The ARRL Contest Update for November 25, 2009
ARRL Web site
The ARRL Contest Update
Published by the American Radio Relay League
********************************************
November 25, 2009
Editor: Ward Silver, N0AX <rate-...@arrl.org>
==> IN THIS ISSUE
- Clear the Decks for CQ World Wide CW
- Fire Up - Literally - ARRL EME Competition
- Rule Change Proposals for CQ WPX
- ARRL Sweepstakes Manger K5KA - Silent Key
- Old Yeller - Ham Radio Style
- Watch Your Mailbox - Certificates and Plaques
- WRTC Station Description Web Page
- Take a Chance on Anchor Information
- Our Invisible World
NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO
When one contest stands alone, you know it's a big one and CQ's
post-Thanksgiving weekend of CW DXing fills those shoes. Sure, the
speeds will be frantic and your ears ringing from the din, but there's
no better way to get up to speed than the CQ WW CW. Look high in the
band and save the tough ones for Sunday's more relaxed environment. By
the end you'll be wondering, "When's the next one?"
BULLETINS
No bulletins in this issue.
BUSTED QSOS
In the Oct 28 issue, I mistakenly changed W4ZW's call to K4ZW - much to
Jon's surprise. (Thanks, Glenn K6NA)
CONTEST SUMMARY
Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section
Nov 28-29
- CQ WW CW
Dec 5-6
- ARRL EME Competition
- Top Band Sprint-- CW
- ARRL 160 Meter Contest--CW
- TARA RTTY M�l�e
- Top Operators Activity Contest--CW
==> NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST
Rules changes are afoot for the 2010 CQ WPX Contest! You can review the
proposed changes at the CQ WPX Blog <http://www.cqwpx.com/blog/?p=50>
administered by WPX Director, Randy K5ZD. The major change under
consideration is to the Multi-Single category. The new rules will
establish a true single-transmitter category that is limited to 8 band
changes per hour. Please send any comments or questions right away to
Randy at k5...@cqwpx.com. While you're browsing the site, take a look at
the WPX Score Database <http://www.cqwpx.com/score_db.htm> that Randy
has assembled. It includes all scores from the past 15 years!
With Sweepstakes behind us, don't forget that the exchange is
reminiscent of a radiogram header as described in this ARRL Traffic
Handler's Guide
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/trainingTrafficHandlersGuide.pdf>.
(Thanks, Phil W7PDZ)
Prasad VU2PTT and ARSI President, Gopal VU2GMN report that VU hams now
have access to 7.100 - 7.200 MHz. Requests for access to 10 MHz and 50
MHz allocations are also under consideration. It's great to hear of one
of the world's largest populations getting more access to amateur
radio!
True or False?
A) The US phone band goes down to 7100 kHz.
B) It's okay for US stations to make LSB QSO's with a displayed
(carrier) frequency of 7125.5 kHz.
C) It's okay for US stations to make USB QSO's with a displayed
(carrier) frequency of 14349.5 kHz.
D) The contest sponsors don't care if you make contest QSOs outside the
band.
That would be a winning poker hand of four Fs. Know where your
sidebands are and set up your logging software to keep you in the band,
including those sidebands, when you click on a juicy spot. For example,
the lower band limit on 40 meter phone should be about 7127.5 kHz and
the upper band limit on 20 meter phone should be about 14347.5 kHz. And
it would be unwise to assume the contest sponsors can't detect
out-of-band contacts!
The QST hitting your mailboxes has New Years Eve as the date for the SD
QSO Party because that was the only information available when we went
to press. The new date of 26 Dec has been incorporated into the PDF
version of Contest Corral that should be on the ARRL Contest Branch
<http://www.arrl.org/contests> Web site in a day or two. The SD
stations will also be active on New Years Eve, but not as a contest.
You know him as the big signal and fast operator from 8P, but the rest
of the world knows him as the President and CEO of NetApp - a big
player in the data storage world. Computerworld just ran a nice article
on Tom, er, W2SC in their interview column, "The Grill
<http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/344762/Tom_Georgens>". What
Tom's favorite non-network pastime? "Radiosport - competitive amateur
radio" Who knew? (Thanks, Tom K1KI)
It is with deepest regret that the Contest Update relays news of Ken
Adams K5KA's passing
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/11/23/11213/?nc=1> after a
prolonged battle with cancer. Serving as the ARRL Sweepstakes Manager
in recent years, Ken died on November 22nd while the contest was in
full swing. Domestic contests like Sweepstakes were Ken's forte and he
led the efforts to reinvigorate Sweepstakes through promotion and
modernization. His success was evident to anyone listening on the bands
these past few weekends. The many operators that he mentored and
hosted, your editor included, are indebted to him for his gifts of
wisdom and strength.
