Contester's Rate Sheet for February 7, 2007

********************************************
          CONTESTER'S RATE SHEET
              7 February 2007

        Edited by Ward Silver N0AX

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

SUMMARY
o Granddaddy Of 'Em All - ARRL DX CW
o CQ WPX RTTY for Bit Bangers
o For QSO Party Animals - BC, LA, NH, NNY QSO Parties
o NCJ News by K9LA
o Calls for VHF+ Papers
o Radio Merit Badge Web Site
o Key Clicks and QSB By Any Other Name
o OCF Dipole Web Page
o Contests Beyond A Contest

BULLETINS
o School Club Roundup
(http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/scr.html) is next week,
so if you're not doing anything in the afternoons after school is
out, get on and hand out some QSOs to up-and-coming contesters.

BUSTED QSOS
o Some folks reported trouble finding the TB3 thrust bearing repair
article at the published URL. N2MG suggests
http://lists.contesting.com/_towertalk/1998-12/msg00112.html as a
better link.

CONTEST SUMMARY (Rules follow Commentary section)

February 10-11
- NA Sprint - CW
- School Club Roundup
- CQ WW RTTY WPX
- NH QSO Party
- LA QSO Party
- NNY QSO Party
- BC QSO Party
- RSGB 1.8 MHz Contest
- A-P Sprint - CW
- FISTS Winter CW Sprint
- Dutch PACC
- YL-OM Contest - SSB
- OMISS QSO Party - SSB
- Classic Exchange - AM/SSB
February 17-18
- ARRL DX - CW
- AM QSO Party

--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-

National Contest Journal News by Editor Carl Luetzelschwab K9LA

The March/April issue is a special issue for 6m contesting
enthusiasts. K7BV relates his 6m contesting experiences from
Connecticut, K3LC looks at ways to cover the elevation angles needed
for 6m sporadic-E, W9GKA analyzes the shift of contest activity from
the January VHF contest to the summer VHF contests, VHF-UHF
Contesting columnist N0JK discusses two important propagation modes
on 6m, RTTY Contesting columnist AA5AU comments on 6m RTTY
contesting, and Propagation columnist K9LA shows a method to
determine optimum sporadic-E times between mid latitude stations.
This issue also has features about C6APR in IOTA 2006, a review of
the MicroHam MK2R+ SO2R controller, a review of K4ZA's Contest Video
Essay, a look at ergonomic contesting, an analysis of the importance
of moving multipliers, a tutorial on RF transformers, a look at
contesting and kids from the Boulder ARC, and regular columns from
W4PA (NCJ Profiles) and K4ZA (Workshop Chronicles).  Check out the
National Contest Journal magazine at http://www.ncjweb.com/.

- - - - -

Microwave Update 2007 (http:// www.microwaveupdate.org) calls for
papers on any topics related to microwave theory, construction,
communication, deployment, propagation, antennas, activity,
transmitters, receivers, components, amplifiers, communication modes,
LASER and practical experiences. Abstracts should be submitted by
June 1 and completed papers and articles by August 15. To submit your
papers, articles and abstracts contact W2PED at pdrexler@hotmail.com
or N2UO at lu6dw@yahoo.com.

The Southeastern VHF Society is also calling for the submission of
papers and presentations for the upcoming 11th Annual Southeastern
VHF Society Conference (http://www.svhfs.org/) to be held in Atlanta,
Georgia on April 27th and 28th -. Papers and presentations are
solicited on both the technical and operational aspects of VHF, UHF
and Microwave weak signal amateur radio. Send all questions, comments
and submissions to the technical program chair, Jim Worsham, W4KXY at
w4kxy@bellsouth.net.

I was made aware of another interesting computer clock
(http://home.tiscali.nl/annejan/swf/timeline.swf) in a different, but
logical format. The first line is seconds, then minutes, hours and so
forth down the page.

