Contester's Rate Sheet for January 9, 2008
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CONTESTER'S RATE SHEET
9 January 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 Pack the Bands With Thousands Calling - NAQP CW and Phone
o Over the River And Through the Woods - ARRL VHF Sweepstakes
o New QST Contest Content
o Project Gutenberg Saves The Books
o National Quiet Zone and Do-It-Yourself Tubes
o VHF Spring Sprint and IOTA Contest Results
o Loops, Loops, Loops
o Do You Really Think We Don't Know?
NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO
o I encourage new HF operators to try the North American QSO Parties.
With the one-day format, 100-watt power limit and simple exchange of
name-and-state, they're a friendly, exciting contest. Plus, you can
work stations again on every band for extra fun and 5BWAS totals!
BULLETINS
o Definitely bulletin material - http://www.spaceweather.com/ reported
that solar cycle 24 started on 4 Jan 2008! And not a moment too
soon, I might add. (Thanks, Ken K5KA and numerous others)
BUSTED QSOS
o The URL for the Finnish key Web site was mising an 's' and should
have been <http://oh6dc.cw.googlepages.com/strangecwkeys>. (Thanks,
Pete N4ZR)
CONTEST SUMMARY (Rules follow Commentary section)
January 12-13
- North American QSO Party - CW
- DARC 10 Meter Contest
- NAQCC Monthly Straight Key Sprint
- Midwinter Contest
- Worked All Britain Top Band Phone Contest
- Hunting Lions In the Air
- 070 PSKFest
January 19-20
- North American QSO Party - Phone
- HA DX Contest - CW
- LZ Open Championship - CW
- International United Teenager Contest
- UK DX RTTY Contest
--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-
The February 2008 issue of QST will soon be hitting the mails and
contesters will be pleasantly surprised as they thumb through the
magazine. No longer the "last stop", sandwiched between the Silent
Keys and the advertising section, contesting content has made its
move! You'll find contest results and announcements leading the
parade of monthly columns with a fresh graphic style. The Contest
Branch joins the stable of columns with "This Month in Radiosport" by
Sean Kutzko KX9X. After decades of text, Contest Corral gets a
face-lift with a single-page calendar format designed to make it easy
for QST readers to see upcoming events at a glance. These changes are
just the beginning for the ARRL Contesting Program. Watch for
improvements as we refine the new articles and format over the coming
months. Work is underway to improve the ARRL Web contesting pages,
too. Listen for W1AW in your contest pileups more frequently.
Expect to be surprised by colorful graphics and other items that make
radiosport more fun to more folks. As goes the new solar cycle, so,
too goes the ARRL contesting program. Stay tuned!
Passing another milestone, 2007's final issue of the Contester's Rate
Sheet was emailed on 26 December to more than 16,000 subscribers!
Welcome aboard from an ecstatic editor, new readers - tell your
friends about this regular missive of interesting and useful ham
radio arcanum!
And if you are suddenly not receiving your Rate Sheet, yet your ARRL
Member Information page still shows the check in the subscription
box, try this to restore reception. Uncheck the Rate Sheet
subscription box, save the updated information, re-check the box, and
save again. Regardless of how it happens, this puts you on the list
again. (Thanks, Sean KX9X)
The new ARRL VHF+ contest Rover rules result in three categories of
Rover entries. The differences between the categories can be a
little confusing when described as text, so how about a table? Take
a look at this handy presentation
<http://www.qsl.net/n2sln/newroverrules.html> created by N2SLN.
(Thanks, Ken KA2LIM)
As I get ready to submit another issue of QST's Contest Corral -
obtaining contact information continues to consume the most
disproportionate amount of time! Many contest Web sites seem to make
it intentionally difficult to contact someone responsible for the
contest - for questions, ideas, clarifications. Email addresses for
log submissions are nearly ubiquitous, but these mailboxes are often
not checked until AFTER the contest, when the logs start coming in.
If your organization sponsors a contest, take a look at the Web site
you depend on to publicize the contest and its rules. Can you easily
find the contest link on the home page? Once there, if you had a
question about the contest, who would you contact and how? How many
clicks does it take to get to that person? Send an email to the
address indicated and see if it is answered - you might be surprised!
