Contester's Rate Sheet for September 10, 2003

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Contester's Rate Sheet
10 September 2003
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Edited by Ward Silver, N0AX

SUMMARY
o Major VHF Contest - ARRL Sep VHF QSO Party (put that all-band rig to
work!)
o State QSO Parties - WA State Salmon Run, Louisiana, Tennessee, South
Carolina
o EU DX Contests - WAE SSB and SAC CW
o Elecraft announces KX1 Ultra-Portable Transceiver Kit
o Shunt- versus Series-Feed for Low-Band Tower Verticals
o The Silver Lining

BULLETINS
o Sprint logs are due on the 13th - new, improved, shorter reporting
deadline!  If you sent in a log immediately following the contest, the
robot sent back a message stating your log was past the February
deadline. This was fixed right away, but there is no need to resubmit
your log if a submission ID number was received. (Thanks, Tree N6TR)
o The email address for WAE log submissions has been changed once
again to waedc@dxhf.darc.de due to problems with the previous address.
For complete details, check the WAEDC Web site
http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/fedcw.htm. (Thanks, Leroy N7EIE)

BUSTED QSOS
o Mike KH6ND pointed out that there is no 160-meter operation in the
All Asia SSB contest.

ANNOUNCEMENT & NOTICES FOR 10 SEPTEMBER TO 23 SEPTEMBER 2003

Logs are due for the following contests:

September 13 - New Jersey QSO Party, email to: (none), paper logs to:
Englewood ARA, PO Box 528, Englewood, NJ 07631-0528, USA  
 
September 14 - Six Club Perseids Meteor Shower Contest, email to:
contests@6mt.com, paper logs to: Wayne Lewis, W4WRL, Contest Director,
3338 South Cashua Drive, Florence, SC 29501-6306, USA  
 
September 15 - WAE DX Contest, CW, email to: waedc@dxhf.darc.de, paper
logs to: WAEDC Contest Manager, Bernhard Buettner, DL6RAI, Schmidweg
17, D-85609 Dornach, Germany  
 
September 15 - Maryland-DC QSO Party, email to: wa3eop@arrl.net, paper
logs to: Antietam Radio Association, PO Box 52, Hagerstown, MD
21741-0052, USA  
 
September 15 - North American QSO Party, SSB, email to:
ssbnaqp@ncjweb.com, paper logs to: Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, 4225 Farmdale
Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604, USA  
 
September 15 - NRRL 75th Anniversary Contest, email to:
la9hw@arrl.net, paper logs to: Jan Almedal, LA9HW, Odinsgt 7, NO-4631
Kristiansand, Norway  
 
September 23 - TOEC WW Grid Contest, CW, email to:
TOEC.Contest@pobox.com, paper logs to: TOEC, PO Box 178, S-831 22
Ostersund, Sweden  
 
September 23 - Ohio QSO Party, email to: oqplogs@mrrc.net, paper logs
to: Jim Stahl, K8MR, 30499 Jackson Rd., Chagrin Falls, OH 44022-1730,
USA  
 
September 23 - CQC Summer QSO Party, email to: contest@cqc.org, paper
logs to: Contest, Colorado QRP Club, PO Box 371883, Denver, CO
80237-1883, 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

YLRL Howdy Days - CW/SSB - sponsored by the YL Radio League, 1400Z Sep
10 - 0200Z Sep 12, work 24 out of the 36 hour period. Exchange: YLRL
Member or not. QSO Points: non-YLRL member - 1 pt, YLRL members - 2
pts. Score is total points. For more information:
http://www.qsl.net/ylrl/ylcontests.html. Logs due 30 days after the
contest to Jeanie Parker WA6UVF, 28400 Vista del Valle, Hemet, CA
92544.

WAE DX Contest - SSB - sponsored by the Deutscher ARC, 0000Z Sep 13 -
2359Z Sep 14. 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 Oct 15 to
waedc@darc.de or to WAEDC Contest Manager, Bernhard Buettner DL6RAI,
Schmidweg 17, 85609 Dornach, Germany.

