Contester's Rate Sheet for July 30, 2003

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Contester's Rate Sheet
30 July 2003
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Edited by Ward Silver, N0AX

SUMMARY
o WAE CW kicks off the fall contest season
o W1AW/3 photos and N8SM Memorial Award
o CQ WW 160 logs at their highest total ever
o ARRL Logbook of the World tutorial
o W2VJN's reference book on coaxial stubs
o There She Blows!

BULLETINS
o The starting times for the 10 GHz and Up contest (Aug 16 - 17) were
erroneously reported as 0800 local in the August "Contest Corral". 
The correct time is 0600 local and it has been corrected on the ARRL
Web site.

BUSTED QSOS
o A golden issue last time!

ANNOUNCEMENT & NOTICES FOR 30 JULY TO 12 AUGUST 2003

Logs are due for the following contests:

July 30 - His Maj. King of Spain Contest, SSB, email to:
concursoshf@ure.es, paper logs to: URE HF Contests, PO Box 220, 28080
Madrid, Spain  

July 31 - VOLTA RTTY DX Contest, email to: log@contestvolta.it, paper
logs to: Francesco Di Michele, I2DMI, PO Box 55, 22063 Cantu, Italy

July 31 - WW South America CW Contest, email to: labre@labre.org,
paper logs to: LABRE - WWSA Contest Committee, PO Box 00004, 70359-970
Brasilia, DF, Brazil  

July 31 - All Asian DX Contest, CW, email to: aacw@jarl.or.jp, paper
logs to: JARL, All Asian DX Contest, CW, 170-8073, Japan  

July 31 - RAC Canada Day Contest, email to: hcalk2521@rogers.com,
paper logs to: Moncton Seniors ARC, Contest Committee, PO Box 73,
Moncton NB E1C 8R9, Canada  

August 1 - SMIRK Contest, email to: contest@smirk.org, paper logs to:
Pat Richardson, AA5XE, 219 US 377 South, Junction, TX 76849, USA  

August 4 - MI QRP Club July 4th CW Sprint, email to: n8cqa@att.net,
paper logs to: L.T. Switzer, N8CQA, 427 Jeffrey Avenue, Royal Oak, MI
48073-2521, USA  

August 5 - DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest, email to: df5bx@darc.de,
paper logs to: Werner Ludwig, DF5BX, PO Box 1270, 49110
Georgsmarienhuette, Germany  

August 10 - DL-DX-RTTY Contest, email to: logs@dl-dx.de, paper logs
to: (none)  

August 12 - IARU HF World Championship, email to: IARUHF@iaru.org,
paper logs to: IARU HF Championship, IARU International Secretariat,
Box 310905, Newington, CT 06111, USA

August 12 - FISTS Summer Sprint, email to: W8PIG@yahoo.com, paper logs
to: Dan Shepherd, N8IE, 1900 Pittsfield St., Kettering, OH 45420, USA

August 12 - QRP ARCI Summer Homebrew Sprint, email to:
rfoltz@turbonet.com, paper logs to: Randy Foltz, K7TQ, Attn: Summer
Homebrew Sprint, 809 Leith St., Moscow, ID 83843, 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

HF CONTESTS

North American QSO Party - CW - sponsored by the National Contest
Journal, 1800Z Aug 2-0600Z Aug 3.  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 SPC. Score: QSOs X States +
Province + NA DXCC countries (count each once per band). For
information - http://www.ncjweb.com/naqprules.php. Logs due 30 days
after the contest to cwnaqp@ncjweb.com or Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, 4225
Farmdale Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604. The same mailing address will
be used for both modes of this contest.

SARL HF DX Contest--SSB--sponsored by the Bloemfontein Radio Amateur
Club from 1330Z -- 1730Z Aug 3 (CW is Aug 31). Frequencies: 80 -- 20
meters. Categories: SOAB, MS. Exchange: RS(T) + serial number. QSO
Points: SSB -- 1 pt, CW -- 2 pts.  Total score: QSO points + ZS call
areas and South African countries (see Web site). For more information
- http://www.sarl.org.za/public/contests/contestrules.asp#HFCWPHONE.
Logs due 14 days after the contest to admin@sarl.org.za or PO Box
1721, Strubensvallei 1735, Republic of South Africa. 

Ten-Ten International Summer Phone QSO Party -- sponsored by Ten-Ten,
International, 0000Z Aug 2-0400Z Aug 3, 10-meters only. Exchange:
call, name, state and 10-10 number (if available). QSO Points:
nonmembers -- 1 pt, members -- 2 pts.  Total score: sum of QSO points.
 For more information - http://www.ten-ten.org.  Logs due Aug 18 to
Steve Rasmussen N0WY, 312 N 6th Street, Plattsmouth, NE 68048-1302.