The KN4LF Daily LF/MF/HF/6M Frequency Radiowave Propagation Forecast
is now free. You can sign up by joining the ad free Braveheart opt-in
email mailing list at http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf6.htm . The forecast
will also be available via website at
http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf6h.htm every Thursday at 2200 UTC. (Thanks,
Thomas KN4LF)
Nick VK1AA announces that http:www.topbanders.com is back in
Business and has been updated effective as of the New Year. The site
lists Top Band (160 meters) DXCC totals by region around the world,
has recordings of Top Band signals, and other items of interest to
low-band DXers.
The latest issue of the CCF - PileUP! was published before the
promised deadline at
<http://www.helsinki.fi/%7Ekorpela/PU/PU4_2007.pdf> A big thanks to
writers and photographers on behalf of CCF from Ilkka OH1WZ.
If you have an ARRL DX contest expedition planned, please let NG3K
(or similar) know about it for his expedition Web site
<http://ng3k.com/Misc/adxc2008.html>. (Thanks, Eric K9GY)
Wayne W0ZW recently added a real-time world sun clock
<http://www.brunchboy.com/sunclock.shtml> to his local club's Web
site <http://sbarcnm.org/>. Not only is it a useful tool for watching
the grey line, it helps to spiff up the site! The clock has
distinctive day/night graphics including points of lights to show
major cities at night. Java programmers can customize the map
images, too. Another nice feature is the ability to run the model
faster than real-time. You can clearly see seasonal changes in the
day/night regions with this mode - great fun!
Bill N4QA looks like he's found a new way to have fun - trying to
make a QSO on every HF band in one day, 160 through 10 meters. QRP,
mind you. So far, 12 and 10 meters are resisting, but you never
know. Even at the bottom of the solar cycle, there's got to be
something on those bands to work, even a local station!
Frequent flyers and those of us headed to various juicy contest
locations may need to be more careful about what types of batteries
we pack and how we pack them according to this story
<http://tinyurl.com/2ak7cg> from Information Week magazine.(Thanks,
Chris K6DBG)
Randy K5ZD is soliciting logs for input to his Super Check Partial
database files <http://www.k5zd.com/scp>. Now is the perfect time to
submit your logs from the Fall contests such as WAE, CQWW, and SS.
Just email Randy (k5zd@contesting.com) the same Cabrillo-formatted
log that you submitted to the contest sponsor as an attachment.
It's true! Rope (and coax) really does tangle itself up when you're
not looking! A recent Science News story <http://tinyurl.com/2rfl6m>
tells the tale. No word on whether scientists have been able to
tackle coils of hard-drawn copperweld yet.
URL of the Week - Project Gutenberg <http://www.gutenberg.org/> is
dedicated to preserving out-of-print texts by digitizing them. The
staff can do the necessary research on licensing and has dedicated
editors to handle the digitizing process. The results are then
available for you to download! This is pretty valuable work - check
'em out! (Thanks, Chuck K7QO)
oooo o -o-- -o-- o- o-oo o-oo
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
o-- o- - -o-o oooo - oooo oo ooo
The K2GL station - founder of the modern multi-multi - is ebulliently
remembered by many. Bob W5OV has posted a number of photos from
K2GL/N2AA operations at
<http://nj-bob.smugmug.com/gallery/3593237#P-1-15>. Enjoy!
Tube or not tube? That is the question, answered in this neat video
<http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3wrzo> of a triode being born
before your eyes in the shop of F2FO. It's a bit longer than your
usual YouTube video, but fascinating! (Thanks, John K7HV)
Thanks to Andy Ingraham for contributing a link to this excellent
program <http://tinyurl.com/ywg756> on the National Quiet Zone on the
West Virginia - Virginia border. This is probably not the best place
for a ham to live, but the idea of the lowest possible noise floor
does have its attractions.
oo-o oo -o -oo -o-- --- oo- o-o
RESULTS AND RECORDS
-o-o o- o-oo o-oo oooo o o-o o
If you had problems submitting a Cabrillo log for the Stew Perry
Contest, the Web site was down due to a power failure in San
Francisco and the server operator was away on vacation. The pages are
all back up. You can also download and use the INSTEW program to
generate a Cabrillo file from your paper log. (Thanks, Tree N6TR)
Ken K5KA (k5ka@earthlink.net) opines that the Awards Plaques will be
prepared for the 2007 WPX Contests over the coming weeks. In the
meantime, there are still a few plaques that need sponsors for the
2008 WPX contests <http://www.cqwpx.com/plaques.htm>.
Don G3XTT, IOTA Contest Manager, announces that the Provisional
Results for the 2007 IOTA Contest are now available at
<http://iotacontest.com/contest/iota/2007/finalScore.php>. Despite
the low sun-spots, the committee received a record 1897 logs
containing some 549,000 QSOs and 68% were electronically
cross-checked.