"While we swing for home runs, let's not forget the power of singles."
Geoffrey Orzak
Web Site of the Week - Jim CN2R/W7EJ has added an interesting new
capability to his online log viewing page <http://cn2r.net>. Jim has
harnessed the power of Google Earth to visualize the path of any QSO in
any CN2R log. From the home page, click "Logbook" to open a search page
for individual QSOs. You can view contest QSOs by the hour, band,
1st/2nd day on a Google Earth globe. Popup QSO audio snippets are still
available by clicking on any call with a yellow background in a logbook
lookup or a contest log.
WORD TO THE WISE
Assistance - often confused with its English cousin, "assistance", the
radiosport version only applies to receiving information from the
spotting networks. It has nothing to do with whether your significant
other brings you a sandwich or a friend climbs the tower to free up a
frozen rotator. Read the rules for your category of entry and try to
follow them in both spirit and letter.
==> SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
I've operated with some fellows that could act as power supplies for
this transmitter. Watch Mike AA1TJ attempt a voice-powered
pond-crossing <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6G_yGDbgEY> with his
Code Talker transmitter. More on this novel form of alternative power
is available in this online story
<http://www.w1pid.com/maine_shore/maine_shore.html>, as well. (Thanks,
Rex W1REX, Carl WA1ZCQ, and Jim, W1PID)
Jim K5BZH recommends the 2009 Field Day ARRL Soapbox
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox> entry by John AE5B as a humorous
note on plans gone awry and the real-time adjustment process. To find
the entry, select "2009 Field Day" from the list of contests and enter
"AE5B" in the search window.
==> RESULTS AND RECORDS
Certificates for the 2008 ARRL 10 Meter contest have all been mailed
and the Web version of the results for the 2009 ARRL June VHF QSO Party
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/results> are now online, too.
Certificates for the 2009 ARRL RTTY Roundup and plaques for the 2009
RTTY Roundup have been mailed, as well. Next up will be the on-line
version of the 2009 August UHF Contest. (Thanks, Sean KX9X)
The August NAQP CW preliminary results
<http://www.ncjweb.com/naqpcwprelim.php> are now available on the NCJ
Web site. Please let Bruce WA7BNM know by email at bh...@hornucopia.com
if there are any corrections.
The 2009 WWSA CW DX Contest PDF final results <http://gacw.no-ip.org/>
are ready to download. The GACW Board of Directors also wants to say
"Many thanks for your help and support" and hope to see you again in
2010 WWSA. (Thanks, Alberto LU1DZ)
OPERATING TIP
Make it easy - labeling switch and control positions and settings helps
avoid misteaks that can hurt your score or hurt your equipment. For
example, amplifier tuning has to be changed quickly and accurately when
changing bands. Driving it with controls or bandswitching in the wrong
position can lead to Big Problems! Arrow-shaped labels
<http://www.3m.com/us/office/postit/products/prod_ft_arr.html> can be
used to color-code settings, for example, making getting it right a lot
easier when you're tired or rushed. (Thanks, Randy K5ZD)
==> TECHNICAL TOPICS AND INFORMATION
The WRTC-2010 technical committee is busy getting ready for next July's
event. To satisfy curiosity about the antennas each team will use, a
random sample of the triband Yagi antenna was tested on Monday and its
SWR curves were added to the Station Description page
<http://www.wrtc2010.ru/index.php?id=23&LANG=en>. (Thanks, Dmitri
RW3FO)
For a lot of interesting suggestions about how to keep your pipe
vertical vertical, browse to the Towertalk reflector archives
<http://lists.contesting.com/_towertalk/> and search for "Guying 3 inch
irrigation Pipe". Many of the suggestions can be applied to other
similar jobs.
In rebuilding a QSK switch, Paul W9AC noticed that the RCA (phono)
jacks used for control switching were loose. Since ground for the
control signals of this particular product relies on contact with the
metal enclosure (not the best design idea), a loose connector could
result in hot-switching and damage to station components. Make sure the
connectors are tight or, better yet, use a separate ground lead bonded
to the circuit ground. While you're in there, make sure the AC line is
filtered, too, to prevent any unwanted switching from RFI.