Anybody need a Smith Chart or some graph paper? Check out
http://www.pdfpad.com/ to print out Smith Charts, graph paper and even
staff paper. Another Web page
(http://www.sss-mag.com/pdf/smithchart.pdf) has a nice Smith Chart
too. (Thanks, Tom KF4YYD and Chris N7ZWY)

Bands are dead and you're hungry for a little Charlie Whiskey? For
those of you with an AEA MM-3 keyer, enter **5 on the keypad, then
call CQ. If you have the right version of firmware then it calls you
back and will QSO with you exchanging name, QTH, equip, WX,
relatives, gossip.  It will go as long as you can. If you enter **5 ,
then leave the MM-3 alone, it will start calling CQ.  Answer and the
QSO starts! (Thanks, Art W6KY)

Owners of Butternut antennas might be interested to learn that there
is a Butternut Antennas group on Yahoo! Groups.  Log on to
http://www.yahoogroups.com/ and search for butternut-antennas. Lots of
good articles, pictures and info available, says Larry K7LJ.

Here's a good idea for a regional contest that is just right to
attract Technician licensees, especially those encouraged to give HF
a try. The BreezeShooters are sponsoring a Ground Wave contest on 10
meters using either CW or SSB.  This is a good idea for a
local/regional contest that can attract new participants. Links to
the rules are available at http://www.breezeshooters.net/ (Thanks,
Mark K3FY)

All you Big Gun contest stations are encouraged to upload their logs
to LOTW (http://www.arrl.org/lotw) especially for domestic contests.
This will encourage casual contesters who will then get a lot of LOTW
QSLs. Logs from traditionally "rare" states like WY and RI uploaded
to LoTW will complete a number of WAS and 5BWAS awards.(Thanks, Marc
W6ZZZ)

Dave K2GM passed away this week - he is fondly remembered by many,
having been a key element of the famous K2GL multi-multi operations
that spawned the competitive M/M category operations of today.

URL of the Week - How many of us earned the Radio merit badge back in
our youth? Is the badge still available?  You bet it is!  K2GW runs a
Radio Merit Badge day once a year at the David Sarnoff Library in
Princeton, NJ.  They typically get about 50 Scouts to attend and
always fill a follow-on Tech licensing course with a dozen Scouts and
parents. There's no better way to get more hams (and potential
contestors) than by doing this!  Gary's Web page
(http://k2gw.tripod.com/radiomeritbadge) has everything a ham needs
to teach the Radio merit badge, including downloadable presentations.
 You need not be a scoutmaster or otherwise a member of the troop -
you only need to make yourself or your club known to a Scout leader
as someone interested in helping Scouts obtain their merit badge.

oooo  o  -o--     -o-- o- o-oo o-oo
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
o-- o- - -o-o oooo    - oooo oo ooo

The multi-media department is a little light this week, so I am
relaying a "reported" sound. Jeff K9ESE detected a raspy "di-dit"
every 30 seconds or so on the bands. The subsequent interference hunt
traced the source of the noise to a Radio Shack Jump Start power unit
that he was using as a power supply.  This was apparently its
maintenance charge cycle activating.

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

ARRL CONTEST RESULTS

EME Contest results should be available on the ARRL Contest
Department Web site (http://www.arrl.org/contests) any time.  Who
shot the moon? (Thanks, Tom KC1J)

- - - - -

Top scores for the 2006 CQ WPX SSB contest are available at
http://www.cqwpx.com/results_2006_ssb_topscores.htm. (Thanks, Jorge
CX6VM)

oooo o -o--   -o-- --- oo-
OPERATING TIP
o-- o- -o- o      oo- o--o

John K0IO contributes this week's tip: "While in the "running mode"
on CW I like to set the rig up to transmit on VFO-B and receive on
VFO-A.  This gives me a "big knobbed" RIT control.  I also change the
dial setting to "fine." It's imperative, though, to remember to
return the transmit function to VFO-A if you go to S&P - usually a
few unanswered calls are enough to remind you if you forget!"