North American Sprint - SSB, 0000Z - 0400Z Sep 14. Frequencies (MHz) -
3.850, 7.225, 14.275, work stations once per band. North American
stations work everyone, others work NA stations only. Exchange: other
station's call, your call, serial number, name, SPC. QSY rule:
Stations calling CQ, QRZ, etc, may only work one station in response
to that call, they must then move at least 1 kHz before working
another station or 5 kHz before soliciting another call. Once you are
required to QSY, you may not make a new QSO on the previous frequency
until you have made a contact at least 1 or 5 kHz (as required) away.
(see http://www.contesting.com/articles/198 for beginner's guide) 
Score: QSOs X S/P/C (count each only once). For more information:
http://www.ncjweb.com/. Logs due 30 days after the contest to
ssbsprint@ncjweb.com or Jim Stevens, K4MA, 6609 Vardon Ct,
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526.

Second-Class Operators Club (SOC) Marathon Sprint - CW, from 1800Z to
2400Z Sep 13. (Most sprints run four hours, but since we're Second
Class Op's, we need more time!)  Frequencies: 160 - 6-meters.
Categories: SOAB. Exchange: RST + S/P/C + SOC number or power output.
QSO Points: SOC member - 5 pts, non-member same continent - 2 pts,
diff. cont - 4 pts. Score: QSO points x SPC counted once per band x
Power Multiplier (<250 mW x 15, <1 W x 10, <5 W x 7, >5 W x 1). 
Multiply by 1.5 if using a homebrew paddle. Logs due 30 days after the
contest to n4bp@arrl.net or Bob Patten N4BP, 2841 NW 112 Terrace,
Plantation, FL 33323, USA.

3rd Annual Fists Coast to Coast Contest - CW - sponsored by FISTS
Northwest Club, K7FFF, 0000Z - 2400Z September 14. Frequencies:
80-10m. Categories: SOAB, MS. Exchange: RST, name, state or DX prefix,
and FISTS number or power. QSO Points and scoring depends on number of
times club is worked, for more information:
http://www.tomochka.com/k7fff/fnw_c2c03.html. No logs are required,
just send total score and list of clubs contacted to
FistsC2C@yahoo.com within 30 days of the contest.

Louisiana QSO Party - CW/Phone - sponsored by the Twin City Ham Club,
1400Z Sep 13 - 0200Z Sep 14 and 1400Z - 2000Z Sep 14. Frequencies: 80
- 2 meters. Categories: SOAB (QRP <5W, LP <150W, HP, CW, Phone, Mixed
Mode), MS (QRP, LP, HP, Mixed Mode only). Exchange: RST and SPC or LA
parish. QSO Points: Phone - 2 pts, CW - 3 pts. Score: QSO points x LA
parishes (LA stations use SPC) counted once per band. For more
information: http://www.tchams.org/users/contest/laqp/laqprules.html.
Logs due 31 Oct to laqp@tchams.org or TCHC Contest Committee, PO Box
1871, West Monroe, LA 71294.

Tennessee QSO Party - CW/Phone - sponsored by the Tennessee Contest
Group, 1800Z Sep 14 - 0100Z Sep 15. Frequencies (MHz): CW - 1.815,
3.540, 7.040, 14.040, 21.040, 28.040; SSB - 1.855, 3.900, 7.240,
14.280, 21.390, 28.390; Novice/Tech - 3.700, 7.130, 21.140, 28.140,
28.390; VHF/UHF - 50.195, 144.195, 146.55, 223.5, 446.0. Exchange:
RS(T) and TN county or SPC. QSO Points: HF Phone - 2 pts, HF CW -
3pts, VHF Phone - 4 pts, VHF CW - 6pts. Score: QSO points x TN
counties (TN stations add SPC) counted only once. TN stations claim
one additional multiplier for every five QSOs with the same TN county.
Bonus points: 100 points for each QSO with K4TCG and TN mobiles add
500 points for each TN county activated. For more information:
http://www.k4ro.net/tcg/tqp/tqp03_rules.html. Logs due Nov 12 to
w9wi@w9wi.com or TN QSO Party c/o Doug Smith, W9WI 1385 Old
Clarksville Pike Pleasant View, TN 37146-8098, USA.

