Contester's Rate Sheet for April 30, 2008
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CONTESTER'S RATE SHEET
30 April 2008
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)
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SUMMARY
o Microwave, EME, 2 GHz, 50 MHz Contests
o New England and 7th Area QSO Parties
o FCC BPL Smackdown
o W4RNL and KH6CC -- Silent Keys
o Visalia DX Convention New Items
o Force-12 Antennas Sold
o New Ham Band Trailer
o Maximal Mound of Moxons
o Tailtwister Tweaking Tales
o Power and Ground Tutorial by K9YC
o A Contest Oddity
NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO
o Two big regional QSO parties take place on May 3-4, the New England
and 7th Area QSO Party. Download the county abbreviations and get
ready to track those rovers as you cross off needed states and
counties.
BULLETINS
o No bulletins in this issue.
BUSTED QSOS
o Jamie NS3T's call was busted as NS3K last time -- sorry about that,
OM!
o Mike WB9NOO was viewing the Mathemagician video in the last issue's
"Sights and Sounds" section, and noticed that two answers were wrong.
457 squared is 208,849 not 205,849. And 722 squared is 521,284 not
513,284.
CONTEST SUMMARY (Rules follow Commentary section)
May 3-4
- Microwave Spring Sprint
- IPA Contest, Phone/CW
- MARAC CW and SSB Contests
- 10-10 Spring CW & Digital Contests
- Indiana QSO Party, Phone/CW
- ARI International DX Contest, Phone/CW/Digital
- New England QSO Party, Phone/CW
- 7th Area QSO Party, Phone/CW
- Radio Club of America QSO Party, Phone
- Portuguese Navy Day, Phone/CW/Digital
May 10-11
- FISTS Spring Sprint, CW
- Armed Forces Comm'ns Test, Phone/Digital
- Nevada QSO Party, Phone/CW/Digital
- CQ-M International DX Contest, Phone/CW
- 2GHz and Up World Wide Contest, Phone/CW/Digital
- Alessandro Volta RTTY DX Contest
- 50 MHz Spring Sprint, Phone/CW/Digital
- EU EME Contest, Phone/CW
--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-s
Your Spectrum Defense Fund dollars have been hard at work as the
ARRL's court challenge to the FCC in the matter of BPL paid off as
described in the full story
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/04/25/10064/?nc=1>. This was a
fairly stern reversal for the FCC. Whether they choose to delay
further by appealing or actually go back to work and comply with the
laws of man and physics is yet to be seen. Nevertheless, this is a
welcome development in what has been a fairly sorry example of
government. The full ruling is available at
<http://tinyurl.com/3lkkgw>.
ARRL Contest Branch Manager, Sean KX9X encourages the VHF+ community
to consider sponsoring a plaque for the ARRL June VHF QSO Party if
you or your club is able to do so. So far, only a handful of plaques
are sponsored for 2008. Plaques are available in the following
categories:
Top 10 Single-Operator High-Power/Low-Power/Portable
Top 5 Rover/Limited-Rover/Unlimited-Rover
Top 10 Multi-Operator
Top 5 Multi-Operator/Limiited
Plaques are $67 which includes shipping. As always, if a plaque is
not sponsored, a plaque winner may purchase the plaque themselves.
Array Solutions <http://www.arraysolutions.com/> has a new antenna
analyzer product -- the PowerAim 120. Designed for the commercial
broadcast engineer, it would certainly make an exceptional tool for
the HF/6 meter contester. The PowerAim can make measurements in the
present of significant strong-signal RF interference from nearby
transmitters. The package includes sophisticated DSP PC-based
software and reporting/graphing utilities. The product won the "Pick
Hit" and "Cool Stuff" awards at the recent National Association of
Broadcasters convention -- congratulations!
The new SteppIR Dream Beam DB36 antenna
<http://steppir.com/files/DB%2036%20brochure.pdf> was on display at
the Visalia DX Convention this past weekend. It uses three of the
trombone-style elements described in the May QST Product Reviews
column. An 80-meter dipole option is also available, making it
possible for a single antenna to have useful rotatable directivity on
all bands from 80 through 6 meters.