Steve W4SHG and John K9JK announce that final results of the 2007
Spring VHF/UHF Sprint are available at
<http://www.sysadnet.com/vhfsprintrules.htm>. Rules and dates will
soon be published for the 2008 VHF/UHF Spring Sprints.
oooo o -o-- -o-- --- oo-
OPERATING TIP
o-- o- -o- o oo- o--o
Make a dry run with your logging software well in advance of the
contest. If you haven't updated it in a while, that's an especially
good reason to take care of the chore at least a week in advance.
The morning of the contest is definitely not the time to rework a
major component of your station - yet many wait until the last
minute. Nothing saps your will and wrecks your score like unplanned
off time right at the start as you frantically try to get the
computer stuff working properly!
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
Vactrols are often specified as variable resistances for terminating
receive antennas, but they can be hard to find and may be fragile.
Dave KB8NNU seized the day and made his own with a standard photo
cell that you can get at RadioShack (http://radioshack.com/) and a
super-bright (1100mcd) LED. 1" of 3/8"-diameter black rubber vacuum
hose works great to hold both parts in alignment. Dave uses a
variable voltage to control the intensity of the LED, that in turn
changes the photo cell's resistance. In this way he can also "tune"
his K9AY loop's front-to-back ratio from the comfort of his shack
rather than traipsing out in the gelid weather to fiddle with frozen
fingers.
Another small (7' turning radius) rotatable, variable-termination
flag antenna design <http://www.n3ox.net/projects/flag> from Dan N3OX
has generated some interest. The variable termination changes nulls
on stations on groundwave vs. different distances and presumably
different arrival angles.
Giving in to the multifarious loopiness of low-band contesting, Dave
K8CC offers the following link to a presentation by the K9AY loop's
designer - <http://tinyurl.com/ytyxco>.
Ron W8RU contributed this interesting design -
<http://taliaphoto.com/n4is/waller/BIG_DUAL_LOOP.html>.
Rick N6RK has updated an under-used small-loop feed system at
<http://www.n6rk.com/160RXloop.jpg>. The 4' diameter was chosen
because this was originally a 2.5 MHz loop for receiving WWV. For
160 meters, a somewhat bigger loop would provide more output. In
contrast, both Tim K3LR and Greg K8GL relate that a low dipole (about
5' above the ground) can also be an effective receive antenna.
Kevin KF7CN notes that while tracking down RF interference from audio
and video equipment, including computer monitors, be sure to check
the quality of interconnecting cables. Using a cable with good
shielding and metal connectors is a good and inexpensive first step.
Different interfaces can also change the interference level. He
reports changing from VGA to DVI eliminated a great deal of
monitor-generated noise. Starting with the cables may be an
inexpensive first step in cleaning up a noisy (or noise-prone)
installation. Fred WA7TZY has discovered that to get a linear power
supply replacement for noisy switching supplies (especially
low-voltage lighting units), you need to request a "coil and core"
unit, since "transformer" is used generically for all power supplies.
He says the weight of the unit indicates whether or not it contains
a real transformer.
Using feed line length to control phase in an all-driven array is not
as simple as it often seems. The electrical length of the line is
not necessarily the amount of phase shift that occurs in feedpoint
current. The amplitude of current out of the phasing line is usually
different than the input current, too. Roy W7EL's excellent article
on the subject from the ARRL's Antenna Compendium, Vol 2 is on-line
at Roy's EZNEC Web site
<http://www.eznec.com/Amateur/Articles/Simpfeed.pdf>. It's worth the
time to read carefully. (Thanks, Jim W6RMK)
If you have problems with twin-lead or window line vibrating in the
wind, try twisting the line once per foot or so. This helps keep the
line from acting like a wing. This will not prevent the entire line
from moving around in the wind - just the annoying flutter. Don't
twist the line so much that it wants to collapse the conductors
together! If the copper-clad conductors in the line are too stiff or
if you have problems with the cladding, try the ladder-line with
all-copper wires from http://www.w7fg.net/. (Thanks, Charles W2SH and
others)
As Dave K6LL instructs, it's easy to measure a beam's front-to-back
ratio without assuming any s-meter calibration or linearity.
