Contester's Rate Sheet for January 11, 2006

********************************************
          CONTESTER'S RATE SHEET
             11 January 2006

        Edited by Ward Silver N0AX

Published by the American Radio Relay League
           Free to ARRL members!
(Subscription info at the end of newsletter)
********************************************

Welcome to the first issue of 2006!  Look for some subtle format
changes as "the sheet" approaches its fourth birthday and 14,000th
subscriber.  Thanks for all the tips and ideas!  May your pileups be
packed and your multipliers many in 2006.

SUMMARY
o QSO Party Time - North American CW & SSB QSO Parties
o Snow Rovers - ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes
o YASME and WRTC-2006 Team Up For Young Contesters
o N3FJP, Ham University, and DX Connection - New Products
o IOTA Contest Preliminary Results Posted
o W6QPL's Easy VHF+ Yagi Construction Tips
o Making Guy Points the Engaging Way
o Give the Wheel A Shove

BULLETINS
o ARRL 10-Meter Contest logs due today!

BUSTED QSOS
o I got my signals crossed on the Icom CI-V interfaces mentioned in
the last issue - see the Technical Section for the correct
information.

-oo --- -o -  -- oo ooo ooo   -o-- --- oo- o-o
LOG DUE DATES - 11 JANUARY TO 24 JANUARY 2006
oo-o --- --o     -oo o o- -oo o-oo oo -o o ooo

January 11 - ARRL 10-Meter Contest, email logs to: 10meter@arrl.org,
paper logs and diskettes to: 10 Meter Contest, ARRL, 225 Main St,
Newington, CT 06111, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2005/10-meters.html

January 15 - CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW, email logs to: cw@cqww.com,
paper logs and diskettes to: CQWW CW, CQ Magazine, 25 Newbridge Road,
Hicksville, NY 11801, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/ww%20rules%208102005.pdf 

January 15 - Russian 160-Meter Contest, email logs to:
contest@radio.ru, paper logs and diskettes to: Radio Magazine, 10
Seliverstov per., 107045 Moscow, Russia. Find rules at:
http://www.radio.ru/cq/contest/rule-results/index.shtml 

January 15 - OK DX RTTY Contest, email logs to: okrtty@crk.cz, paper
logs and diskettes to: Czech Radio Club, OK DX RTTY Contest, PO Box
69, 113 27 Praha 1, Czech Republic. Find rules at:
http://www.crk.cz/eng/dxconte.htm

January 15 - New Mexico QSO Party, email logs to: n5kev@msn.com,
paper logs and diskettes to: Kevin Carr, 5319 Ridge Rock Ave NW,
Albuquerque, NM 87114-4130, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/newmexqp.pdf

January 16 - CQC Great Colorado Snowshoe Run, email logs to:
contest@cqc.org, paper logs and diskettes to: Snowshoe, c/o CQC, PO
Box 17174, Golden, CO 80402-6019, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.cqc.org/contests/snow2005.htm

January 17 - Croatian CW Contest, email logs to: 9acw@hamradio.hr,
paper logs and diskettes to: Hrvatski RadioAmaterski Savez, for
Croatian CW Contest, Dalmatinska 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Find
rules at:
http://www.hamradio.hr/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=342

January 17 - AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, email logs to: vhf-uhf@agcw.de,
paper logs and diskettes to: Manfred Busch, DK7ZH,
Carl-von-Ossietzky-Weg 6, D-63069 Offenbach/Main, Germany. Find rules
at: http://www.agcw.de/english/contest/agcw-dl0_e.htm

January 18 - Stew Perry Topband Challenge, email logs to:
tbdc@contesting.com, paper logs and diskettes to: BARC, 15125 SE
Bartell Rd, Boring, OR 97009, USA. Find rules at:
http://jzap.com/k7rat/stew.rules.txt

January 18 - ARCI Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint, email logs to:
contest@qrparci.org, paper logs and diskettes to: ARCI Holiday
Spirits, c/o Jeff Hetherington, VA3JFF, 139 Elizabeth St W, Welland,
Ontario L3C 4M3, Canada.

