Contester's Rate Sheet for October 23, 2002
*********************** Contester's Rate Sheet 23 October 2002 *********************** Edited by Ward Silver, N0AX SUMMARY o CQ WW SSB and Sweepstakes CW hit the airwaves!! o Contests-within-a-contest: the Running of the Bulls and the Collegiate Championship o Go fill out the ARRL VHF Contests and Awards Survey - it closes 31 Oct o On-line goodies and stories o Another N6TJ "Secrets of Contesting" BULLETINS o As we head into the busiest part of the contest calendar, it would behoove us all to make the job of the log checkers and log-handling robots easier by taking the time to double-check our PC clock-calendars and logging program settings. Is your clock accurate? Is the date correct? Is the logging program set to record UTC/GMT correctly? With every contest, the suffering contest managers receive logs with times off by hours, days, even years. N5KO reports receiving a log 100 YEARS off! Yeah, I know, all of our gear is just perfect, but let's take five minutes and be sure. It will be greatly appreciated. BUSTED QSOS o Additional CQ WW 160-Meter rule changes - single-operators are now limited to 30 hours operating time which will reduce boring CQ's and low rates during daylight hours. Also, the Web page is actually http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/infoc.html. (Thanks, Bill W4ZV) ANNOUNCEMENT & NOTICES FOR 23 OCTOBER TO 5 NOVEMBER 2002 Logs are due for the following contests: o October 27, 2002 - EU Autumn Sprint, CW - email to: eusprint@kkn.net, paper logs to: Karel Karmasin, OK2FD, Gen. Svobody 636, 674 01 Trebic, Czech Republic o October 27, 2002 - Asia-Pacific Sprint, CW - email to: apsprint@kkn.net, paper logs to: (none) o October 28, 2002 - Alabama QSO Party - email to: dxcc@dbtech.net, paper logs to: The Alabama QSO Party, 4525 Eastern Hills Lane, Cottondale, AL 35453, USA o October 28, 2002 - 10-10 Day Sprint - email to: (none), paper logs to: Steve Rasmussen, N0WY, 312 N. 6th Street, Plattsmouth, NE 68048, USA o October 31, 2002 - ALARA Contest - e-mail: gdsyme@hotmail.com, paper logs to: Mrs. Marilyn Syme, VK3DMS, 99 Magnolia Avenue, Mildura 3500 VIC, Australia o October 31, 2002 - All Asian DX Contest, SSB - email to: aaph@jarl.or.jp, paper logs to: JARL, All Asian DX Contest, SSB, 170-8073, Japan o October 31, 2002 - Scandinavian Activity Contest, CW/SSB - email to: sac@contesting.com, paper logs to: EDR Contest Manager, Peter Vestergard, OZ5WQ, Vestervej 74, DK-4960 Holeby, Denmark o October 31, 2002 - Collegiate QSO Party - email to: qsoparty@collegiatehams.com, paper logs to: CARA, PO Box 150232, Alexandria, VA 22315-0232, USA o October 31, 2002 - Washington State Salmon Run - email to: salmonrun@wwdxc.org, paper logs to: Western Washington DX Club, PO Box 395, Mercer Island, WA 98040, USA o October 31, 2002 - CQ/RJ Worldwide DX Contest, RTTY - email to: rtty@cqww.com, paper logs to: CQ/RJ WW RTTY Contest, 25 Newbridge Road, Hicksville, NY 11801, USA o October 31, 2002 - Texas QSO Party - email to: k5vuu@arrl.net, paper logs to: Texas QSO Party Committee, 17007 Hillview Lane, Spring, TX 77379, USA o October 31, 2002 - Louisiana QSO Party - email to: laqp@tchams.org, paper logs to: TCHC Contest Committee, PO Box 1871, West Monroe, LA 71294, USA o November 2, 2002 - TARA PSK31 Rumble - post score to: http://http://www.qsl.net/wm2u/score.html, paper logs to: (none) o November 5, 2002 - QCWA QSO Party - email to: (none), paper logs to: Dick Newsome, W0HXI, 2924 North 48th Street, Omaha, NE 68104-3726, USA The following contests are scheduled: Note that the following abbreviations are used to condense the contest rules summaries: SO - Single-Op; M2 - Multiop - 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; LP - Low Power; Entity - DXCC Entity CQ Worldwide DX Contest--SSB, sponsored by CQ Magazine, 0000Z Oct 26--2400Z Oct 27. (CW is 0000Z Nov 23--2400Z Nov 24). Frequencies: 160-10 meters. Categories: SOAB and SOSB (HP >100W, LP, QRP <5W), MS, MM. MS have 10 minute rule. Exchange RS(T) and CQ zone. QSO Points: same cont--1 pts (NA stations count 2 pts), diff cont--3 pts. Stations in the same country may be worked for zone credit only. Score: QSO points x CQ Zones + DXCC entities + WAE countries counted once per band. For more information - http://www.cqww.com. Logs due Dec 1 (Jan 15 for CW ) to ssb@cqww.com (CW logs to cw@cqww.com) or to CQ Magazine, 25 Newbridge Rd, Hicksville, NY 11801, USA. ARRL International EME Contest, 0000Z Oct 26--2400Z Oct 27. Frequencies: any band at or above 50 MHz. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MO, Commercial. Exchange: signal report. QSO Points: 100 pts/QSO. Score: QSO points x W/VE call areas + DXCC entities (counted once per band). For more information-- http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2002/eme-rules.html. Logs due 30 days after the contest to emecontest@arrl.org or EME Contest, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. 10-10 CW/Digital Contest--sponsored by Ten-Ten International, 0001Z Oct 26 - 2400Z Oct 27. Frequencies: 10-meters only. Categories: SO. Exchange call/name/state and 10-10 number (if available). QSO Points: nonmembers -- 1 pt, members -- 2 pts. Score is total points. For more information - http://www.ten-ten.org. Logs due Nov 12 to Steve Rasmussen N0WY, 312 N 6th Street, Plattsmouth, NE 68048-1302. ARRL November Sweepstakes--CW, 2100Z Nov 2 to 0300Z Nov 4. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters, work stations only once. Categories: SOAB-LP (A), HP (B), QRP (Q), SO-Unlimited (U), MS (M), School Club (S). Exchange: Serial number, Category (precedence), Call, Check (last two digits of first year licensed), and ARRL section. QSO Points: 2 pts/QSO. Score: QSO points x sections (counted only once). For more information - http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2002/nov-sweeps-rules.html. Logs due 4 Dec to sscw@arrl.org or to November SS CW or November SS Phone, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. ARCI Running of the QRP Bulls--CW, sponsored by the QRP ARCI. This is a mini-contest that runs during the CW Sweepstakes for QRP stations. For more information and to register as a Bull or Matador at http://personal.palouse.net/rfoltz/arci/bulls.htm. North American Collegiate ARC Championship--CW. This is a competition based on Sweepstakes results between club stations at institutions of higher learning beyond the high school level. Clubs enter Sweepstakes in any of the valid entry categories. Separate champions will be determined for CW, Phone and Combined scores. For more information--http://www.collegiatechampionship.org/. High Speed Club CW Contest, sponsored by the Radio Telegraphy High Speed Club (HSC) from 0900Z to 1100Z and 1500Z to 1700Z Nov 3. Frequencies: 80-10 meters, 10-30 kHz above band edge. Categories: SOAB-LP (<150W), SOAB-QRP (<5W), SWL. Exchange: RST + serial number + HSC member number (if avail.). QSO Points: own continent--1 pt, diff cont--3 pts. Score: QSO points x DXCC entities and WAE countries. For more information--http://www.hsc.de.cx/. Logs due 6 weeks after the contest to hsc-contest@dl3bzz.de or Lutz Schröer, DL3BZZ, HSC Contest-Manager, Am Niederfeld 6, 35066 Frankenberg, Germany IPA Contest--Phone/CW, sponsored by The International Police Association Radio Club. CW from 0600Z to 1000Z and 1400Z to 1800Z Nov 2, Phone from 0600Z to 1000Z and 1400Z to 1800Z Nov 4. Frequencies: 80-10 meters with 15-minute band change rule. Categories: SOAB, MS, MM and SWL. Exchange RST + serial number (IPARC members send "IPA" + state if US). QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO, IPARC members--5 pts/ QSO. Score: QSO points x DXCC entities + US states counted once per band. Multipliers are only counted for QSOs with IPARC members. For more information--http://www.iparc.com/Contests/contests.html. Logs due Dec 31 to dl8kcg@darc.de or Uwe Greggersen, DL8KCG, Hurststr 9, D-51645 Gummersbach, Germany Brazilian VHF Contest--FM/SSB/CW, sponsored by LABRE São Paulo from 0000Z Nov 3 to 2400Z Nov 4. Frequencies: 6-m, 2-m, and 70-cm bands. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MS, SWL. Exchange: RST + 6-digit Grid Locator. QSO Points: 6-meters--1 pt, 2-meters--2 pts, 70-cm--3 pts, x1 for FM, x2 for CW/SSB. Score: QSO points x 4-digit Grid Squares counted once per band and mode. For more information--http://www.qsl.net/vhf-dx. Logs due 2 Dec to cbvu@50mhz.com or LABRE/SP--CBVU--Brazilian VHF/UHF DX Contest, PO Box 22, CEP 01059-970, Sao Paulo, SP, BRAZIL Ukranian DX Contest--CW/SSB/RTTY, sponsored by the Ukrainian Amateur Radio League and the Ukrainian Contest Club from 1200Z Nov 3 to 1200Z Nov 4. Frequencies: 160-10-meters, with 10-minute band change rule. Categories: SOAB, SOAB-QRP (<5W), SOAB-RTTY, SOSB, MS, MM, SWL. Exchange: RST + serial number (+ Ukranian region). QSO Points: same country--1 pt, same continent--2 pts, different cont--3 pts, Ukranian station--10 pts. Score: QSO points x DXCC entities + WAE countries + Ukranian regions. For more information--http://www.qsl.net/ucc/. Logs due 30 days after the contest to urdx@ampr.kiev.uÁ or to Ukrainian Contest Club HQ, PO Box 4850, Zaporizhzhe, 69118, Ukraine. DARC 10-Meter Digital "Corona"--RTTY/AMTOR/PACTOR/PSK31/Clover, sponsored by Deutscher Amateur Radio Club from 1100Z to 1700Z Nov 3. Frequencies: 28050-28150 kHz, work stations once per mode. Categories: SO, SWL. Exchange: RST + serial number. QSO Points: 1pt/QSO. Score: QSO points x DXCC entities + WAE countries + JA/VE/W call districts (all counted only once). For more information-- http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/cqdlcont/corona02.htm. Logs due 4 weeks after the contest to df5bx@darc.de or Werner Ludwig, DF5BX, PO Box 1270, D-49110 Georgsmarienhuette, Germany. NEWS & PRESS RELEASES The ARRL VHF Contest and Awards Survey is still open for your input. Check out http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2002/10/07/1/?nc=1 or download the PDF file at http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/vhf-survey.pdf=20. Responses are due back to the ARRL by October 31st. Also from the ARRL Contest Desk comes the news that contest certificates in the new format are on-hand and being processed - look for those big envelopes in the mail soon. Check out the new format for contest announcements on page 114 of the November issue of QST. The idea is to attract the casual contester with a less legalistic set of rules and some good ideas about why the contest would be fun to participate in. Now, if we could just get the announcements moved up to page 1! For those of you that are wondering about the WRTC awards, "Please QRX!" says Timo OH1NOA. "We received over 1500 logs, so this takes some time." Having suffered through the aftermath of WRTC myself in 1990, I can sympathize. Chill out, fellas - don't you have a contest to operate in or something? While not directly contest related, the "Team Zone 2" contest group has been given experimental authorization by Industry Canada to conduct tests on the 60 meter amateur band. These will be the first ever operations on 60 meters from Canada and will take place on October 22nd, 23rd and 24th and possibly at other times if time allows. While only a couple of USA stations have authorization to transmit on 60-meters, reception reports will be welcome. Check out the schedule for VA2BY at http://www.qsl.net/teamzone2. (Thanks, Bob VE3SRE on behalf of Team Zone 2) In light of the EME contest this month, it bears mentioning that 2002 is the thirtieth anniversary of the first amateur EME QSO. If you'd like a good read about how it came about, point your browser at http://www.rcallen.com/eme50.htm. (Thanks, Tree N6TR) TECHNICAL & TECHNIQUE If you'd like to print custom azimuthal-equidistant maps (sometimes called "great circle maps") from any QTH, a