1. Have a local ham friend 500 meters or more away transmit a
carrier.
2. Turn the back of the beam toward your friend.
3. Note the s-meter reading.
4. Turn the beam toward your friend.
5. Crank in attenuators until the s-meter returns to the original
reading.
6. Read the f/b ratio from the attenuator setting.
Remember that f/b ratio changes with elevation angle, so not all
signals will be rejected equally.
John K9MM reports good luck removing oxidation from normal stranded
hard-drawn copper wire using a product called "Copper Glo Liquid".
<http://barkeepersfriend.com/copper%20glo.htm> On wire that has been
exposed to the elements for years it takes awhile to work and more
than one application may be required.
If you have access to bamboo poles, you might be interested in the
recent discussion on bamboo on the Towertalk reflector
(http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/Towertalk). There are
also Web articles on building bamboo fly rods, such as
<http://globalflyfisher.com/rodbuilding/bamboo1/index.php>
Fly rod makers are concerned about strength and flexibility - useful
attributes for antenna supports, as well. (Thanks, Rich NU6T)
Larry N7DF's son did a Science Fair project using a "Dr. Gauss" EMF
detector <http://www.johnleemd.com/store/more_gauss.html> and
discovered that it could detect my buried coax from the 60 Hz EMF
along its length, even when the coax was disconnected from the radio
we could get a reading.
HV power supply designers might take look at the Compliance
Engineering Web site <http://tinyurl.com/ypfcpl> or
<http://tinyurl.com/29yfpf> for information on safe clearance
distances. (Thanks, David G3UNA)
And if you're in need of a variable high-voltage power supply, Gerald
K5GW points out that supplies and components for microwave ovens are
quite inexpensive. Add a Variac adjustable transformer and you can
control the output voltage!
I found a useful Web page about open-collector ICs
<http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/3544> and using them for
"wired-OR" circuits. This is not uncommon when building circuits to
switch relays or other control circuits.
Another serendipitous find is the On Semiconductor "Rectifier
Applications Handbook". This is an excellent reference that
thoroughly covers the function, selection, and application of
semiconductor diodes. This is a good download
<http://tinyurl.com/2bj99h> for your technical reference library.
TECHNICAL URL OF THE WEEK -- Here's a pretty amazing collection of
calculators, animations, free courses, and all manner of useful
technical material -
<http://www.martindalecenter.com/Calculators.html>. The various
engine animations and explanations are really fun, by the way - have
fun searching for that little treasure! (Thanks, Ron W2IOL)
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
Do You Really Think We Don't Know?
Oh no, and you thought you were past all the gnomic New Year's
resolutions! Read on, I'll only torture you a tad. The title of this
editorial should probably be "You Can Run, But It's Getting Harder to
Hide". The target audience isn't those given to making resolutions,
but those that don't - the small minority of obdurate operators that
continue to pursue advantage in the wrong ways.
Do you REALLY think we don't know? Do you think an over-powered
signal blasting through the pileups doesn't attract scrutiny? When
we hear you seemingly everywhere at once - don't you think we'll
figure out that there are more of you than one? Do you think your
persistent packet poaching isn't leaving a trail in the sponsor's
database that leads right back to you? And self-spotting...is it
really worth the effort to try and obscure your posts from the
detailed signature available to the Internet-savvy sleuths out there?
Rest assured that contesters DO know what you're up to!
Why not spend that extra effort and time and money improving your
station and operating technique in legitimate ways? Everybody has
plenty of room for opportunity for improvement in all the legal and
ethical ways. Take a step back and ask yourself if all the evasion
and denial is really worth getting a reputation as a cheat? For
what? A piece of walnut on the wall? That's not exactly the right
kind of bragging rights, friends. If there's something to be changed
during 2008, how about your operating practices? You won't regret
it!