January 19 - NA High Speed Meteor Scatter Winter Rally, email logs
to: mph@swcp.com, paper logs and diskettes to: Mike WB2FKO, 3209
Cagua Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.sportscliche.com/wb2fko/w05/rules_w05.html

January 23 - DARC 10-Meter Contest, email logs to:
10m-contest@dxhf.darc.de, paper logs and diskettes to: Frank Steinke,
DL8WAA, PO Box 1188, D-56238 Selters, Germany. Find rules at:
http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/xedczr.htm 

-o-o --o-   - o ooo -   -o-o --o-   - o ooo -
CONTESTS - 11 JANUARY TO 24 JANUARY 2006
-o-o --o-   - o ooo -   -o-o --o-   - o ooo -

Note that the following abbreviations are used to condense the
contest rules summaries: SO - Single-Op; M2 - Multi-Op - 2
Transmitters; MO - Multi-Op; MS - Multi-Op, Single Transmitter; MM -
Multi-Op, Multiple Transmitters; AB - All Band; SB - Single Band;
S/P/C - State/Province/DXCC Entity; HP - High Power (>100 W); LP -
Low Power; QRP (5W or less); Entity - DXCC Entity

HF CONTESTS

North American QSO Party--CW, sponsored by the National Contest
Journal from 1800Z Jan 14 - 0600Z Jan 15. Frequencies: 160 -
10-meters. Categories: SOAB and M2, 100 W power limit, operate a
maximum of 10 hours (off times must be at least 30 min and M2 entries
may operate the entire contest). Exchange: Name and S/P/C. Score:
QSOs X States + Province + NA DXCC countries (count each once per
band). For information: http://www.ncjweb.com/naqprules.php. Logs due
Jan 29 via Web entry form at http://www.ncjweb.com/naqplogsubmit.php,
to cwnaqp@ncjweb.com or Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, 4225 Farmdale Avenue,
Studio City, CA 91604.

MI QRP Club January CW Contest--1200Z Jan 14 - 2400Z Jan 15.
Frequencies: 160 - 6-meters. Categories: SOAB with classes A (<250
mW), B (<1 W), C (<5 W), D (>5W). Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and MI-QRP
number or power output. QSO Points: MI-QRP members--5 pts, non-member
W/VE--2 pts, DX--4 pts. Score: QSO points x S/P/C counted once per
band. If homebrew RX or TX, multiply by 1.25. If both RX and TX are
homebrew, multiply by 1.5. For information:
http://www.qsl.net/miqrpclub. Logs to n8cqa@arrl.net or L. T. Switzer
N8CQA, 427 Jeffrey Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48073-2521.

Midwinter Contest--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Dutch YL Committee, CW
from 1400Z - 2000Z Jan 14, SSB from 0800Z - 1400Z Jan 15.
Frequencies: 80 - 10-meters, SSB 3.600-3.650, 7.080-7.090,
14.270-14.300, 21.270-21.300, 28.470-28.500 MHz. Categories: YL-SSB,
YL-CW, OM-SSB, OM-CW, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) and serial number, OMs
start with 001 and YLs start with 2001. QSO Points: YL--5 pts, OM--3
pts. Score: QSO points x DXCC entities counted once per mode. For
more information:
http://www.qsl.net/pi4ylc/engels/midwinter%20conteSthtm. Logs due 15
Feb to jckoekkoek@home.nl or PA3GQG - Contestmanager
Midwintercontest, Keulenheide 1, 6373 AP Landgraaf, The Netherlands.

Hunting Lions in the Air--CW/Phone, sponsored by the South African
District 410B of the Int'l Association of Lions Clubs from 0000Z Jan
14 - 2400Z Jan 15. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters, work stations once
per band regardless of mode. Categories: SOAB, MS. Exchange: RST and
serial number, Lion club members also sign /L or "Lion" and send
name, district and club name. The Midrand Lions station ZS6LCM/L will
act as the Melvin Jones Memorial club this year. QSO Points: non-Lion
station--1 pt, with Lions--5 pts, 25 points with ZS6LCM/L. Score: QSO
points X number of Lions clubs worked (count only once). For more
information: http://www.sarl.org.za/public/contests/lionita.asp. Logs
due Feb 28 to rad.handfield-jones@pixie.co.za or to Lion Rad
Handfield-Jones ZS6RAD, Lions Club of Midrand, PO Box 1548, Halfway
House, 1685, South Africa.

HA DX Contest--CW, sponsored by the Hungarian DX Club from 1200Z Jan
14 - 1200Z Jan 15. Frequencies: 160 - 10-meter bands. Categories:
SOAB, SOSB, MS, MM, and SWL. Exchange: RST and serial number, HA
stations send county or HADXC member number. QSO Points: Own DXCC
entity--1pt, same continent--1 pt, different cont--3 pts, HA
stations--6 pts. Score: QSO points X HA counties and members on each
band. For more information: http://www.mrasz.hu/engver/mraszen.html.
Logs due 30 days after the contest to contest@enternet.hu or MTTOSZ,
Gyôr Városi Rádióclub, 9200 Gyôr, PO Box 79, Hungary.