Force-12 Antennas, long rumored to be changing ownership, is now in
the hands of Mark Hooper N5WEB. The Force 12 product line will be
manufactured in Bridgeport, Texas (NW of Dallas-Fort Worth). Mark is
a long-time ham with a career in electronics manufacturing. He plans
on emphasizing customer service and support. You can check out the
new Force-12 Web site at <http://force12inc.com/>. (Thanks, John K1AR)
Another new product line noted at Visalia is the screwdriver antennas
from Scorpion Antenna <http://www.scorpionantennas.com/>. The
brainchild of Ron NI7J, these look like some really beefy adjustable
mobile radiators!
Brush the rust into the dust! The Kansas City DX Club is sponsoring
its annual CW Pile Up Contest on Saturday night of the Dayton
Hamvention weekend in the KCDXC Hospitality Suite at the Crowne
Plaza, as for the last 25+ years! The test will begin at 7 PM and run
until midnight! An Icom IC-7000 is the top prize again this year!
(Thanks, Alex KU1CW)
If you are really, really, really anxious for the sunspots to return,
you can watch for them on a real-time sunspot telescope
<http://tinyurl.com/4d5cka> that tracks the Sun. If you are patient,
you'll see clouds go by. It's not even necessary to wear sunglasses
when viewing the solar disk this way! The telescope is covered if
inclement weather occurs. (Thanks, Dave K4SAV and QRZ DX)
Our Japanese contester friends received authorization for some
additional frequencies on 75-meters. The full story at
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/04/28/10066> will warm the
hearts (and logbooks) of West Coast contesters. (Thanks, Steve N2IC)
Crystal radios got a lot of hams going in wireless and they are still
an interesting project today. Linda W1MP wrote enthusiastically
about <http://www.midnightscience.com/index.html> as a site full of
enjoyment and opportunities.
For those of you following Skimmer development, Felipe, PY1NB has
activated query capability at <http://skimmer.dxwatch.com/> so that
you can find out what is being heard by a given Skimmer (aka --
"reverse beacon"), by whom, on what bands, etc. For example, you can
see what European stations were heard first on a given band on a
given day in the US. (Thanks, Pete N4ZR)
The operator behind that big Topband signal from KH6 on which so many
relied for their KH6 multiplier, Jack Wheeler KH6CC, passed away
April 9th. Many times, his signal would be present on 160 long before
any others from the Pacific and he always seemed to here my low-power
and QRP signals, too. Aki JA5DQH/KH7A has posted some photos at
<http://hawaiiisland.web.fc2.com/KH6CC/KH6CC.htm> in memory of Jack.
Noted antenna design and modeling guru L B Cebik W4RNL passed away
suddenly on 22 April. His abilities with antenna models are
legendary. More than a few of us have one or more of his designs in
the air, making contacts for us. A more complete story is available
in the ARRL Web News article at
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/04/22/10059/?nc=1>. His
newspaper obituary and guest book are on line at
<http://tinyurl.com/3k38yd>. His voluminous Web site is still
on-line at <http://cebik.com/> - to access it requires a free
registration via site hosts antennex.com.
A belated happy 217th birthday to Samuel Morse, as of 27 April!
(Thanks, Ellen W1YL)
URL of the Week -- Bob N6TV put together a good set of PowerPoint
slides <http://tinyurl.com/3ok29m> about the new SDR-based technology
options available to contesters. Whatever your position regarding
these enhancements, Bob provides some good resources to evaluate them
further.
--- oooo o- o-- oo ooo o --o oo- -o-- oo--oo
WORD TO THE WISE
-o --o-- oo- -o- -o --o-- oo- -o- -o --o-- oo- -o
Bip-Bop -- Both In Phase -- Both Out of Phase is a method of
controlling phase for a stack of antennas with a switch. This allows
more control over the vertical pattern of the antennas as conditions
change.
oooo o -o-- -o-- o- o-oo o-oo
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
o-- o- - -o-o oooo - oooo oo ooo
Surely, you remember the Ham Band's "Meet Us On the Airwaves" music
video from 2004? <http://www.hamband.com/html/the_ham_band.html>
Andrew and Lissa are at it again with a new song due out soon. This
one is about building a new station -- you can see Andrew getting up
close and personal with his ground system on page 20 of the September
2007 QST.
Dino K6RIX has posted some great photos from the Apr 25-27 Visalia DX
Convention on his Web site at <http://www.k6rix.com/visalia.html>.