If the leopard won't change spot-taneously, is there a solution for
the rest of us? Contest sponsors can DQ an operator or change a
log's category, but the horse is rather out of the barn by that
point, isn't it? Except for the most egregious violations, the FCC
is just too busy to respond. That, like many other things in life,
leaves you and me, ladies and gentlemen.
Peer pressure can sometimes work wonders. Many of our bad apples got
rotten because they think they are undetectable and/or nobody cares.
When this turns out to be true, many stop to reconsider. Perhaps
they think "everybody does it" and so may be surprised to find out
that no, everybody doesn't do it. And maybe they just haven't been
made aware that their tactics are offensive. After all, we have no
referees tossing yellow flags on the spot for transgressions.
The flip side of all this is that one can't be too quick to jump to
conclusions. A good operator can make a two-VFO radio sound way too
nimble for a single, unassisted operator. Well-engineered antennas
in a superior location can generate a tremendous signal. Consider
carefully whether you're confusing good, aggressive operating with
foul play. Or maybe being just too darned finical. If you can pass
the "red-faced test", then go ahead.
It does take a little gumption to take up the subject in person or by
correspondence. After all, you're basically making an accusation,
right? Well, not if you go about it the right way. Perhaps you can
open the conversation with something less confrontational, such as,
"Hey, N0AX, what a huge pile of multipliers last weekend - what's up
with that?" Give them an opportunity to at least respond without
invective. The conversation can proceed from there and you've taken
the first step in letting them know they're NOT invisible.
Maybe reconsideration will follow. And maybe not, but you tried - a
benefaction to your fellow contesters. And while we're on the
subject, be sure to make sure that operator in the mirror takes the
same advice. The easiest person to fool is one's self, of course.
73, Ward N0AX
-o-o --o- - o ooo - -o-o --o- - o ooo -
CONTESTS -- 9 JANUARY THROUGH 22 JANUARY 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)
HF CONTESTS
North American QSO Party--CW, sponsored by the National Contest
Journal from 1800Z Jan 12 - 0600Z Jan 13. 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 27 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.
DARC 10 Meter Contest--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Deutscher Amateur
Radio Club from 0900Z -1059Z Jan 13. Frequencies: CW 28.000 - 28.200
MHz, SSB 28.300 - 28.700 MHz, work stations once only. Categories:
SO-Mixed Mode and SO-CW. Exchange: RS(T) and serial number, DL
stations add DOK code. QSO points: 1 pt/QSO. Score: QSOs x WAE and
DXCC entities + DOK codes. For more information:
http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/fedcz.htm. Logs due 3 weeks after the
contest to 10m-contest@dxhf.darc.de.
NAQCC Monthly Straight Key Sprint--sponsored by the North American
QRP CW Club from 0130Z - 0330Z Feb 13. Frequencies (MHz): 3.560,
7.040, 14.060. Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and NAQCC member number (Pwr for
non-members). QSO Points: member--2 pts, non-member--1 pt. Score: QSO
Points x S/P/C, multiply by 2 if all straight key or by 1.5 if all
bug. For more information and the yearly contest schedule:
http://www.arm-tek.net/~yoel. Logs due 6 days after the contest to
naqcc33@alltel.net or Tom Mitchell, WY3H, 210 Garretts Run Rd,
Kittanning, PA 16201.
Midwinter Contest--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Dutch YL Committee, CW
from 1400Z - 1800Z Jan 12, SSB from 1000Z - 1400Z Jan 13.
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%20contest.htm. Logs due 15
Feb to jckoekkoek@home.nl or PA3GQG - Contestmanager
Midwintercontest, Keulenheide 1, 6373 AP Landgraaf, The Netherlands.
Worked All Britain Top Band Phone Contest, from 1900Z - 2300Z Jan 12.
For more information:
http://www.worked-all-britain.co.uk/contest/rules.php. Logs due 3 Feb
to g0bfj@worked-all-britain.co.uk or Brian Stocks, 96 North Street,
Lockwood, Huddersfield, HD1 3SL, England.
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
12 - 2400Z Jan 13. 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/, under "Activities".