070 PSKFest--sponsored by the Penn/OH DX Society (PODXS) from 0000Z -
2400Z Jan 14. Frequencies: 80 - 10-meters. Categories: SOSB-QRP,
SOAB-QRP, - MP (<50W), -HP. Exchange: RST and S/P/C. QSO Points: 1
pt/QSO. Score: QSO points X S/P/C counted only once. For more
information: http://www.podxs.com/html/pskfeSthtml. Logs due Feb 17
to PSKFest@podxs.com or SPDomingue@aol.com or Steve Dominguez N6YIH,
11700 Fairlawn Ct, Boise, ID 83709.

North American QSO Party--Phone, 1800Z Jan 21 - 0600Z Jan 22 (see Jan
14-15). Logs due Feb 5 via Web entry form at
http://www.ncjweb.com/naqplogsubmit.php, to ssbnaqp@ncjweb.com or
Bruce Horn WA7BNM, 4225 Farmdale Ave., Studio City, CA 91604.

BARTG RTTY Sprint - this contest was originally listed in QST
"Contest Corral" as running on 21-22 Jan. The correct dates are 28-29
Jan. (Thanks, Alan N7BF)

80-Meter Straight Key Sprint--sponsored by the North American QRP
Club, from 0130Z - 0330Z Jan. 21 (Thursday evening).  Frequencies
(MHz): 3.560, 7.110. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and NAQC member number.
QSO Points: member--2 pts, non-member--1 pt. Score: QSO Points x
S/P/C (see Web site for multiplier value) x 2 if 100% straight key.
For more information: http://www.arm-tek.net/~yoel. Logs due 27 Jan
to yoel@arm-tek.net or Tom Mitchell, KB3LFC, RD6 Box 122A,
Kittanning, PA 16201.

LZ Open Championship--CW, sponsored by the LZ Open Contest Club from
0400Z - 1200Z Jan 21. Frequencies: 3.5 and 7 MHz. Categories: MS, SO,
and SO-QRP. Exchange: 6-digits, serial number and serial number
received in previous QSO. E.g. - the first QSO exchange is '001 000'.
A station can be worked once every 30 minutes. QSO Points: same
entity--1 pt, different entity--2 pts. Score: total QSO points. For
more information:
http://www.linkove.com/lz-open-contest/rules/rules.htm. Logs in
Cabrillo format due 30 days after the contest to lz1gl@yahoo.com or
PO Box 830, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria.

International United Teenager Contest--CW/SSB, sponsored by
"Radio-TLUM" Ukraine from 0600Z - 1400Z Jan 21 in four periods for
operators 18 or younger and Ukraine veterans. Frequencies: 80 - 10
meters. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MS. Exchange: RS(T) and age or "RT"
for veterans. For QSO Points, Scoring, and other information:
http://www.qrz.ru/contest/detail/17.html (select "Translate to
English"). Logs due 30 days after the contest to CQ UT Contest,
Radio-TLUM, PO Box 5000, Vinnytsa, 21018 Ukraine.

UK DX RTTY Contest--sponsored by the Scottish-Russian ARS from 1200Z
Jan 21 - 1200Z Jan 22. Frequencies: 80 - 10-meters. Categories: SOAB
(HP, LP), MS. Exchange: RST and serial number, UK stations send UK
region code. QSO Points: Own DXCC entity--1 pt, same continent--2
pts, different cont--3 pts, UK stations--5 pts. Score: QSO points x
UK regions + DXCC entities on each band. For more information:
http://www.ukdx.scotham.net/. Logs in Cabrillo format due 30 days
after the contest to ukdxc@scotham.net or UK DX RTTY Contest
Committee, PO Box 7469, Glasgow, G42 0YD, Scotland, UK.

VHF+ CONTESTS

ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes--1900Z Jan 21 - 0400Z Jan 23.
Frequencies: all bands 6-meters and above. Categories: SO  -
LP/-HP/-Portable, Rover, MO, Limited MO. Exchange: Grid Square. QSO
Points: 50/144 MHz  -  1 pt, 222/440 MHz  -  2 pts, 902/1296 MHz  - 
4 pts, 2.3 GHz and above  -  8 pts. Score: QSO Points x Grid Squares
(counted once per band), Rovers count Grid Squares from which they
were able to complete a QSO. For more information and power limits:
http://www.arrl.org/contests. Logs due Feb 22 to januaryvhf@arrl.org
or January VHF Sweepstakes, ARRL, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111.