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

Two well-known causes of key clicks can be easily addressed in many
radios, including top-of-the-line units.  The first, rise and fall
time for the CW keying waveform, is often a menu setting.  Don't just
take the setting's word for it, though - verify it on a 'scope. 
Change the menu setting so that the rise and fall times are at least
4 msec.  The second cause is driving the ALC system too hard.  This
is harder to diagnose, but if you are driving the rig such that the
ALC is activating on transmit, back down the drive.  When in doubt,
have some local friends (but not next-door neighbors) check for
clicks with everything at full power. Have them use the narrow CW
filter and tune immediately adjacent to your signal as if they are
the "next" station on the band. Then fight the urge to turn it up
"just a little bit" when you're actually on the air!  For more
information, browse http://www.w8ji.com/what_causes_clicks.htm by Tom
W8JI.

In a conversation with a professional radio astronomer, Paul NA5N
said that "he described a weird phenomenon where the amplitude of the
signals would increase and decrease in a random fashion.  Of course,
every ham knows this is called fading or QSB. However, I thought you
might be interested to know what astronomers call this phenomenon:
"Ionospheric induced amplitude scintillation with aperiodic
variability." Somehow, QSB just rolls off the tongue a bit better --
and certainly off the old Morse code key!

Here are two ways of bleeding off static charge from antennas when an
RF choke might not work for whatever reason. A shorted,
quarter-wavelength length of RG-8 looks like an open circuit to RF at
the design frequency, but any dc (static charge) sees a short circuit
to ground. Another tried-and-true way is to place a 100 kohm to 1
Mohm, 2-watt resistor across the feedline.  Either will provide a
path for static charge while leaving RF unaffected.  Note that nearby
strike or surge can cause the resistor to overheat or explode so take
appropriate safety action. (Thanks, Jerry K4SAV and Chris KA8WFC)

A recent thread on the RFI reflector (rfi@contesting.com) about
mobiling noises "Strange radio static problem in vehicle" pointed out
that since cars and trucks are no longer constructed with continuous
metal bodies, bonding between the sections will degrade over time,
possibly leading to RFI problems where once a solid ground was
present.  This may not solve your problem, but is a tip to be aware.

TECHNICAL URL OF THE WEEK -- Whilst searching for information on the
Off-Center-Fed (OCF) Dipole, Brian G0NSL came across
http://www.stroobandt.com/antennas/windom featuring an excellent
presentation on the subject.  

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

Contests Beyond A Contest

In past columns, I've promoted the "Contests Within A Contest" (CWAC)
idea in which additional rules or constraints create an additional
framework for competition within an ongoing contest.  The World
Radiosport Team Championship is the best known example of a CWAC. As
long as the additional rules don't conflict with the contest
sponsor's rules, everyone benefits from the extra activity.

Let's turn the CWAC inside out to make Contests Beyond A Contest
(CBAC).  I've mentioned this idea in jest on occasion - operating in
more than one contest at a time as SO-2C.  But why limit ourselves to
a single set of simultaneous contests?  What about a contest that
ran, say, for a month or even a whole contest season?

There are a number of interesting competitions and challenges that
pit clubs or teams against each other.  The operators rack up points
from each contest and build up a grand total in an effort to attain
bragging rights until next year.  I'll bet your club has done such a
thing at one time or another and may be participating in a challenge
right now.

The CBAC goes one step further and creates a scoring structure
outside of any particular contest.  Oh sure, there are still QSO
points and multipliers and all that.  And you must comply with all
the rules of any contest in which you make QSOs.  But from there, a
whole new method of scoring can be devised.

Here's a just-made-up example - the March Hare Coverage Contest.  It
runs from 0000Z on March 1 through 2359Z on March 31.  Contestants
may make contacts in any contest announced in Contest Corral or
WA7BNM's or SM3CER's contest calendars.  All QSOs must be contest
QSOs and a log must be submitted to the sponsors for any contest in
which contacts were made.

Competitors receive one point for each State-Province-Country in
which a QSO is made during each clock hour beginning at 0000Z.  For
example, a QSO with California at 0020Z during the first hour counts
one point, then another point can be scored by contacting California
during the 0100Z hour - it doesn't matter in which contest.  The idea
is to put as many S/P/C's as possible into your log(s) during each
clock hour.  This goes on for the whole month and the station with
the most points wins.