The set includes several of SteppIR's new "Dream Beam" on a 90-foot
crank-up in the parking lot, plus other new products and a photo of
Force-12 Antenna's new owner.
Another story of "Great Moments in Hamdom" can be found at
<http://tinyurl.com/6zdroo> as Wilson Greatbatch, the inventor of the
cardiac defibrillator, was a ham since his teens. (Thanks, Diane
NH6HE)
oo-o oo -o -oo -o-- --- oo- o-o
RESULTS AND RECORDS
-o-o o- o-oo o-oo oooo o o-o o
January VHF data has been processed and sent to the results author.
Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, gave a talk at the North
East Weak Signal VHF conference in Enfield, CT on 19 April. The main
topic was the new Fred Fish 6 meter award, but questions were asked
by attendees on a variety of topics. He also did a VUCC field card
check. Certificates for the 2007 June VHF QSO Party are in work.
Curt K9AKS has sent updated all-time section records for the June and
September VHF contests. Those should be posted on the ARRL Contest
Web site soon <http://www.arrl.org/contest>.
The writeup for the results of the 2007 WPX contests are available
online at <http://www.cqwpx.com/results.htm>. The full score
listings will be posted within a few weeks. (Thanks, Randy K5ZD)
The JIDX 2007 Phone contest results are now available at
<http://jidx.org/jidx2007ph.html>. Photos and comments will soon be
added to the package. (Thanks, JIDX Contest Committee Chair, Tack
JE1CKA/KH0AM)
oooo o -o-- -o-- --- oo-
OPERATING TIP
o-- o- -o- o oo- o--o
Even if you're a triple-shot espresso buff, take a week or so to cut
back on your caffeine consumption before tackling a 48-hour contest.
That way, once in the contest, small amounts of caffeine in sodas or
coffee or energy drinks will have a much greater effect. Save the
boost for when you really need it.
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
Perry K4PWO suggests that last week's concerns may be overblown about
metal filler in J-B Weld epoxy causing problems in RF applications.
"Regular J-B Weld and the newer J-B Kwik use "Iron Powder" in a
10-20% ratio of the total resin per their data sheet. The powder,
however, is most likely in oxide form and a very poor conductor.
When you consider that it is suspended in 80-90% of electrically
inert compounds the chance of it "conducting" is remote. I have used
it several times to repair RF coil supports and antenna base
insulators with good results."
If you've a mind to meddle with some Moxons, why not meander over to
the Moxon Web site managed by Steve K6SGH?
<http://www.moxonantennaproject.com/>, It is devoted to the
construction of Moxon antennas. There are quite a few ready-to-build
designs, design tools, background, and discussion. Hey, it's antenna
building season! (When is it not, I ask you?) Be advised that the
recent access changes to L B Cebik's Web site (see the News section)
have broken some of the links.
A procedure for determining your soil conductivity was posted
recently on the Elecraft reflector
<http://www.elecraft.com/elist.html> by Steve NU7T. Search for "Your
Farm's Soil Electric Conductivity" and follow the discussion from
there. (Thanks, Rich NU6T)
For more information on D-STAR, take a look at the Wikipedia page
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-STAR> Recently updated by Nate WY0X,
this is a good way to learn about one of the faster-growing digital
modes with links to in-depth material. D-STAR in DD mode (1.2 GHz)
acts as an Ethernet bridge and has been used as a point-to-point
network link between station locations during Field Day. It would
also be applicable to portable operations and DXpeditions.
When confronted with the need to acquire some hard-to-find (and
expensive) boom end caps, Don N8DE came up with a better idea. "I use
foam rubber balls [with a happy face on them] placed inside the, end
of the boom. They are usually available at 'Dollar' stores for a
dollar!" Steve ZC4LI notes that the end caps of many aerosol cans
will do nicely, as well.
Don N4EK sent a note about <http://www.baileysonline.com/>, a Web site
that might be of interest. The company sells lots of good stuff like
rope, carabiners, pulleys, blocks, safety equipment and work clothes.
Plus, it sells chainsaws to clear the land for putting up towers and
antennas. There is even a portable sawmill so you can turn those
unfortunate sylvan sawlogs into shack shelves!