How to keep tubes of "Super Glue" from solidifying between uses?
Richard KN7SFZ contributes the simple trick of simply storing them
upside down to keep air away from the glue's "outbound" surface.
Keeping the glue cold in a refrigerator also helps.
With regards to the increasing use of 75-ohm coax for receiving and
low-power transmitting, Frank W3LPL notes that "75-ohm BNC connectors
<http://www.lifebeforelandfill.com/item/cameras_photo/professional_video_equipment/cables_wires/canare_bnc_cable_m-m_75ohm_lv-61s_45-ft/images/00179_canare_bnc_cable_m-m_75ohm_lv-61s_45-ft_img_01_gall.jpg>
are specialized connectors used primarily above 100 MHz by in
high-definition television production studios, telephone, and satellite
communications industries. Unless you work in those industries, you're
not likely to need them. 50-ohm BNCs work fine with 75-ohm cables for
applications below about 100 MHz where the connector is very short
compared to a wavelength. The dielectric in 75-ohm BNCs connectors has
a obvious different configuration than the dielectric in 50-ohm
connectors. (The dielectric in a 50-ohm BNC is extends along the inner
surface of the shield.) The dielectric in a 75-ohm BNC does not extend
along the inner surface of the shield." He also notes that there may be
mechanical incompatibilities between the 50- and 75-ohm versions, so be
careful when mixing them in your antenna system.
You may have visited Paul VE7BZ's Web page on how to attach crimp-style
PL-259 <http://www.bcdxc.org/pl259_crimp_on_connectors.htm> connectors.
He reports regular requests for information on crimp connectors for
LMR-400 and is glad to report that there are now instructions for EZ400
crimp-ons <http://www.bcdxc.org/lmr400_ez400_crimp_on_connectors.htm>.
Ready, set, squeeze!
Just the thing for a holiday gift - it's the various configurations of
Leatherman <http://www.leathermanstore.com/> tools. Your editor carries
a Leatherman Squirt (except through airport security) for its
functional pliers, wire stripper, blisteringly sharp knife (don't ask
me how I verified this) and assorted screwdrivers. Others swear by the
Juice S2 and Wave models. Whatever your fancy in a multiply-useful
gadget, you NEED one!
Buying solder by the spool is definitely the cheapest way to go, but
the heavy roll can get tiresome to hold for a big assembly job. Garey
K4OAH has a good technique: "[I] Lay one end along a pencil, then
over-wrap it (solenoid style) until I have as much as I wanted. You end
up with a small "lump" of solder with the end coming out of the center
and just pull out what you need." In addition, most of us are very
comfortable holding a pencil for long periods of time.
Marcus VE7CA has published some information about his experiments
<http://shelbrook.com/%7Eve7ca/Ant160.htm> with a coax receiving loop
versus a rotatable diamond-shaped low-noise directional receiving
antenna. You just can't have enough receiving antennas on the low
bands! And for the transmitting antenna side of things, take a look at
Thomas NZ4O's Web page about his comparisons
<http://www.wcflunatall.com/nz4o9.htm> of 160 meter 3/8- and �-wave
inverted L and T antennas.
If you need an inexpensive, transmit-capable 12-volt relay, Brad KV5V
has done the leg work for you. "I bought the Magnecraft 976XAX97H-12.
This is the 12-VDC, 16 Amp version. There are also 24-VDC, 120-VAC
versions, and there is a version with 20 Amp contacts. The important
thing about these relays for RF use is that the armature and its solder
tabs is set between the two stator contacts, and there's no need to
have a wire leading from the armature to the contacts, as there is in
most other relays." The cost is low (less than $3 by mail order) and
the relays are compact at about � cubic inch.
For distributing contest audio between operators and visitors (such as
referees), at WRTC-2006, Steve N2IC used this ART HeadAMP4
<http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/ART-HeadAMP-Four-Output-Stereo-Headphone-Amp-?sku=240368&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=41745037>
amp. "It provides four individually controlled outputs from a single
stereo input. I have used it many times since 2006. [It] works great,
and seems to be completely immune to RF.
Technical Web Site of the Week - Specifications for tower sections and
hardware are fairly easy to find, but what about anchoring hardware?
Tom N4NW discovered that all of the Chance anchor information
<http://www.hubbellpowersystems.com/POWERTEST/literature_library/pdflib_eanch.html>
can be found online. No need to guess!