--o- ooo -   --o- ooo -   --o- ooo -   -oo o
NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST
- oooo o   o-o o- - o   ooo oooo o o -   -o-

In order to help young contesters from around the world attend and
participate in WRTC-2006, the YASME Foundation (http://www.yasme.org/)
has donated $10,000 to WRTC-2006. YASME encourages young amateurs
with a strong interest in contesting to make their applications for
those positions by 20 Jan 2006. The application on the WRTC-2006 Web
site (http://www.wrtc2006.com/) can be used as a guideline to list
those occasions on which you have been involved with contest
operating. If you are a member of a contest-oriented club, please ask
two of their senior members to act as your reference and to explain
the basis for your desire to join us. If you are under 22 years of
age and are interested in competing as a team captain, please apply
immediately and indicate your willingness to bring your own equipment
to Brazil. Other young contesters up to 30 years of age can apply for
operating slots on one of the 15 multinational-multi/single teams.
(Thanks, Oms PY5EG and Wayne, N7NG)

N3FJP announces several new updates and features to his popular line
of contest logging software (http://www.n3fjp.com/):
- Winkey support
- One-key contact logging
- Log archival
- K7RE RTTY (for Field Day)
Scott is also starting a group discussion of a "Who's On the Air"
database. If you're interested, send a blank email to
WOTADB-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Ham University (http://hamuniversity.com/buyhamnow.asp) is running a
special offer with a Club/Class License that allows you to install a
copy of Ham University once on each of five PCs. This can make using
Ham University much more affordable.

Dave W6TE of The DX Connection (http://www.dxconnection.com/)
announces that he is the North American distributor for EZMaster, an
S02R controller introduced in Europe last year. EZMaster uses USB
from your PC to interface with antenna switches and filters. It also
switches microphone and headphone audio between radios and claims to
be the ultimate sound interface!

For contesters into old time DXing out of nostalgia or curiosity,
browse to http://www.geocities.com/k2cddx/wcdxbarch.html for some
choice issues of the West Coast DX Bulletin.  These writings are the
origin of the Palos Verde Sundancers and The Deserving. One of
DXing's more memorable scandals is found at
http://www.qsl.at/common/miller.html. (Thanks, John K1AR)
 
The Southeastern VHF Society is soliciting papers and presentations
for the upcoming Southeastern VHF Society Conference on April 28th
and 29th in Greenville, SC.  The deadline for submitting a paper or
presentation is March 3rd.  More information on the conference and
the call for papers is available at http://www.svhfs.org/. (Thanks,
Jim W4KXY Technical Program Chair)

Randy K5ZD has released the latest version of the Super-Check-Partial
file set at http://www.k5zd.com/scp.  The 39,048 calls are from
contests within the past 2 years--a database of 2.77 million QSOs
from more than 2000 logs.  The files are available individually or
zipped.  If you'd like to contribute your logs, email Cabrillo files
to k5zd@contesting.com.

There is a new Windows version of contest simulator RUFZ in beta test
that is native to Windows.  Give it a spin at
http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/xedtrsdxp.htm (Thanks, Paul    K4UJ)

From the AMSAT News Service Bulletin, the small cubesat launched by
JAMSAT that was released from the SSETI satellite is sending pictures
back to us of the Earth. View the photos at:
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/xivpict2.htm.

If you're completely mystified by the appearance of ATLA in email and
on the Internet, there is hope. JFYI, try the acronym dictionary at
http://www.gaarde.org/acronyms. You'll be ROTFL at some of the
definitions.

QSLing being the time and money eating activity, save yourself some
postage by checking out K4HB's web site:
http://www.k4hb.com/postage.html. This is a good way to keep on top
of postal rates worldwide.  And don't forget that air mail from the
US to most countries is now 84 cents! (Thanks, Paul VE1DX)

Jim AD1C is trying to compile a list of all known Cabrillo contest
IDs.  The results so far can be found at
http://www.ad1c.us/contest-id.htm.  Please send email with additions,
corrections, or other observations at the address on the Web site.