Scandinavian Activity Contest - CW - sponsored by Suomen
Radioamatooriliitto (SRAL), 1200Z Sep 20 - 1200Z Sep 21 (Phone, 1200Z
Sep 27 - 1200Z Sep 28). Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters. Categories: SOAB
(QRP <5W, LP <100W, HP), MS, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) + serial number. QSO
Points: EU stations - 1 pt, Non-EU - 1 pt on 20 - 10, 3 pts on 80 -
40. Finals score is QSO pts × Scandinavian call areas counted once per
band. For more information:
http://www.sk3bg.se/contest/text/sacnsc.txt. Logs due Oct 31 to
sac@contesting.com or to SACCW or SACSSB, SRAL, PL 44, FIN-00441,
Helsinki, Finland.

Washington State Salmon Run - CW/SSB - sponsored by the Western
Washington DX Club, 1600Z Sep 20 - 0700Z Sep 21 and 1600Z - 2400Z Sep
21. Frequencies: 160 - 6 meters. Categories: SO (CW, SSB or Mixed
Mode, QRP <5W, LP <200W, HP), MS, Washington Club Station, Mobile,
Washington County DXpedition, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) and S/P/C or county
(for WA stations). QSO Points: SSB - 2 pts, CW - 4 pts. Work Portables
and Mobiles from each county, log county line QSOs as 2 separate QSOs.
Score: QSO points x WA counties (WA stations use S/P/C + WA counties)
counted once only. QSOs with W7DX add 500 bonus points for each mode -
total 1000 points. For more information: http://www.wwdxc.org/. Logs
due Oct 31 to salmonrun@wwdxc.org or Western Washington DX Club, PO
Box 395, Mercer Island, WA 98040, USA.

South Carolina QSO Party - Phone/CW/Digital - sponsored by the Sumter
Amateur Radio Association (SARA), 1300Z Sep 20 - 2100Z Sep 21.
Frequencies (MHz): CW: 1.805 and 50 kHz from band edge, Phone: 1.845,
3.860, 7.260, 14.270, 21.370, 28.370, 50.125, 144.200, 146.58, 223.50,
446.00. No repeater or cross-band QSO's, work stations again from each
county. Categories: SOAB, SC Mobile. Exchange: Serial Number and SC
county or S/P/C. QSO Points: Phone - 1 pt, CW - 2 pts, Digital - 3
pts. Score: Total QSO points x power multiplier (<5 W x5, <150 W x2,
>150 W x1) x SC counties (counted only once) x SC counties activated
(SC Mobile only). 300 bonus points for QSO with N2ZZ or W4GL. For more
information: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/2695/SCQSOWeb.htm.
Logs due Oct 18 to SARA SC QSO Party Entry, PO Box 193, Sumter, SC
29151-0193.

Fall QRP Homebrewer Sprint - CW/PSK31 - sponsored by New Jersey QRP
Club, 0000Z - 0400Z Sep 22. Frequencies: QRP CW and PSK31 frequencies
on 80 - 10 meters, CW and PSK31 are considered separate bands.
Exchange: RST + S/P/C + output power. QSO Points: Commercial Equipment
- 2 pts, Homebrew Xmtr or Rcvr - 3pts, Homebrew Xmtr and Rcvr - 4 pts,
Homebrew PSK31 station - 5 pts. Kits okay as homebrew. Power
Multiplier: 0>250 mW = x 15, 250 mW>1W = x10, 1-5W = x7, >5W = x1.
Score: QSO Points x SPC (counted once per band) x power multiplier.
For more information:
http://www.njqrp.org/data/qrphomebrewersprint.html. Logs due 30 days
from the contest to n2cq@arrl.net (text format) or Ken Newman, N2CQ,
81 Holly Drive, Woodbury, NJ 08096.

The Classic Exchange - CW/Phone - sponsored by Classic Exchange and AM
International, 1300Z Sep 28 - 0700Z Sep 29. Frequencies (Mc): CW -
1.810, 3.545, 7.045, 14.045, 21.135, 28.180; AM - 1.890, 3.880, 7.290,
14.286, 21.420, 29.000; SSB - 3870 to 75, 7280-85, 14.270-75,
21.370-75, 28.490-95. Exchange: Name, RST, SPC, Rcvr and Xmtr type,
AMI number (if available). OK to change equipment and work stations
again on each band and mode. Count the total number of receivers (Rx)
and Transmitters (Tx) Score: QSO's x (Rx + Tx + SPC counted on each
band and mode) x CX Mult. The CX Multiplier is the total of the ages
of all equipment used for 3 QSOs or more. Transceivers count x2.
Homebrew age is min. 25 years, unless documented as older. For more
information: http://qsl.asti.com/CX. Send logs to WQ8U@arrl.net or
"Mac" MacAulay, 6235 Wooden Shoe Lane, Centerville, OH 45459-1557.