==> CONVERSATION
Be Thankful For Our Invisible World
One recent morning as I picked up the paper from the sidewalk, a
continuous rushing, chattering sound reached my ears. It wasn't traffic
noise or wind, but a cacophony of tiny voices. Finally, motion from
above caught my eye and I looked up into the sunrise to see a river of
birds migrating toward the Missouri River, not far to the east. Many
thousands were busily flapping, making a channel dozens of wingspans
across in a stream that slowly drifted south until I lost sight of it
behind the rooftops and through leaf-less November branches. I'm sure
tens of thousands passed while I watched and many more both before I
noticed and after I could no longer see them. One of the great natural
spectacles, migrations of birds along their timeless pathways remind us
that we are immersed in a world far bigger than ourselves, yet one with
which we often lose our sense of connection.
In recent days, I have noted with interest the unprecedented
openings on 160 meters that were broad and strong. Hundreds of QSOs
were completed between Europe and the West Coast in a few hours
celebration by stations large and small. I also read about meteor
scatter openings from the annual Leonids shower, connecting widely
separated stations with short bursts of data reflected from the ionized
traces. And the long-awaited genesis of solar cycle 24 is beginning to
lift the veil of silence from our higher bands, giving us tantalizing
glimpses of openings to come.
The HF DXer's annual migration is measured in megahertz as we move down
to feed from the upwelling of distant signals on low frequency winter
bands, north meeting south as the seasons slide between the
hemispheres. Others paddle their signals out into the ever-changing
weather systems to catch a wave of the slow breaking surf of warm and
cold air washing across the continent, punctuated by storms and
temperature inversions. Still others lie in wait along the game trails
of the ionosphere waiting for drifting E-layer clouds of metallic ions
to collect, reflect, and dissipate into the ephemera, or for Aurora's
northern skirts to ripple in the solar wind, collecting our signals in
her folds and shaking them free again.
We are privileged to have these windows into visions and experiences in
a world rarely traveled by outsiders. Our presence in that world is
fleeting, as the passage of friends and colleagues like Ken K5KA all
too often reminds us. We share not only friendship, but an appreciation
of being able to experience and share these sights and sounds, to learn
the tools of our wireless trade, and to exercise the craft with which
we wield them. It is a deep and enduring experience, hard to describe
and impossible to forget.
This coming weekend, like those wind-faring feathered aviators,
thousands of hams will take to the airwaves in search of elusive and
distant contacts. Radio eyes will scan the horizon and radio ears will
strain to capture the dots and dashes of other explorers coming through
the high passes and around distant headlands. From the surface of the
Earth to outer space is the domain of radio and we travel within it
whenever we desire. Bound by no dictated schedules or required
production, we are free to come and go as we fancy, flying free and
unfettered in our own invisible oceans. As you fill your log with call
signs both strange and familiar, from near and far, don't forget to be
thankful for the radio amateur's special connection to the natural
world, where new wonders lie just beyond every antenna. I'll see you
there!
73, Ward N0AX
==> CONTESTS
25 November through 8 December 2009
An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral in PDF format
<http://www.arrl.org/contest> is available. Check the sponsor's Web
site for information on operating time restrictions and other
instructions.
HF CONTESTS
CQ WW CW--CW, from Nov 28, 0000Z to Nov 29, 2400Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28.
Exchange: RST and CQ zone. Logs due: Jan 15. Rules <http://cqww.com/>
ARRL 160 Meter Contest--CW, from Dec 4, 2200Z to Dec 6, 1600Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8. Exchange: RST and ARRL/RAC section if US/VE. Logs due: Jan
5. Rules <http://www.arrl.org/contests>
Top Band Sprint--CW, from Dec 3, 0000Z to Dec 3, 0600Z. Bands (MHz):
1.8. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, ARCI number or Power. Logs due: 30 days.
Rules <http://qrparci.org/contests>
TARA RTTY M�l�e--Digital, from Dec 5, 0000Z to Dec 5, 2400Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RST and State/Province or serial. Logs due:
Dec 31. Rules <http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_melee_rules.html>
Top Operators Activity Contest--CW, from Dec 5, 1600Z to Dec 6, 1800Z.