Think of the interesting strategies!  Do you sit in one spot and call
CQ?  For which contest?  The most popular one?  But that's a domestic
contest with only 50 states!  If you decide to tune around, that 9J2
is worth just the same as New Jersey every time the hour changes. 
How much time do you spend calling him when you might just as easily
work NJ from a CQ?  Arggh - and what is the best way to keep track of
where you've made contacts?

I can easily see some other fun bonuses thrown into the mix.  For
example, score 100 points for each WAS obtained, starting over as
each WAS is completed.  5BWAS and DXCC count 1000 points each.  What
about zones?  What about counties or grids?  My goodness - this could
keep even the most battle-hardened veteran busy for quite a long
time.

If your club is interested in sponsoring contest, why not take
advantage of the many contests that are already out there?  At your
next after-the-meeting-meeting, see if some ideas don't start to pop
up.  Give it a trial run with a few of your friends and see what
works - then tell us about it.  You could be laying the groundwork
for a novel and enjoyable way to put a new spin on our favorite radio
sport!

73, Ward N0AX

-o-o  --o-  - o ooo - -o-o  --o-  - o ooo -
CONTESTS -- 7 FEBRUARY TO 20 FEBRUARY 2007
-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)

HF CONTESTS

North American Sprint--CW, sponsored by the National Contest Journal
from 0000Z - 0400Z, Feb 11. Frequencies (MHz): 3.540, 7.040, 14.040.
Work stations once per band. North American stations work everyone,
others work NA stations only. Exchange: other station's call, your
call, serial number, name, S/P/C. QSY rule: Stations calling CQ, QRZ,
etc, may only work one station in response to that call, they must
then move at least 1 kHz before working another station or 5 kHz
before soliciting another call. Once you are required to QSY, you may
not make a new QSO on the previous frequency until you have made a
contact at least 1 or 5 kHz (as required) away. (see
http://www.contesting.com/articles/198 for beginner's guide)  Score:
QSOs X S/P/C (count each only once). For more information:
http://www.ncjweb.com/. Logs due 7 days after the contest via
http://www.ncjweb.com/sprintlogsubmit.php or cwsprint@ncjweb.com or
Boring ARC, 15125 Bartell Road, Boring, OR 97009.

School Club Roundup--all modes, 1300z Feb 12 - 2400z Feb 16. Operate
24 hours max. Frequencies: All amateur bands except WARC, contact
stations once on phone and once on any mode per band. Categories: SO,
Club, School Club. Exchange: RS(T), category, S/P/C. QSO Points:
Phone--1 pt, all other modes--2 pts.  Score: see
http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/scr.html for scoring and
multipliers. Logs due 30 days after the contest to School Club
Roundup, c/o Lew Malchick, N2RQ, Brooklyn Technical HS, 29 Fort
Greene Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217.

CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest--sponsored by CQ Magazine from 0000Z
Feb 10 to 2400Z Feb 11. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters. Categories: SO
(LP, HP), SOSB, MS, M2, MM, Rookie (licensed <3 years). SO work 30
hours max. Use of spotting assistance allowed for all categories.
Work stations once only. Exchange: RST and serial number. QSO Points:
own country--1 pt, own continent--2 pts, different cont--3 pts,
double points on 80 and 40 meters.  Score: QSO points x WPX prefixes.
For more information: http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/. Logs due 9 Mar
to wpxrtty@kkn.net or CQ Magazine - WPX RTTY Contest, 25 Newbridge
Road, Hicksville, NY 11801 USA.

New Hampshire QSO Party--Phone/CW/Digital, sponsored by the Great Bay
Radio Association from 0001Z Feb 10 to 0001Z Feb 12. Categories:
SOAB, MO (QRP, LP, HP). Frequencies: 160-10 meters, VHF, UHF.
Exchange: RST and NH county or S/P/C. QSO Points: Phone--1 pt,
CW/Digital--2 pts. Total Score: QSO Points x NH counties (NH stations
add states and provinces plus 1 DXCC entity). For more information:
http://www.w1fz.org/.   Logs due 31 Mar to nhqso@comcast.net or Great
Bay Radio Association, 78 Littleworth Road, Dover, NH 03820.