European HF Championship - CW/SSB - sponsored by the Slovenian Contest
Club, 1000Z-2159Z, Aug 2.  EU to EU contacts only.  Frequencies:
160-10 meters. Categories: SOAB only - CW, SSB, and Mixed Modes, HP
and LP, and SWL.  Exchange: RS(T) and last two digits of first year
licensed.  Score: QSOs x number of different years received, counted
once per band.  For more information - http://lea.hamradio.si/~scc. 
Logs due Aug 31 to euhfc@hamradio.si (Cabrillo format preferred) or
Slovenia Contest Club, Saveljska 50, 1113 Ljubljana, Slovenia.

TARA "Grid Dip" Contest--PSK and RTTY - sponsored by Troy ARA from
0000Z -- 2400Z Aug 2. Frequencies: 80-6 meters, work stations once per
band, work Rovers again from new locators. Categories: SOAB only - QRP
(<5W), LP (<20W or RTTY <100W), HP (100W max. or RTTY legal limit)
Rover (50W max. or RTTY legal limit) operating from more than one Grid
Locator, SWL. Exchange: Name and 4-digit grid locator. QSO Points: 1
pt/QSO. Total score: QSO points x Grid Locators counted once per band.
For more information -
http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_grid_rules.html. Scores due 23 Aug
via online submission form at
http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_grid_score.html; logs via e-mail to
grid-manager@n2ty.org.

PanAmerican Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend - all modes - sponsored by
the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society from 0001Z Aug 2-2359Z Aug 3.
Frequencies (MHz): CW -- 1.830, 3.530, 7.030, 14.030, 21.030, 28.030;
SSB -- 1.970, 3.970, 7.270, 14.270, 21.370, 28.370. Exchange: ARLHS
member or lighthouse number or year first licensed, name, and SPC. For
more information - http://arlhs.com/page3.html. Logs due 31 Aug to
Dave Ruch, NF0J, PO Box 20696, Bloomington, MN 55420-0696.

Worked All Europe DX Contest - CW - sponsored by the Deutscher ARC,
0000Z Aug 9-2400Z Aug 10, (phone is Sep 13-14; RTTY is Nov 8-9).
Frequencies: 80-10 meters according to Region I band plan. 
Categories: SOHP, SOLP, MS, SWL.  Packet or spotting nets allowed (SO
stations not using spotting assistance will be noted). SO operate 36
hrs max., up to three off periods of 1 hour min. Non-EU work EU only
except RTTY, where everyone works everyone except own country. 
Exchange: RS(T) and serial number.  Score 1 pt/QSO and 1 pt/QTC. Final
score is QSOs + QTCs x weighted multipliers.  Multipliers: non-EU use
WAE countries, EU use DXCC entities plus call districts in W, VE, VK,
ZL, ZS, JA, PY and RA8/9/0.  (RTTY use WAE + DXCC.)  Mults on 80 m
count x4, on 40 m x3, otherwise x2.  A QTC is a report sent from a
non-EU station back to an EU station of QSOs that took place earlier
in the contest (RTTY QTC can be exchanged between any continents). A
QTC contains the time, call sign, and QSO number of the station being
reported (e.g. 1307/DL1AA/346).  A QSO may only be reported once and
not back to the originating station.  A maximum of 10 QTCs can be sent
to a single station.  The same station can be worked several times to
complete this quota, but only the original QSO has QSO point value. 
Keep a list of QTCs sent.  For example, QTC 3/7 would indicate that
this is the third series of QTCs sent, and seven QSOs are reported. 
For more information - http://www.waedc.de.  Logs due by Sep 15 (CW),
Oct 15 (Phone) or Dec 15 (RTTY) to waedc@darc.de or to WAEDC Contest
Manager, Bernhard Buettner DL6RAI, Schmidweg 17, 85609 Dornach,
Germany.

Maryland-DC QSO Party - CW/Phone - sponsored by the Antietam Radio
Association, 1600Z Aug 9-0400Z Aug 10 and 1600Z-2359Z Aug 10. 
Frequencies (MHz): CW -- 3.643, 7.035, 14.035, 21.035, 28.035, Phone
-- 3.920, 7.230, 14.270, 21.370, 28.370, 50.150, 52.525, 144.15,
146.55, 146.58, 432.15, 446.000.  Categories: Club, Mobile,
Novice/Tech, QRP, and Standard. Work stations once per band/mode,
portable/mobiles can be worked again in each county. Exchange: QTH and
category.  QSO Points: Club - 10 pts, Mobile - 5 pts, QRP or
Novice/Tech - 4 pts, CW or RTTY or ATV - 3 pts, all others - 1 pt. 
Highest single point value applies. Score: QSO points x MD counties +
Baltimore City + DC. (MD-DC stations also count SPC)  For more
information - http://www.w3cwc.org/rules.html.  Logs due Sept 20 to
wa3eop@arrl.net (ASCII format) or Antietam Radio Association, PO Box
52, Hagerstown, MD 21741-0052