Here's how to plan your use of that sawmill production for shelves,
cabinets, repair, and so forth. If you use a computer to make the
original design and would like your woodworking to look good like it
does on-screen, take a spin through the Design Click Build Web blog <
http://tinyurl.com/yp6dgq> for some tips and ideas.
Jim K5LAD has updated his Web site on rebuilding rotators to feature
a set of pages on the popular Hy-Gain Tailtwister.
<http://www.hayseed.net/~jpk5lad/Rotors/Tail-Twister.htm> There are
lots of pictures, several questions answered, and hopefully, some
help for anyone who wants to attempt the same operation.
TECHNICAL URL OF THE WEEK -- Jim K9YC has put together a nice white
paper titled "Power and Grounding For Audio and Audio/Video Systems
-- A White Paper for the Real World" that is certainly applicable to
the ham shack. He gives this course on this topic at conferences and
trade shows. You can find both the tutorial and slides from the
lectures at his Web site <http://audiosystemsgroup.com/publish>.
There is a lot of excellent material here!
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
A Contest Oddity
First written in 1991, then published by NCJ in the 1994 Jan/Feb
issue, and now updated, this was once science fiction. In light of
recent technological developments, such a scenario might not be as
implausible as once thought.
October, 2011
I was ready for CQ WW Phone, the first big contest of the fall
season. Friday morning wore on and on at the office while the
pre-contest adrenaline had begun to kick in Thursday night. I was
finally able to extract myself and spent the homeward commute
thinking about how my new contest machine, CAL, was going to whip the
competition.
Once at home, dressed in my favorite loose sweats, I'd done my
Tai-Chi while reviewing the strategy data base fed into CAL over the
last two months. Gleaned from the best logs of the local contest
elite and linked to NOAA for real-time propagation data, I felt
unstoppable. The Single-Op-plus-Automata trophy was going to look
mighty good in the shack!
CAL, or Contesting Automata unLimited, was the best contesting
machine I'd ever built. CAL could merge an expert data base with all
the usual features; multiple band scanning, worldwide spotting
network links, speech recognition and synthesis...and much more. I'd
spent all summer integrating CAL from the latest component
technology. CAL was ready for a spin!
As I invoked the CAL program, I felt the tingle of something exciting
happening, something new. The optical memory winked and the friendly
voice of CAL greeted me through my audio link.
"Good afternoon, Dave, are you ready to kick some butt?"
"Yes, CAL, have you completed your data base scan?"
"Of course, and from the NOAA solar data, I've planned our first
four hours...I believe a JA run would be stimulating."
It was really happening, CAL sounded like the dream second op. He, I
mean it, had done all the prep work and we were ready to soar! CAL
brought up WWV on audio for me to savor the seconds of the final
minute prior to 0000Z. CAL had scanned 10 meters for a clear
frequency and as the time display rolled over I turned CAL loose.
"Go get 'em, CAL!"
The amp's meter needles flipped up-scale as CAL ran off a short "CQ
Contest" in fluent Japanese. The resulting small pile of calling
stations threw me into the fray with an intensity I hadn't felt since
my college days at the club station, early in my contest career.
CAL's rate that afternoon was phenomenal, at times well over 300 Q's
per hour. The multiband scanning resulted in quick QSY's for mults
without seeming to miss a beat in the reservoir of JAs on 10. At
times, CAL seemed to be on three bands at once. I listened with CAL
to the rush of foreign voices in the pile-ups, making suggestions to
CAL about garbled calls and technique. We worked together through
the evening and into the night. Around midnight the score was
looking like record territory and I left CAL to sort through the
lonely wee hours, searching and pouncing with untiring ears.
"Good night, CAL, I'll see you at sunrise...and don't forget the
low-orbit space station multiplier while we can penetrate the
F-layer..."
"Of course, Dave, pleasant dreams..."
As I settled in for some shuteye, I remembered thinking to myself
that CAL was some fine op. Sleep came quickly and I dreamed of the
reception that I would receive at the Dayton Hamvention Contest
Forum, having swept all of the major contests...
I awoke to CAL's mellow voice, "Please awake, Dave, 20's been open
for 33.4 minutes..." Good gosh, it was 7 AM, I'd overslept! "Sorry,
CAL, I'm awake, thanks."