Louisiana QSO Party--CW/Phone, sponsored by the Thibodaux ARC, W5YL,
from 1500Z Feb 10 - 0300Z Feb 11. Frequencies (MHz): CW 1.840, 3.540,
7.040, 14.040, 21.040, 28.040; Phone 1.865, 3.865, 7.255, 14.255,
21.365, 28.465, VHF 50.095, 50.135, 144.050, 144.210. Operating
categories. SOAB (Phone, CW, Mixed) and Rover (LA stations only).
Exchange: Call, RST, and S/P/C or LA Parish. QSO Points: Phone--2
pts, CW--4 pts. Total Score: QSO points x LA parishes or S/P/C
counted once per mode. Rovers add 50 pt bonus for each parish
activated. Add 100 points for QSO with W5YL. For more information:
http://www.w5yl.org/. Logs due 15 Mar to laqso@bellsouth.net or LA QSO
Party, 508 Hache St, Houma, LA 70364.

Northern New York (NNY) QSO Party--all modes, sponsored by the
Ogdensburg ARC from 0000Z Feb 10 - 2359Z Feb 11. Categories: SOAB
only. Frequencies: 80 meters - 70 cm, CW 40 kHz from bottom of the
band (20 kHz from Novice band edge), SSB - lower 25 kHz of General
allocation, entire Novice 10-meter sub-band, VHF - 50.200, 144.200,
146.49. Exchange: RST and NNY county and S/P/C. Total Score: QSOs x
NNY counties or S/P/C counted once only. For more information and
bonus points: http://www.nnyara.org/. Logs due 11 Mar to
qso2007@nnyara.org or Roger Ousterhout KA2JXI, 511 Seymour St,
Ogdensburg, NY 13669. 

British Columbia QSO Challenge--CW/SSB/Digital, sponsored by the
Delta Amateur Radio Society from 1600Z Feb 10 - 0359Z Feb 11.
Categories: SOAB, (SSB, CW, Digital, Mixed and QRP, LP, HP >100W)
Frequencies (MHz): CW 1.850, 3.550, 7.045, 14.050, 21.050, 28.050,
50.095; SSB 1.850, 3.825, 7.260, 14.225, 21.380, 28.380, 50.130;
Digital - customary calling frequencies.  Exchange: Name and year
licensed.  QSO Points: SSB--1 pt, CW/Digital--2 pts. Total Score:
Number of stations worked (see Web site).  Add 25 points for a QSO
with VE7SUN. For more information: http://www.deltaamateurradio.com/.
Logs due 12 Mar to ve7fky@rac.ca or Delta Amateur Radio Society, c/o
Tsawwassen Community Police Station, 1108 56th Street, Delta, BC V4L
2A3.

RSGB 1.8 MHz Contest--CW, sponsored by RSGB from 2100Z Feb 10 - 0100Z
Feb 11. Frequencies (MHz): 1.820 - 1.870. Categories: SO only.
Exchange: RST + serial number and UK district. QSO Points: 3pts/QSO +
5 pts for first QSO with a UK district. Score: QSO points. For more
information: http://www.rsgbhfcc.org/. Logs due 16 days after the
contest to 1st160.logs@rsgbhfcc.org or RSGB-G3UFY, 77 Bensham Manor
Road, Thorton Heath, Surrey, CR7 7AF, England.

Asia-Pacific Sprint--CW, sponsored by the AP Sprint Contest Committee
from 1100Z - 1300Z Feb 10. Frequencies: 20 and 40-meters, NA stations
work Asia-Pacific countries only. Categories: SO only, 150 watts max.
Exchange: RST and serial number. Sprint QSY rule applies--see NA
Sprint, Feb 3-4. Score: total QSOs x WPX prefixes (counted once). For
more information: http://jsfc.org/apsprint/aprule.txt. Logs due 7
days after the contest to apsprint@jsfc.org (no paper logs).