good on-line source is http://www.wm7d.net/azproj.shtml/. Kudos to Joe NA3T, Michael NV3Z, and Mark WM7D. Another useful on-line source of goodies is the ARRL Field and Emergency Services forms list at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/. In particular, FSD-218 - "The Amateur Message Form" - is a handy thing to have in the emergency operations gear. Are you tuning up your tower for use on 160 this winter? If you have the nice problem of a tower that is electrically too tall, you might want to make some of the bottom of your tower "disappear." In his book "Low-Band Dxing" ON4UN presents a method of detuning a tower (page 11-21 in the 2nd edition) that can be adapted to such a purpose. Place a shunt wire (with a large variable capacitor in series) along the length of tower that you wish to detune. Excite the tower above the shunt and use a current transformer to monitor the current in the shunt wire - adjust the capacitor for maximum current (in the detuning network, not the tower). Note that the ON4UN description says tune for a minimum, but this application is slightly different. (Thanks to Tree N6TR and Tom W8JI) As long as we're on the subject of low-band verticals - if you're looking for large tubing to put up that four-square array or full-size vertical, be sure to check the agricultural sections of local or regional papers. Surplus irrigation pipe - generally 3" diameter with wall thicknesses of around 0.050" - is often available at a fraction of the cost of new. Need a manual for your Hy-Gain antenna? They are available on-line at the Hy-Gain web site: http://www.hy-gain.com. (Thanks, Mel VE2DC) CONVERSATION Since N6TJ will be yet again at ZD8Z putting Zone 38 in a lot of logs this coming weekend, it seems appropriate to include another of Jim's "Secrets of Contesting"...this one conclusively demonstrates that contesting is good for you! "Many have probably heard of the Yale University research findings that if you THINK YOUNG, you will extend your life (on the average) ANOTHER SEVEN AND ONE-HALF YEARS. And further, that this singular "habit" is more important to your health than factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol. Can you imagine this? "Thusly, I hereby announce that I have extended my personal goal of SERIOUS contest expeditions until I am Age 100. That's another 37 years, or ANOTHER 3 SOLAR MAXIMA! Wow. And then when I reach 100, I'll decide if I'll go another 5 years, or not. And another 5, and so on. I hope you all will be around to celebrate this with me. Some are probably saying, 'How silly is this? Neiger has definitely and finally gone over the edge!' "My challenge to ALL of you: please sign up to this plan of (1) thinking young, and (2) dumping pathetic excuses of WHY YOU CANNOT hit the contest DXpedition trail this fall, or putting in MAJOR efforts from home this and every year. "What if Yale is right? You, at least may benefit the most. And the rest will derive great benefit from your activity, and many more multipliers! And having our radio friends with us for so many more years, we all win. And what has been on many of our minds, the bad notions that ham radio, and contests are dying (at least in the USA), and have a limited future, are, as they say 'a little premature.' "Maybe we can't attract many youngsters into the hobby. But we certainly have the potential to EXTEND our useful contesting lifetimes. And I may not make the Top Ten every year, but at least if won't be for want of a serious effort. Please join me in this quest. And thank you for reading this far. Vy 73, Jim Neiger N6TJ" ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Contester's Rate Sheet wishes to acknowledge information from the following sources: WA7BNM's Contest Calendar Web page - http://http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/ ARRL Contest page - http://http://www.arrl.org/contests/ SM3CER's Web site - http://http://www.sk3bg.se/contest/