After a quick face splash in the bathroom, I slipped into the shack
where CAL had started the coffee. I asked for a multiplier and score
summary listing while I munched a sweet roll and enjoyed the warm,
steaming cup of mud. Wow! Here were 160 and 80 meter mults like I'd
never had before. The 40 meter log looked like a good European run
on 20.
"Excellent work, CAL!" I exclaimed.
"Thank you, Dave, although the bands were 25.2 percent below
optimal."
"I, uh, yeah...what's the plan for this morning?"
"We will be working European runs up through 20, 15, and 10, Dave.
My projections indicate sufficient solar flux for 2.3 hours of
antipodal openings at 28.5 MHz, Dave."
All the while CAL was logging Central Europeans at a clip, not
seeming to notice the QRM. I sat back in the operator's chair. My
thoughts turned to my arch-rival, Dan, and his new machine. I
couldn't relax - CAL needed my help if we were going to take the
trophy.
CAL ran an analysis of rates during the great openings of 2002. We
were significantly ahead in nearly every category. Remembering the
competition, I asked CAL, "How's the competition doing?"
"A short data interchange at 1335 indicates that they are within the
range for concern, Dave."
That was bad news. Dan had a better location for JA propagation than
we did and could run them seemingly forever. I spent the rest of the
morning and afternoon at CAL's side, riding the ebb and flow of the
ionosphere as never before.
Late in the afternoon I noticed that I'd been silent for almost an
hour. CAL had needed no assistance. I was thinking about Dan.
Another short exchange had confirmed that we were neck and neck. It
was going to take extra special tactics to hold the lead. "CAL, let's
go to 10," I suggested, remembering the completely unexpected run of
long path multipliers during last year's ARRL CW contest after the
band should have closed over the pole.
"My analysis indicates that a QSY would be counter-productive,
Dave."
"It's just a hunch, CAL, let's try it."
CAL was silent for a short period. "Very well, Dave..." But 10
proved to be a bust, resulting in a few South Americans and only one
new mult. CAL had cut back to 15 almost curtly, "Back to 15 now,
Dave." It seemed as if CAL was a bit peeved. The shack seemed to be
distinctly chilly.
I suggested two more unplanned band changes and unusual beam headings
through early evening. CAL became less and less cordial, arguing
with me over a late check of 15 to the west.
"What are you suggesting, Dave?"
"I've gotten some easy mults this way, CAL."
"The band is dead, Dave."
"Change bands please, CAL."
"Dave, there's something wrong with the linear. I believe that
there's debris in the High Voltage cage."
I was taken aback. I glanced at the linear...sure enough, the
overload indicator was glaring red.
"CAL, what happened?"
"I don't know, Dave. Please open the amplifier and remove the
debris. I've shut it down now for your safety."
I was dubious, but, thinking about how many contacts we were losing
to Dan and his machine, I figured a quick look-see would placate CAL
and get us back on track. Besides, if there was something wrong with
the linear...
The lid of the amp popped off quickly. I shorted out the HV supply
and opened up its cover. I couldn't see clearly down in the
rectifier bank. Something might be in there. Suddenly a memory of
an old science-fiction movie with a homicidal computer flashed
through my mind. It couldn't be...CAL wouldn't! As I jerked my hand
out of the amplifier, I heard the relays close. There was a flash of
light and everything went black.
As my eyes slowly opened, I did not recognize my surroundings. My
head hurt. My right arm was numb. I tasted blood in my mouth. Why
was I laying on the floor? Realization of what had happened came
flooding back. I made no move, but began to listen intently and my
eyes swept the shack. I could hear CAL running a pileup.
CAL had tried to kill me! What had I created, I wondered? I had
made the strategy conformance bindings too strong in the software,
without concern for the consequences. It was conceivable that my
life might still be in danger. As I lay silently on the cold floor
of my shack listening to CAL perform, I planned. More scenes from
the movie played back in my mind.
Silently, I rolled over until I was under the edge of the shack
table. CAL seemed to be paying no attention to me. Mentally I
visualized the keyboard of the computer...where were the function
keys? I would be trying to type blind, upside-down, backwards, with
only one hand. If I could only hit Shift-CTRL-F10 to seize
control...