Bands (MHz): 3.5. Exchange: RST, serial, and TOPS/PRO number. Logs due:
Dec 31. Rules <http://www.procwclub.yo6ex.ro/>
VHF+ CONTESTS
ARRL EME Competition--Phone,CW,Digital, from Dec 5, 0000Z to Dec 6,
2400Z. Bands (MHz): 50-1296. Exchange: Both call signs, sig rpt,
acknowledgement. Logs due: Jan 5. Rules <http://www.arrl.org/contests>
==> LOG DUE DATES
25 November through 8 December 2009
November 25 - 50 MHz Fall Sprint, email logs to: wa4...@bellsouth.net,
paper logs and diskettes to: Ray Rector WA4NJP, 3493 Holly Springs Rd,
Gillsville, GA 30534, USA. Rules
<http://svhfs.org/fall_sprint_rules_2009.pdf>
November 30 - Bill Windle QSO Party, email log summary to:
KZ...@aol.com, paper logs and diskettes to: (none). Rules
<http://www.g4foc.org/bwqp.pdf>
November 30 - WAE DX Contest, RTTY, email logs to:
wae...@dxhf.darc.de, paper logs and diskettes to: (none). Rules
<http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/xedcwr.htm>
November 30 - JARTS WW RTTY Contest, email logs to: (none), upload log
at: http://www.kiznax.com/p/jarts/submit_form.html, paper logs and
diskettes to: (none). Rules
<http://www.edsoftz.com/JARTS/2009/rules2009.html>
November 30 - W/VE Islands QSO Party, email logs to: C...@usislands.org,
paper logs and diskettes to: John Almon, WA4JA, 1411 Oak Leaf Dr.,
Columbia, TN 38401, USA. Rules
<http://www.usislands.org/contest_rules.html>
December 1 - Feld Hell Sprint, email logs to: (none), post log summary
at: http://www.emailmeform.com/fid.php?formid=202397, paper logs and
diskettes to: (none). Rules
<http://sites.google.com/site/feldhellclub/Home/contests>
December 1 - CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB, email logs to: s...@cqww.com,
paper logs and diskettes to: CQWW SSB, CQ Magazine, 25 Newbridge Road,
Hicksville, NY 11801, USA. Rules
<http://www.cqww.com/2009_Rules_cqww.pdf>
December 1 - CQ-WE Contest, email logs to: (see rules), paper logs and
diskettes to: (see rules). Rules <http://cqwe.cboh.org/rules.html>
December 1 - OK/OM DX Contest, CW, email logs to: oko...@crk.cz, paper
logs and diskettes to: OK-OM DX Contest, CRK, P.O. Box 69, 113 27 Praha
1, Czech Republic. Rules <http://okomdx.crk.cz/g.html>
December 5 - YO International PSK31 Contest, email logs to:
yo5...@gmail.com, paper logs and diskettes to: Radioclubul YO5KAD, P.O.
Box 220, RO-430281 Baia Mare, Romania. Rules
<http://www.yo5crq.ro/Rules2009EN.htm>
December 6 - SARL Field Day Contest, email logs to:
hfcon...@netactive.co.za, paper logs and diskettes to: Field Day
Contest, Bloemfontein Radio Amateur Club, PO Box 12104, Brandhof, 9324,
South Africa. Rules
<http://www.sarl.org.za/public/contests/SARL%202009%20Contest%20Manualv3.pdf>
December 7 - RSGB 2nd 1.8 MHz Contest, CW, upload log at:
http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/hfenter.pl, paper logs and diskettes to:
RSGB-G3UFY, 77 Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 7AF,
England. Rules <http://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2009/r18mhz.shtml>
December 8 - DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest, email logs to:
df...@darc.de, paper logs and diskettes to: Werner Ludwig, DF5BX, P.O.
Box 1270, 49110 Georgsmarienhuette, Germany. Rules
<http://www.darc.de/referate/ukw-funksport/sonder/tei-digi.htm>
December 8 - Ukrainian DX Contest, email logs to: ur...@ukr.net, paper
logs and diskettes to: Ukrainian Contest Club HQ, P.O. Box 4850,
Zaporozhye 69118, Ukraine. Rules
<http://www.ucc.zp.ua/urdxc2009rules_eng.htm>
December 8 - ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB, email logs to:
SSP...@arrl.org, paper logs and diskettes to: November SS Phone, ARRL,
225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111, USA. Rules
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2009/novss.html>
December 8 - NA Collegiate ARC Championship, SSB, email logs to:
SSP...@arrl.org, email log summary to: wm...@wm5r.org, paper logs and
diskettes to: November SS Phone, ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington, CT
06111, USA. Rules <http://www.collegiatechampionship.org/rules/>
==> ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's
Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal> and SM3CER's
Contest Calendar <http://www.sk3bg.se/contest>.
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) 2009 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All
Rights Reserved