If you're thinking about heading to Brazil in July of 2006 for WRTC,
you'll need to know your way with money.  Let's take a look at some
of the Brazilian moolah methodology:
   The Brazilian unit of currency is the Reais
   1 Brazilian Reais (BRL) = 0.44 USD = 0.37 EURO
   Bank - banco - "BAY-ku"
   Checks - cheques - "SHEH-k'sh"
   Coins - moedas - "mu-EH-dash"
   Credit card - cartao de credito - "kar-TOW d'KREH-dee-tu"
   Exchange - cambio - "KAY-bee-u"

URL OF THE WEEK - The Register - a cheeky technical site for those
with a sense of humor - http://www.theregister.co.uk/.

ooo o o    -o-- --- oo- -o-o
RESULTS AND RECORDS
ooo oo --o -o   oooo o o-o o

The preliminary results of the 2005 IOTA contest have been posted at
http://iotaconteStcom/2005/iotaScores.php If there are any problems
with your listing, please let the contest organizers know as soon as
possible at iotacontest@rsgbhfcc.org. You may also request your
adjudication report (similar to CQWW UBN) at the same address.
(Thanks, Don G3XTT)

Olivier F5MZN reports that he benefited from some spare time over
holidays to post some photographs of the contest activity at FY5KE
for the last CQWW SSB. Have a look at http://www.fy5ke.org/ and click
on "Photo Gallery".

oo oo-o    oo - ooo   -o --- -   -ooo o-o -o- o -o
TECHNICAL TIPS AND INFORMATION
-o-- --- oo- o-o o  -o --- -  - o-o -o-- oo -o --o

Here's the correct information about commercially available radio
interfaces that can read the Icom CI-V data. Two of the models listed
in the previous issue operate from the Icom band data variable
voltage output and will not decode 10/12 and 15/17 meters into
separate bands.

Array Solutions DBS-1 and DBS-2
(http://www.arraysolutions.com/Products/banddecoders.htm)
These interfaces decode CI-V data and properly decode 12/12/15/17
meters. The DBS-1/DBS-2 also provide both current sink and source
outputs to handle mixed antenna switches and bandpass filters.

microHAM Band Decoder
(http://www.microham-usa.com/Products/band%20decoder.html) 
This interface provides serial decoding on all of the major rigs
(Elecraft, Icom, Kenwood, Ten-Tec and Yaesu) while acting as a RS-232
to radio interface. It also supports the use of "foreign" solid state
amplifiers such as the Icom PW-1 or IC-2KL with Yaesu, Kenwood,
Ten-Tec transceivers and the Yaesu Quadra or FL-7000 with Icom,
Kenwood or Ten-Tec radios.

Both interfaces have a lot more to offer - please check the Web sites
for complete information. (Thanks to Jay WX0B at Array Solutions and
Joe W4TV at microHam America)

Something I know you all do every week; combine 1% resistors to get a
specific, precise value.  OK, so maybe YOU don't do it, but I'll bet
there are plenty of electronic-ers among the readership that can use
the programs at http://www.edn.com/article/CA6290454.html. These are
nice software gadgets to have in the toolbox.

With the January VHF Sweepstakes coming up, it's tempting to put up a
yagi or two and put that multi-band rig to work. To make the
construction process faster, check out Jim W6PQL's Web site:
http://w6pql.com/antennas.htm.  I'm sure you'll get some good ideas!

If you're a Miles-Per-Watt enthusiast, Martin VE3SIE found this great
MPW calculator: http://www.hoffswell.com/n9ssa/mpwcalc.html. It
accounts for the curvature of the Earth and also plots the path on a
Google map.

Pat K8PC reports that large plastic cat food containers make
excellent waterproof protectors for switches and connectors. No
noticeable UV damage was visible after a summer's use.

Those of you that don't have easy access to empty cat food containers
might want to make a stop by your local household good emporia. 
January is a prime month for sales on things like containers and
storage accessories as we all try to return the house to its pristine
pre-holiday state.

Anyone making your own PC boards might want to take a look at the
following link for some very easy approaches to producing your own
boards using a laser printer:
http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteepc.htm. (Thanks Norm N7NSD)

Rohn tower parts are still available from Rohn (now Radian)  at: 
http://www.radiancorp.com/ROHNNET/rohnnet2004/html2004/index.html.
(Thanks, Larry WA9VRH)

Pat AA6EG contributes a Web site with a large number of military tech
manuals of masts and antennas that might be useful:
http://www.tpub.com/content/antennaandmasts.