QRP Afield - CW/Phone/Digital - sponsored by the New England QRP Club,
1500Z Sep 20 - 0300Z Sep 21, submit a log for the best 6 hr period of
the contest. Frequencies: 160 - 10 meter QRP calling frequencies, work
stations once per band and mode. Categories: SO and MS. Exchange:
RS(T), S/P/C, and NE-QRP number or power. QSO Points: HP (>5W) fixed
station - 1 pt, HP mobile or portable - 2 pts, QRP fixed - 5 pts, QRP
mobile or portable - 10 pts. QSOs with WQ1RP score triple points.
Score: QSO points x SPC (counted once only). For more information:
http://www.qsl.net/wq1rp/main.htm. Logs due Oct 15 to k1cl@arrl.net or
Chuck Ludinsky, K1CL, 6 Prancing Rd, Chelmsford, MA 01824-1922.

Collegiate QSO Party - CW/SSB/Digital, sponsored by the Collegiate
Amateur Radio Association (CARA), 1200Z Sep 20 - 0400Z Sep 21.
Frequencies: 160-10 meters. Categories: SO, MS, MM, packet spotting is
allowed for all categories, no self-spotting. Exchange: serial number
and name of institution (for clubs) or operator (SO). QSO Points: 1
pt/QSO, see Web site for bonuses. Score: QSO points x clubs worked,
counted once per band and mode. For more information:
http://www.qth.com/collegiate/qsopartycentral.htm. Logs due Oct 6 to
qsoparty@collegiatehams.com or CARA, PO Box 150232, Alexandria,
Virginia 22315-0232, USA.

VHF CONTESTS

ARRL September VHF QSO Party, 1800Z Sep 13 - 0300Z Sep 15.
Frequencies: all bands above 50 MHz. Categories: SOHP, SOLP,
SO-Portable, Rover, MO, Limited MO. Exchange: Grid Locator. QSO
Points: 50 and 144 MHz - 1 pt, 222 and 440 MHz - 2 pts, 902 and 1296
MHz - 3 pts, 2.3 GHz and higher - 4 pts. Score: QSO points x Grids
counted once per band. For more information:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules. Logs due Oct 15 to
septembervhf@arrl.org or Sep VHF QSO Party, ARRL Contest Branch, 225
Main St, Newington, CT 06111, USA.

ARRL 10 GHz Cumulative Contest, 0600 local - 2400 local Sep 20 - 21.
Frequencies: 10 GHz through light. Categories: 10 GHz only and
Multi-band. Exchange: 6-character Maidenhead locator. QSO points: 100
points per unique callsign + distance in km. Score: QSO points. For
more information:  http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules. Logs due Oct 21
to 10ghz@arrl.org or 10 GHz Contest, ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main St,
Newington, CT 06111, USA.

NEWS & PRESS RELEASES

In the last issue, I put out a call for links to contest club
newsletters and several readers responded. The Society of Midwest
Contesters has several major newsletters linked on their site -
http://www.w9smc.com/newsletters.htm. The Spokane DX Association's
newsletter is available at http://www.sdxa.org/ and the Florida Contest
Group's newsletter can be found at
http://www.floridacontestgroup.org/newsletter.html. Look for the
Mother Lode DX/Contest Club's info at http://mldxcc.com/.
(Thanks, Brian K9QQ/KH6, LaMar WA7LT, Fred K4LQ, Dick K6LRN)

Elecraft has announced a new ultra-portable CW transceiver kit, the
KX1. About the size of a stack of QSL cards and weighing only 9
ounces, the KX1 covers 20- and 40-meters (30-meters is an option) with
4 watts of output and full-QSK . An internal ATU (that's right,
internal) and built-in memory keyer are standard. The receiver is a
single-conversion superhet with variable passband crystal filter and
RIT. A rechargeable battery pack is also built in. It doesn't sound
like there's a whole lot of room left in that enclosure. This is just
right to throw in the car, briefcase, or backpack for portable
hamming. The full details are available at http://www.elecraft.com/.

