challenged. Brian N9ADG has done just that
and shares his pictures
thereof - give it a try!
==> CONVERSATION
Sights for Sore Eyes
Due to the nature of this busy-ness trip, you're spared from my
editorial ramblings this time and get to view some extra photos of
contest activity around the bands in recent weeks. Enjoy!
73, Ward N0AX
==> CONTESTS
10 Nov through 23 Nov
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
CWops Mini-CWT Test--CW, from Nov 10, 1100Z to Nov 11, 0400Z. Bands
(MHz): 3.5-14. Frequencies: Monthly on the second Wednesday, 18 to 28
kHz above band edge, multiple operating periods. Exchange: Name and
member number or S/P/C. Logs due: 2 days. Rules
Worked All Europe DX Contest--Digital, from Nov 13, 0000Z to Nov 14,
2400Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST and serial (see Web for QTC
rules). Logs due: Nov 29. Rules
Japan International DX Contest--Phone, from Nov 13, 0700Z to Nov 14,
1300Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST and JA prefecture or CQ Zone.
Logs due: Dec 31. Rules
OK-OM DX Contest--CW, from Nov 13, 1200Z to Nov 14, 1200Z. Bands (MHz):
1.8-28. Exchange: RST and serial or OK/OM district. Logs due: Dec 1.
Rules
Kentucky QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Nov 13, 1400Z to Nov 14, 0200Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Frequencies: CW--1.815, 3.550, 7.050, 14.050,
21.050, 28.050, 50.090; SSB--1.855, 3.820, 7.240, 14.280, 21.390,
28.390, 50.190. Exchange: RST and KY county or S/P/C. Logs due: Dec 31.
Rules
CQ WE (Western Electric)--Phone,CW,Digital, from Nov 13, 1900Z to Nov
15, 0500Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50-440. Exchange: Call, name, Bell QTH,
yrs of svc (see Web). Logs due: Dec 1. Rules
Straight Key Weekend Sprint--CW, from Nov 14, 0000Z to Nov 14, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Frequencies: Monthly on the second Sunday.
Exchange: RST, S/P/C, SKCC nr or power. Logs due: 5 days. Rules
Homebrew and Oldtime Contest--CW, from Nov 21, 1300Z to Nov 21, 1700Z.
Bands (MHz): 3.5-7. Exchange: RST, serial, and category. Logs due: Dec
21. Rules
Mongolia DX Contest--Phone,CW, from Nov 20, 0000Z to Nov 21, 2359Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T) and CQ Zone. Logs due: Dec 31.
LZ DX Contest--Phone,CW, from Nov 20, 1200Z to Nov 21, 1200Z. Bands
(MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST and ITU Zone or LZ district. Logs due: 30
days. Rules
All Austria 160 Meter Contest--CW, from Nov 20, 1600Z to Nov 21, 0700Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8. Exchange: RST, serial, OE district. Logs due: Dec 31.
Rules
ARRL November Sweepstakes--Phone, from Nov 20, 2100Z to Nov 22, 0300Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: Serial, category, call, check, ARRL sec.
Logs due: Dec 8. Rules
Collegiate ARC Championship--Phone, from Nov 20, 2100Z to Nov 22,
0300Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: See ARRL Sweepstakes. Logs due:
Dec 8. Rules
RSGB 1.8MHz Contest--CW, from Nov 20, 2100Z to Nov 21, 0100Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8. Exchange: RST, serial, UK district. Logs due: 16 days.
Rules
Run For the Bacon--CW, from Nov 22, 0200Z to Nov 22, 0400Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8-28. Frequencies: Monthly on the third Sunday local time.
Exchange: RST, S/P/C, Flying Pig nr or power. Rules
VHF+ CONTESTS
Kentucky QSO Party--Phone,CW, from Nov 13, 1400Z to Nov 14, 0200Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28, 50, Frequencies: CW--1.815, 3.550, 7.050, 14.050,
21.050, 28.050, 50.090; SSB--1.855, 3.820, 7.240, 14.280, 21.390,
28.390, 50.190. Exchange: RST and KY county or S/P/C. Logs due: Dec 31.
Rules
==> LOG DUE DATES
10 Nov through 23 Nov
November 10 - Oceania DX Contest, CW
November 10 - CQ SA SSB Contest
November 15 - 10-10 Int. Fall Contest, Digital
November 15 - Pennsylvania QSO Party
November 15 - Makrothen RTTY Contest
November 16 - PODXS 070 Club 160m Great Pumpkin Sprint
November 16 - Microwave Fall Sprint
November 17 - ARCI Fall QSO Party
November 18 - Illinois QSO Party
November 21 - CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB
November 21 - ARRL School Club Roundup
<<< concluded in next message >>>
---
* Origin: RRN BBS: Your fidonet ham radio connection! (1:116/901)
|