VHF CONTESTS

ARRL UHF Contest, 1800Z Aug 2-1800Z Aug 3. Frequencies: all amateur
bands above 222 MHz.  Categories: SO-LP, SO-HP, Rover, MO.  Exchange:
Grid Square (signal report is optional).  QSO Points: 222 and 432 MHz
- 3 pts, 902 and 1296 MHz - 6 pts, 12 pts on all higher bands.  Score:
QSO Points x  Grid Squares (total from all bands).  Rovers add one
additional multiplier for each grid square activated. For more 
information - http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules. Logs due Sep 2 by
email to arrluhf@arrl.org or by mail to ARRL UHFContest, ARRL, 225
Main St., Newington, CT 06111, USA. 

Perseids Meteor Shower Contest-CW/SSB/WSJT-sponsored by the Six Meter
World Wide Club from 2300Z Aug 12 - 2300Z Aug 14. Frequencies:
6-meters. Categories: CW/SSB or WSJT-only. Exchange: callsign and
grid. QSO Points: own country - 1 pt, otherwise 2 pts (KH6 and KL7 are
considered separate countries). Total score: QSO points x total grids
(counted once only).  For more information - http://6mt.com. Logs due
Sep 14 to w4wrl@aol.com or Wayne Lewis W4WRL, Contest Director, 3338 S
Cashua Dr, Florence, SC 29501-6306.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES

Certificates for the 2002 160-Meter, 10-Meter Contests and the 2003
RTTY Roundup were printed and mailing should be complete by now. Log
Checking Reports for the 2002 10-Meter Contest are available on the
ARRL Web site. Lines scores for the 2003 January VHF Sweepstakes have
been added to the PDF version of the results.  The Web writeup for
2003 ARRL DX CW by W4PA is also now available. (Thanks, Dan N1ND)

The pictures from the W1AW/3 HQ operation at K3LR and K3CR are now
posted at http://www.k3lr.com. Click on the W1AW/3 button. The K3LR
team decided to dedicate the W1AW/3 operation last weekend in memory
of fellow teammate Steve, N8SM. Starting with the 2003 CQWW Contests I
am pleased to announce the sponsorship of the N8SM memorial award for
the USA Top Combined (SSB + CW) Multi-Multi Score to memorialize
N8SM's friendship and dedication to contesting. (Thanks, Tim K3LR, and
good job by the team!)

Jim KU5S reports that the WinCAP Wizard 3 update has been released
after testing. The GeoAlert Wizard software has also been recently
revised.  The Taborsoft Web site also has several "QSL-ware" free-ware
applications for downloading at http://www.taborsoft.com.

Robby VY2SS and Ken K6LA / VY2TT have announced that they are opening
the Prince Edward Island DX Lodge and Rental Superstation.  Judging
from the contest scores, VY2 is the new hot spot for making big
scores.  Not too heavy on the palm trees and snorkeling, but you can
almost see the Eiffel tower from there and quite a bit of fun stuff is
located nearby.  More details are available at
http://www.peidxlodge.com.

Celebrating their move into a new Internet home, the July edition of
the Adventure Radio Society's monthly web magazine, The ARS Sojourner,
is hot off the virtual press, free and just a click away at
http://www.ARSqrp.com.  You may have heard some of the bees buzzing
around the bands in the annual ARS Flight of the Bumblebees contest. 
This is a neat organization if you'd like to combine some exercise
with your contesting.  Believe me, some of us could use a little less
"chair time." (Thanks, Richard KI6SN)

The 51st annual W9DXCC convention will be held in Rolling Meadows, IL
on September 19 - 20, 2003.  The banquet speaker will be Dave Sumner,
K1ZZ, ARRL Executive VP on the recently completed World Radio
Conference 2003 from a DX'ers perspective. This will be a big change
in 40-meter contesting, as well. Complete information is available at
http://www.w9dxcc.com. (Thanks, Bill W9VA)

RESULTS AND RECORDS

I you have a deep-seated yearning to see ARRL contest line scores
printed in the traditional format, they are available to everyone (not
just members-only) on the ARRL Web site.  Just download the PDF
version of the results and the line scores are at the end of the
article.  For example, the 2002 10-Meter contest article is available
at http://www.arrl.org/contests/results/2002/10-meter.pdf. (Thanks,
George K5TR)

From Dave K4JRB regarding the CQ WW 160 contests - "I received 1140 CW
and 528 SSB Logs for the 2003 CQ 160 Contests. This is the highest
number of logs ever!  The final group of plaques for the 2000 and 2001
contests are being sent out except for four without a sponsor. I do
have sponsors for every category for 2003. I also am looking for
someone to volunteer to do the 2001 and 2002 certificates. I have been
looking for a place to put the 2003 submitted logs and claimed
scores." Dave has "care packages" ready to go for anyone that would
like to help with the certificates.