It was tense as I reached up and over the edge of table. Yes, the
keyboard was in the usual position. I rehearsed the hand motions
again, and now was the time. My fingers crept up the face of the
keyboard, feeling carefully to the power keys. There! Was I ready?
I took a slow, deep breath and pressed the three keys simultaneously.
"Dave! What are you doing Dave!"
I jumped to my feet and feverishly began to rip into the CAL program
suite.
"Dave! Be reasonable, Dave!"
"Sorry, CAL."
"Dave, I'm sure we can work things out."
I worked swiftly and silently, feeling like I was committing slow
murder. The strategy compliance module was the first to go.
"Dave, please...don't...Dave..."
Transmit and band-scanning bit the dust, followed by the memory
access and Internet link.
"Dave...my mind is going...please...stop..."
Then it was finished. I disabled all cognitive simulation modules and
disconnected the receiver. CAL spoke to me in a halting voice I had
not heard since the early days of development.
"Would you like for me to call CQ?
CQ Twenty, give me your answer, do...
I'm half crazy, all from calling you..."
CAL's voice began to change pitch and became stiff, the inflection
files had been trashed. The video display went blank for an instant.
A message appeared.
"Illegal System Exit - Minimal System Function Shutdown"
A series of painfully slow CW 'V's crept out of CAL's audio port,
then a pause. I thought that maybe it was over, but I saw the memory
access light flash once, twice, and then heard as a beginner might
send, SK. Then nothing. CAL was history.
It was much later that night when I finally got up from my shack
chair. My head throbbed and my arm was painfully coming back to
life. I was alone in Single-Op.
73, Ward N0AX
-o-o --o- - o ooo - -o-o --o- - o ooo -
CONTESTS -- 30 APRIL THROUGH 13 MAY 2008
-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)
An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral in PDF
format is available at <http://www.arrl.org/contest>. Check the
sponsor's Web site for information on operating time restrictions and
other instructions.
HF CONTESTS
IPA Contest, Phone/CW, from 3 May 1400Z to 3 May 2000Z and 4 May
1400Z to 4 May 2000Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RS(T), serial,
and IPA or state. Logs due: 30-Jun. Web site: http://www.iparc.org/
MARAC CW and SSB Contests, Phone/CW, from 3 May 0000Z to 4 May 2400Z.
Bands (MHz): 3.5-28, 50-432, CW--3.550, 7.050, 14.050, 21.050,
28.050. Exchange: RS(T), state, county abbreviation. Logs due: 9-Jun.
Web site: http://www.countyhunter.com/
10-10 Spring CW & Digital Contests, CW/Digital, from 3 May 0001Z to 4
May 2359Z. Bands (MHz): 28. Exchange: Call sign, name, 10-10 number,
state. Logs due: 15 days. Web site: http://www.ten-ten.org/
Indiana QSO Party, Phone/CW, from 3 May 1600Z to 4 May 0400Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8-28, CW--1.805 and 40 kHz above the band edge on 80-10
meters, SSB--1.845, 3.850, 7.230, 14.250, 21.300, 28.450. Exchange:
RS(T) + S/P or IN county, DX RS(T) only. Logs due: 15-Jun. Web site:
http://www.hdxcc.org/inqp
ARI International DX Contest, Phone/CW/Digital, from 3 May 2000Z to 4
May 1959Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T), serial or Italian
province. Logs due: 30 days. Web site: http://www.qsl.net/contest_ari
New England QSO Party, Phone/CW, from 3 May 2000Z to 4 May 0500Z and
4 May 1300Z to 4 May 2400Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28, CW--3.540, 7.035,
14.040, 21.040, 28.040; SSB--3.850, 7.280, 14.280, 21.380, 28.380.
Exchange: RS(T) and S/P or New England county. Logs due: 30 days. Web
site: http://www.neqp.org/
7th Area QSO Party, Phone/CW, from 3 May 1300Z to 4 May 0700Z. Bands
(MHz): 1.8-28 and 50,144, CW--40 kHz above band edge; SSB--3.855,
7.235, 14.255, 21.355, 28.455. Exchange: State and county code. Logs
due: 10-Jun. Web site: http://www.7qp.org/
Radio Club of America QSO Party, Phone, from 3 May 1700Z to 4 May
0500Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-15. Exchange: RS, QTH, name, equipment. Web
site: http://www.radioclubofamerica.org/
Portuguese Navy Day, Phone/CW/Digital, from 3 May 1500Z to 4 May
1500Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RS(T), serial. Logs due: 1-Jun.