070 PSKFest--sponsored by the Penn-Ohio DX Society (PODXS) from
0000Z-2359Z Jan 12. Frequencies: 80-10m. Categories: SOSB and SOAB
(QRP, MP <50W, HP <100W). Exchange: RST and S/P/C. QSO Points:
1pt/QSO. Score: QSO points x S/P/C (counted only once). For more
information:
http://www.podxs.com/html/pskfest.html. Logs due Feb 15 to
jbudzowski@verizon.net or Jay Budzowski N3DQU, 109 S Northview Ave,
New Castle, PA 16102.
North American QSO Party--Phone, 1800Z Jan 19 - 0600Z Jan 20 (see Jan
12-13). Logs due Feb 3 to ssbnaqp@ncjweb.com or Bruce Horn WA7BNM,
4225 Farmdale Ave, Studio City, CA 91604.
HA DX Contest--CW, sponsored by the Hungarian DX Club from 1200Z Jan
20 - 1200Z Jan 21. 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/. Logs due 30 days
after the contest to contest@enternet.hu or MTTOSZ, Gyôr Városi
Rádióclub, 9200 Gyôr, PO Box 79, Hungary.
LZ Open Championship--CW, sponsored by the LZ Open Contest Club from
0400Z - 1200Z Jan 19. 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 19, for operators under
18 years of age. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters. Categories: SOSB, SOMB,
MO, RT (support group--see Web site). Exchange: RS(T) and age or
RS(T) and "RT". For scoring and other information:
http://www.qrz.ru/contest/detail/17.html (click "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 19 - 1200Z Jan 20. Frequencies: 80 - 10-meters. Categories: SOAB
(HP, LP <100 watts), MS. Exchange: RST and serial number, UK stations
send UK region code. QSO Points: Own DXCC entity--1pt, 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.srars.org/. 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 19 - 0400Z Jan 21.
Frequencies: all bands 6-meters and above. Categories:
SO-LP/-HP/-Portable, Rover (standard, limited, unlimited), 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 20 to januaryvhf@arrl.org or January VHF Sweepstakes, ARRL,
225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111.
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LOG DUE DATES - 9 JANUARY THROUGH 22 JANUARY 2008
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January 9 - 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/2007/10-meters.html
January 9 - ARS Spartan Sprint, email logs to: hjohnc@adelphia.net,
post log summary at: (see rules), paper logs and diskettes to:
(none). Find rules at: http://arsqrp.pbwiki.com/Spartan+Sprints
January 10 - DARC Christmas Contest, email logs to:
xmas@dxhf.darc.de, paper logs and diskettes to: Markus van Bergerem,
Brandenberg 5, 47533 Kleve, rmany. Find rules at:
http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/xedcxr.htm
January 11 - AGB-Party Contest, email logs to: eu1eu@mail.ru, paper
logs and diskettes to: Igor "Harry" Getmann, EU1EU, PO Box 143, Minsk
220005, BELARUS. Find rules at:
http://www.ev5agb.com/contest/agb_party.htm
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/CQWWDXContestRules8407.pdf
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 - Croatian CW Contest, email logs to: 9acw@9acw.org, paper
logs and diskettes to: Hrvatski RadioAmaterski Savez, Croatian CW
Contest, Dalmatinska 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Find rules at:
http://www.9acw.org/rules.html
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.qrz.ru/contest/detail/90.html
January 16 - 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. Find rules at:
http://www.qrparci.org/component/option,com_extcalendar/Itemid,/extmode,view/extid,50/lang,en/
January 17 - NA High Speed Meteor Scatter Winter Rally, email logs
to: mph@swcp.com, paper logs and diskettes to: (none). Find rules at:
http://www.sportscliche.com/wb2fko/w07/rules_w07.html
January 20 - MDXA PSK DeathMatch, email log summary to:
w8vom@sbcglobal.net, paper logs and diskettes to: (none). Find rules
at: http://www.mdxa1.org/deathmatch.html
January 22 - Russian Digital+SSTV Contest, email logs to:
rusdigital@bk.ru, paper logs and diskettes to: (none). Find rules at:
http://mixw-contest.narod.ru/Files/RusDigital.htm, January 22 - AGCW
VHF/UHF Contest, email logs to: vhf-uhf@agcw.de, paper logs and
diskettes to: Manfred Busch, DK7ZH, Ebachstr 13, D-35716
Dietzhoelztal-Mandeln, Germany. Find rules at:
http://www.agcw.org/agcw-con/2007/Englisch/agcw-dl0_e.htm
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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