FISTS CW Winter Sprint--CW, sponsored by FISTS International CW Club
from 1700Z until 2100Z Feb 10. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters, work
US/VE stations. Categories: SO, SO-QRP, Club. Exchange: RST, S/P/C,
first name, FISTS number (non-FISTS Power output). QSO Points: FISTS
members--5 pts, nonmembers--2 pts. Score: QSO points × S/P/C (count
each only once). For more information: http://www.fists.org/. Logs due
30 days after the contest to w8pig@yahoo.com or Dan Shepherd N8IE,
1900 Pittsfield St, Kettering, Oh 45420. 

Dutch PACC Contest--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Vereniging voor
Experimenteel Radio Onderzoek in Nederland (VERON) from 1200Z Feb 10
-- 1200Z Feb 11. Frequencies: 160 -- 10 meters according to IARU band
plan, no SSB on 160, work stations only once per band. Categories:
SO, SO-QRP, MO, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) + serial number (Dutch stations
send province). QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Score: QSO points x Provinces
(counted once per band). For more information:
http://www.dutchpacc.com/. Logs due March 31 to pa0adt@dutchpacc.com
or Ad van Tilborg PA0ADT, Schepenenveld 141, 7327 DB Apeldoorn,
Netherlands.

YL-OM Contest--SSB, sponsored by the Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL)
from 1400Z Feb 10 to 0200Z Feb 12. Frequencies: 160-10 meters.
Exchange: Call sign, RST, serial number and S/P/C. For more
information and scoring info: http://www.ylrl.org/ylcontests.html.
Logs due 30 days after the contest to kc4iyd@yahoo.com or Nancy Rabel
Hall, KC4IYD, PO Box 775, North Olmsted, OH 44070

OMISS QSO Party--SSB, sponsored by the Old Man International Sideband
Society from 1500Z Feb 10 - 1500Z Feb 11. Frequencies (MHz): 3.9405,
7.2635, 14.290, 21.360, 28.665. Categories: SO, Mobile. Exchange: RS,
S/P/C and OMISS # (DX stations send "DX"). QSO Points: OMISS
member--2pts, non-members--1 pt. Score: QSO points x States +
Provinces + 1 DXCC entity, each counted only once. For more
information: http://www.omiss.net/. Logs due Mar 15 to k5db@arrl.net
or Don Banta K5DB, 3407 Diana St, Springdale AR 72764.

Classic Exchange--AM/SSB, from 1400Z Feb 11 - 0800Z Feb 12 (CW on Jan
28-29). Frequencies (Mc): AM 1.890, 3.880, 7.290, 14.286, 21.420,
29.000, 50.300, 144.200; SSB 1.885, 3.870, 7.280, 14.270, 21.370,
28.390, 50.125, 144.250. Exchange: RST, QTH, RX, TX.  QSO Points: 1
pt/QSO. QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Total Score: QSOs per mode × CX
multiplier (age of all RX, TX, and XCVR used for at least 3 QSOs).
For more information: http://www.qsl.asti.com/CX. Logs to
wq8u@arrl.net or J.D. "Mac" Mac Aulay WQ8U, 104 W Queen St,
Hillsborough, NC 27278.

ARRL International DX Contest, CW, 0000Z Feb 17 - 2400Z Feb 18.
Frequencies: 160 - 10 meters. Categories: SOSB, SOAB (HP >150W, LP,
QRP <5W), MS, M2, MM. Exchange: RST + State or Province or Power (KH6
and KL7 count as DX). QSO Points: 3 pts/QSO. Score: QSO points x DXCC
entities (DX counts states + provinces). For more information:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules. Logs due Mar 19 to dxcw@arrl.org
(Cabrillo format only) or DX CW, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT
06111.

AM QSO Party--sponsored by the Antique Wireless Association from
0000Z Feb 17 - 0000Z Feb 18. Frequencies (MHz): 3.835-3.890,
7.280-7.295, 14.275-14.295. Exchange: RS, name and S/P/C. For scoring
and other information: http://www.antiquewireless.org/amqsoparty.htm.
Summary sheets due 15 Mar to Gary Carter WA4IAM, 1405 Sherwood Dr,
Reidsville, NC, 27320-5224.