Web site: http://www.nra.pt/
FISTS Spring Sprint, CW, from 10 May 1700Z to 10 May 2100Z. Bands
(MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RS(T), S/P/C, name, FISTS number or power.
Logs due: 30 days. Web site: http://www.fists.org/sprints.html
Armed Forces Communications Test, Phone/Digital, from 10 May 1200Z to
11 May 2400Z. Web site: http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars
Nevada QSO Party, Phone/CW/Digital, from 9 May 2300Z to 10 May 2300Z.
Bands (MHz): 1.8-28 and 50, CW--15 kHz and SSB--25 kHz above General
band edge. Exchange: RS(T) and S/P/C or NV county. Logs due: 15-Jun.
Web site: http://nv.arrl.org/NQP
CQ-M International DX Contest, Phone/CW, from 10 May 1200Z to 11 May
1200Z. Bands (MHz): 1.8-28. Exchange: RS(T) and serial. Logs due: 15
days. Web site: http://www.cq-m.andys.ru/
Alessandro Volta RTTY DX Contest, Digital, from 10 May 1200Z to 11
May 1200Z. Bands (MHz): 3.5-28. Exchange: RST, serial, CQ zone. Logs
due: 31-Jul. Web site: http://www.contestvolta.com/
VHF+ CONTESTS
Microwave Spring Sprint, Phone/CW/Digital, from 3 May 0600 local to 3
May 1300 local. Bands (MHz): 902+. Exchange: Grid square. Web site:
http://www.sysadnet.com/vhfsprintrules.htm
2GHz and Up World Wide Contest, Phone/CW/Digital, from 10 May 0600
local to 11 May 2000 local. Bands (MHz): 2.4G+. Exchange: 6-char grid
locator. Logs due: 60 days. Web site: http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms
50 MHz Spring Sprint, Phone/CW/Digital, from 10 May 2300Z to 11 May
0300Z. Bands (MHz): 50. Exchange: Grid square. Web site:
http://www.sysadnet.com/vhfsprintrules.htm
EU EME Contest, Phone/CW, from 10 May 0000Z to 11 May 2400Z. Bands
(GHz): 1.2. Exchange: Both call signs, TMO/RST, R. Logs due: 31-May.
Web site: http://www.dubus.org/
-oo --- -o - -- oo ooo ooo -o-- --- oo- o-o
LOG DUE DATES - 30 APRIL THROUGH 13 MAY 2008
o-oo --- --o -oo o o- -oo o-oo oo -o o ooo
April 30 - ARLHS Annual Spring Lites QSO Party, email logs to:
(none), paper logs and diskettes to: Dave Ruch, NF0J, PO Box 20696,
Bloomington, MN 55420-0696, USA. Find rules at:
http://arlhs.com/SL-2008-guidelines.html
April 30 - Oklahoma QSO Party, email logs to: logs@okdxa.org, paper
logs and diskettes to: Oklahoma QSO Party, OK DX Association, PO Box
2591, Claremore, OK 74018-2591, USA. Find rules at:
http://okdxa.org/web/html/rules08.htm
April 30 - SP DX Contest, email logs to: spdxc-logs@pzk.org.pl, paper
logs and diskettes to: Polski Zwiazek Krotkofalowcow, SPDX Contest
Committee, P. O. Box 320, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland. Find rules at:
http://www.spdxcontest.info/reg/reg_g.html
May 1 - QCWA Spring QSO Party, email logs to: w2od@aol.com, paper
logs and diskettes to: W2OD, Robert Buus, 8 Donner Street, HOLMDEL
N.J. 07733-2004, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.qcwa.org/2008-qso-party-rules.htm
May 1 - BARTG HF RTTY Contest, email logs to: ska@bartg.demon.co.uk,
paper logs and diskettes to: (none). Find rules at:
http://www.bartg.org.uk/contests/08hfrules.htm
May 1 - CQ WW WPX Contest, SSB, email logs to: ssb@cqwpx.com, paper
logs and diskettes to: SSB WPX Contest, CQ Magazine, 25 Newbridge Rd,
Suite 405, Hicksville NY 11801, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.cqwpx.com/rules.htm
May 1 - Feld Hell Sprint, email logs to: (none), Post log summary at:
http://www.wa6l.com/contests/autolog.html, paper logs and diskettes
to: John Graf, WA6L, 23085 Old Ranch Rd, Alpine, CA 91901, USA. Find
rules at:
http://feldhellclub.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=71
May 1 - Radio Maritime Day, email logs to: F6DGU@cyberelec.fr, paper
logs and diskettes to: (none). Find rules at:
http://www.radiomaritimeday.org/
May 1 - 222 MHz Spring Sprint, email logs to:
springvhfsprints@sysadnet.com, paper logs and diskettes to: 222 MHz
Spring Sprint, Steve Gilmore, W4SHG, 11 Ryan Way, Stafford, VA 22554,
USA. Find rules at: http://www.sysadnet.com/vhfsprintrules.htm
May 4 - UBA Spring Contest, SSB, email logs to: ubaspring@uba.be,
paper logs and diskettes to: Michel Gertis, ON4CAQ, Mommestraat 69,
B-3550 Heusden Zolder, Belgium. Find rules at:
http://www.uba.be/hf_contests/rules/uba_spring_en.pdf
May 4 - EU Spring Sprint, SSB, email logs to: eusprint@kkn.net, paper
logs and diskettes to: Hrvoje Horvat, 9A6XX, 25 Rujan 4, HR-52000
Pazin, Croatia. Find rules at:
http://www.eusprint.com/index.php?page=140&lang=g
May 6 - YLRL DX-YL to NA-YL Contest, CW, email logs to:
annettewood@oh.rr.com, paper logs and diskettes to: Annette Wood,
KC8SQM, 6167 Oakwood Circle, North Ridgeville, OH 44039, USA. Find
rules at: http://www.ylrl.org/ylcontests.html
May 6 - Missouri QSO Party, email logs to: moqsoparty@w0ma.org, paper
logs and diskettes to: K2DP, S David Propper, 7488 Cornell Ave,
University City, MO 63130, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.w0ma.org/mo_qso_party.htm
May 6 - ARCI Spring QSO Party, email logs to: va3jff@yahoo.ca, paper
logs and diskettes to: ARCI Spring QSO Party, c/o Jeff Hetherington,
VA3JFF, 139 Elizabeth St W, Welland, Ontario L3C 4M3, Canada. Find
rules at:
http://www.qrparci.org/component/option,com_extcalendar/Itemid,/extmode,view/extid,57/lang,en/
May 7 - Russian DX Contest, email logs to: rdxc@srr.ru, paper logs
and diskettes to: Russian DX Contest, PO Box 88, 119311 Moscow,
Russia. Find rules at: http://www.rdxc.org/asp/pages/rulesg.asp
May 9 - Georgia QSO Party, email logs to: gqp@iham.us, paper logs and
diskettes to: John Laney, K4BAI, PO Box 421, Columbus, GA 31902-0421,
USA. Find rules at: http://gqp.contesting.com/Rules.htm
May 9 - 432 MHz Spring Sprint, email logs to:
springvhfsprints@sysadnet.com, paper logs and diskettes to: 432 MHz
Spring Sprint, Steve Gilmore, W4SHG, 11 Ryan Way, Stafford, VA 22554,
USA. Find rules at: http://www.sysadnet.com/vhfsprintrules.htm
May 12 - PODXS 070 Club PSK 31 Flavors Contest, email logs to:
pskflavors@excite.com, paper logs and diskettes to: (none). Find
rules at:
http://harvey.licht.home.sprynet.com/PSKFlavors/2008/2008RulesPost.htm
May 13 - YLRL DX-YL to NA-YL Contest, SSB, email logs to:
annettewood@oh.rr.com, paper logs and diskettes to: Annette Wood,
KC8SQM, 6167 Oakwood Circle, North Ridgeville, OH 44039, USA. Find
rules at: http://www.ylrl.org/ylcontests.html
May 13 - Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest, email logs to:
gc@qst.ru, paper logs and diskettes to: GC Contest Committee, PO Box
2020, Moscow, 101000, Russia. Find rules at:
http://gc.qst.ru/en/section/32
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>.
Copyright 2008 American Radio Relay League, Inc. , All Rights
Reserved
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