Here's a neat way to make guying points for verticals made from large
aluminum tubing. "Cut a 4-inch length of PVC pipe the same ID as the
tubing OD.  Slit it lengthwise with a table saw blade that will
remove 1/4 inch or so of material.  Stick a screwdriver in the gap to
spread the pipe open slightly and slip it over the tubing.  When you
get to where you want it to go, pull out the screwdriver and the pipe
will hug the tubing.  Clamp it with a hose clamp. Next, take a PVC
coupling and drill holes for guy ropes evenly spaced around the
coupling.  Slip this over the top of the tubing and move it down
until it rests on the slit pipe.  Engage the two pieces with a rubber
mallet." Photos can be found at http://www.n6rk.com/. (Thanks, Rick
N6RK)

TECHNICAL LINK OF THE WEEK - Why buy a toupee when you could just get
one of these? http://www.skygeek.com/40592g-01.html (Thanks, Bob
N6TV)

o-- oooo ---  oo ooo  o-o o o- -oo oo -o --o
CONVERSATION
- oooo oo ooo   ooo - oo- oo-o oo-o   oo--oo

Give the Wheel A Shove

In the past six months, the US has experienced three major
hurricanes, wildfires, and severe weather--all of which resulted in
widespread callouts of amateur emergency communications volunteers. 
Responding organizations included ARES teams, SATERN, Hurricane Watch
Net, Red Cross, and numerous others.

What if a disaster did occur close to home? What would you do if
called to respond?  How best could you serve?  Let's look to our
strengths. Contesters are already skilled in some badly needed emcomm
capabilities; accurate copying and sending, operating stamina, and
having stations capable of effectively communicating near and far on
a wide range of frequencies.

Accurate copying and sending, often under difficult conditions, are
skills on which we pride ourselves.  Our top competitors have
unworldly copying capabilities and know how to get their information
through tough QRM and QRN.  This is a good start when accuracy means
a lot more than just scoring penalties.

Next comes stamina.  Many contesters can do hour after hour "in the
chair" and think nothing of it.  Whether we could do the same under
emergency conditions is another question, but I'm willing to bet that
we would give a good account of ourselves.  This keeps the good start
rolling.

Strong station coverage is another contester hallmark.  Many of us
have stations with capabilities in the upper percentiles of hams in
general.  We can put these to work in emergencies and disasters,
punching big signals through into or out of the affected area.  It's
common for contest stations to have antennas that can blanket local
and regional areas as well as hold a frequency in a DX contest.

These are all great, but they're not quite enough by themselves to
ensure that you'll be able to help out when needed.  It's trite but
true that symphonies sound a whole lot better when the musicians have
read and practiced the music.  If you responded, would you respond
credibly and competently?  Or would you stumble around?  Would you
even know who to contact and where to tune?

Now's the time to figure that stuff out, not after the ground shakes
or after the hurricane dies down.  Spend some time browsing the 'net
and making a few phone calls some evening or weekend afternoon.  Make
up a contact sheet with the contact information for ARRL and ARES
leadership stations, as well as other organizations that are active
in your area.  Find out where your local and regional nets meet and
at what times.  On what frequencies do the local emergency response
groups meet?

Once you have the contact information in hand, do you know the
appropriate procedures?  Many of us grew up handling traffic, but
when was the last time you handled a radiogram?  Where is that
yellow-and-green pad in your station, anyway?  Download the ARRL's
FSD-218 "Everything you wanted to know about radiograms" form at
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/#fsd-218.

More than likely, you'll also have to interface with something called
the "Incident Management System" which is the way most emergencies
and disasters are handled by government agencies.  Never heard of it?
 Here's a link to FREE training -
http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/IS/is700.asp.  Go one further and
take the inexpensive ARRL training course EC-001 -
http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html#ec001.

Then you need to practice.  You don't have to make Brass Pounders
League every month, but it would be nice to tune in a traffic net and
handle a message or two. Check in to your state and county emergency
nets, even as a visitor, just to get used to the call signs and
procedures. Monitor a SATERN or HWN session.  Do whatever is needed
to avoid showing up ignorant in a real emergency.

The late Jim Maxwell W6CF, one of the brightest and most experienced
hams ever, told me that after becoming the Pacific Division director
he discovered that there was more to ham radio than he had ever
imagined!  This is likely true for all of us, even though we may be
contest mavens, skilled in all phases of the radiosporting art.  If
you decide to broaden your ham radio perspectives, I can think of no
better wheel against which to put your capable shoulders than to
public service in the form of emergency communications.

73, Ward N0AX

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Contester's Rate Sheet wishes to acknowledge information from the
following sources:
WA7BNM's Contest Calendar Web page -
http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal
SM3CER's Web site - http://www.sk3bg.se/contest