VHF+ CONTESTS

No VHF+ contests are scheduled.

-oo  --- -o - -- oo ooo ooo   -o-- --- oo- o-o
LOG DUE DATES - 7 FEBRUARY TO 20 FEBRUARY 2007
o-oo  --- --o     -oo o o- -oo o-oo oo -o o ooo

February 7 - ARS Spartan Sprint, email logs to: hjohnc@adelphia.net,
post log summary at: http://www.arsqrp.com/ars/ss_log.html, paper
logs and diskettes to: (none). Find rules at:
http://www.arsqrp.com/ars/pages/spartan_sprints/ss_rules_new.html 

February 10 - North American Sprint, SSB, email logs to: (see rules,
web upload preferred), upload log at:
http://www.ncjweb.com/sprintlogsubmit.php, paper logs and diskettes
to: Jim Stevens, K4MA, 6609 Vardon Ct, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526, USA.
Find rules at: http://www.ncjweb.com/sprintrules.php 

February 13 - MI QRP January CW Contest, email logs to:
n8cqa@arrl.net, paper logs and diskettes to: L.T. Switzer, N8CQA, 427
Jeffrey Avenue, Royal Oak, MI 48073-2521, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.qsl.net/miqrpclub/contest.html 

February 15 - 070 Club PSKFest, email logs to: PSKFest@podxs.com,
paper logs and diskettes to: Jay Budzowski, 070 Club PSKFest, 109 S
Northview Ave, New Castle, PA 16102-1633, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.podxs.com/html/pskfest.html 

February 15 - Midwinter Contest, CW, email logs to:
jckoekkoek@home.nl, paper logs and diskettes to: PA3GQG, Contest
Manager Midwinter Contest, Keulenheide 1, 6373 AP Landgraaf, The
Netherlands. Find rules at:
http://www.qsl.net/pi4ylc/Engels/midwinter%20contest.htm 

February 15 - Midwinter Contest, Phone, email logs to:
jckoekkoek@home.nl, paper logs and diskettes to: PA3GQG, Contest
Manager Midwinter Contest, Keulenheide 1, 6373 AP Landgraaf, The
Netherlands. Find rules at:
http://www.qsl.net/pi4ylc/Engels/midwinter%20contest.htm 

February 15 - SPAR Winter Field Day, email logs to:
winterfd@spar-hams.org, paper logs and diskettes to: (none). Find
rules at: http://www.spar-hams.org/contests/winterfd/index.php?pg=2 

February 19 - LZ Open Contest, email logs to: LZ1GL@yahoo.com, paper
logs and diskettes to: LZ Open Contest, PO Box 830, Sofia 1000,
Bulgaria. Find rules at:
http://www.linkove.com/lz-open-contest/rules/rules.htm 

February 19 - 10-10 Int. Winter Contest, SSB, email logs to:
tentencontest@alltel.net, paper logs and diskettes to: Steve
Rasmussen, N0WY, 312 N 6th Street, Plattsmouth, NE 68048, USA. Find
rules at: http://www.ten-ten.org/rules.html 

February 20 - UK DX Contest, RTTY, email logs to: ukdxc@scotham.net,
paper logs and diskettes to: UK DX RTTY Contest Committee, PO Box
7469, Glasgow, G42 0YD, Scotland UK. Find rules at:
http://www.ukdx.srars.org/ukdxc.pdf 

February 20 - Hungarian DX Contest, email logs to: hadx@enternet.hu,
paper logs and diskettes to: MTTOSZ Gyor Varosi Radioklub, 9002 Gyor,
PO Box 79, Hungary. Find rules at:
http://w3.enternet.hu/mttosz/MAGYAR/HA_DX/hadx%20rules.pdf 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

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>

ARRL members may subscribe at no cost by editing their Member Data
Page as described at <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rate-sheet>.

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