TECHNICAL & TECHNIQUE

The ARRL Logbook of the World (LOTW) beta test is still ongoing.  If
you haven't yet given it a spin, Don AA5AU has written a "step-by-step
tutorial on how to download the software, install the software, create
the certificate request, load the certificate, create a signed log,
submit your log and accessing the LOTW website. It's not brain
surgery, but it's involved enough that seeing the steps displayed
could be of some help. The URL for the tutorial is
http://www.aa5au.com/lotw_beta.htm."

Here's a handy Web site showing how to put adapters on hardline -
http://www.hamstuff.com/Hardline/hardlineprep.html.  Arne N7KA uses
the "Tubing to Female Pipe Coupling, 1/2" to 3/8" brass" fittings made
by Anderson Barrows (part number BP966-P) and a good quality (brass
silver plated) PL-258 barrel adapter. 

Jim K4OJ relates a hardline splicing technique used by W3AU. Obtain
some aluminum tubing which has an ID the same as the OD of the
hardline. Expose the center conductor on either side of the splice.
Slide a short length of the tubing over one side of the 
splice.  Solder the center conductors together - use brass hobby
tubing as a splice over the conductors if you want. "Repack" the
splice with insulation removed when exposing the center conductors.
Slide the aluminum tubing back over the whole splice and clamp it. 
Apply weatherproofing and you have an inexpensive splice.  There is
likely an impedance "bump", but a small one.

This issue's rave review book is W2VJN's "Managing Interstation
Interference - Coaxial Stubs and Filters".  This is a definitive
reference on the ever-mysterious stub by a guy that knows the theory
and has put it into practice.  George starts with the basics and works
right through two-radio, all-band stations.  If you're interested in
using stubs as filters even a little bit - you need this book -
available from International Radio at www.qth.com/inrad.

Dan N5AR contributes the following link with extensive information on
elevated guy anchor techniques -
http://www.qth.com/ka9fox/guy_posts.txt.

It was pointed out to me that my impertinent referral to "super check
partial" (SCP) in the last issue's Conversation editorial might give
the wrong impression.  The SCP to which I was referring, of course,
existing between the ears of top operators, not on their hard drives. 
SCP served up by your logging software is really just a crutch that
keeps you from building up your callsign memory and leads you down the
down the garden path of guessing.

CONVERSATION

"There She Blows" by Billy Boy W4WX/VP2MHX

"The Volcano is blowing,
We still bees a going,
Are we nuts or a ham,
QRZ - who gives a damn?"

"She be little cranky,
But we safe with the Yankey,
So let the rocks fall,
We hope to work you all!"

I'm sure we're all hoping that Bill has a day job, but can't we all
identify with his sentiment?  As I type, the IOTA contest is in full
swing and two groups are busily activating Monserrat.  Are they nuts? 
Of course they're nuts, they're contesters!

They're just as nuts as the DX-peditioners that go to some strange
place and either freeze, roast, wade through penguin poop, or pick
ticks out of exciting places just so we can claim another New One. I
really enjoy watching all this craziness unfold because those who are
crazy are also young, regardless of their chronological age.  

Recently, I gave a presentation on contesting titled, "Contesting -
Extreme Wireless".  What makes a sport "extreme"?  It could be cool
gear, exhilaration, or fear of instant death.  All of those make an
appearance in contesting. (If you dispute "fear of instant death",
then you've never been to the top of a tower trying to fix a
cantankerous antenna or feedline in the middle of a winter night.)

George Bernard Shaw observed that, "The reasonable man adapts himself
to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the
world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable
man."  Substitute "crazy" for "unreasonable" and you have captured
what drives more than one of us to push the envelope and change the
game.

The label "extreme" definitely caught a the attention of a few in the
audience.  Yeah!  Extreme Wireless seems like just the right blend of
crazy and fun that contesting brings to its practitioners.  Maybe it's
putting together the biggest station outside of the VOA.  Maybe it's a
rover that transceives on everything from VLF to light.  Maybe it's a
thousand-mile county run in your state's QSO party.  Who cares? Go
nuts!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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