QRZ Online has a new set of Swapmeet Web pages - check them out at
http://www.qrz.com/.

Here's a photo of the world's best VHF contest site -
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030831.html. A new picture is
available every day.
(Thanks Diane, NH6HE)

Martti OH2BH reports that WRTC2002 activities were recently completed.
All plaques, QSLs, and awards were confirmed to have been shipped,
wrapping up an excellent set of WRTC activities by the Finnish
sponsors. Kiitos!

Anyone planning on doing a little mobiling in the upcoming ARRL VHF
QSO Party this weekend will want to check into the Rover Resource Page
at http://www.qsl.net/n9rla/. This page has recently been updated by
Dan K9ZF (previously N9RLA) and has lots of good information about
rover stations.

Updated Sweepstakes, 10-Meter, and 160-Meter contest rules are now
available on the ARRL Web site. One notable change is that the NWT
Section is being renamed "Northern Territories" and the abbreviation
will be "NT" - this includes Yukon, NWT, and Nunavut.

According to the US Naval Historical Center the first computer bug was
logged on September 9, 1945 at 15:45: "Moth found trapped between
points at Relay # 70, Panel F, of the Mark II Aiken Relay Calculator
while it was being tested at Harvard University, 9 September 1945. The
operators affixed the moth to the computer log, with the entry: "First
actual case of bug being found". They put out the word that they had
"debugged" the machine, thus introducing the term "debugging a
computer program". More about this Ur-bug can be found at
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h96000/h96566kc.htm.
(Thanks, Tree N6TR)

RESULTS AND RECORDS

Dave K4JRB, CQ WW 160 Contest Director has posted a list of calls for
which no logs have been received. Look to see if your call is included
at http://lists.contesting.com/_topband/2003-September/017434.html.

Everyone who wants to see the results of 2002 LZ DX Contest can find
them at http://www.qsl.net/lz1fw/contest. There are also new rules for
the 2003 contest - one week before CQ WW CW in November. (Thanks,
Wally LZ2CJ)

TECHNICAL & TECHNIQUE

Here's an excellent safety reminder. We all worry about climbing
hazards, but what about digging that hole for the tower base? "Think
twice, or more, before you go into a deep hole. Plan your escape for
when, not if, it collapses." (Thanks, Red WO0W.)

If you have ever seen one of those great frequency allocation charts
and wonder how to get your own, they're available for free at
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.html. The charts cover 3 kHz
to 300 GHz and there is a text file with the same information and
instructions for ordering the full-sized version.

If you're thinking about travelling with your rig and are wondering
about suitable travel cases, the Pelican series of cases is top-notch.
The Pelican 1650 works great for most transceivers and has room for
accessories. Getting the right foam insert is also important (N5KO and
N6AW use Bob's Foam Factory in California) for cushioning the gear.
Ken K2KW has written a dissertation on this and other travel topics at
http://pages.prodigy.net/k2kw/qthlist/dxresources.htm. (Thanks, Dave
KM3T)

Trying out Single-Op Two-Radio (SO2R) this season? There is a 
schematic for an audio controller in the back of K8CC's NA manual.
There's another circuit at http://www.kkn.net/~k5tr/trlog/switch.pdf.
All parts are available at RadioShack, including premade cables.
(Thanks, Dale KG5U)

For those thinking about building or adapting a tower for use as a
low-band vertical, you should take a look at W8JI's Web page -
http://www.w8ji.com/. Tom discusses the difference between
shunt-feeding a grounded tower versus series-feeding a tower with an
insulated base. There appear to be significant advantages in voltage
reduction and bandwidth increases for the series feed and it's not as
big a mechanical challenge as you might think. Rich KL7RA reports that
it's straightforward to insulate a Rohn 25 tower by using a BPH 25G
hinged base. Remove the attaching bolts and rotate the triangle plate
to clear the hinges. You'll have to machine some insulating shoulder
washers from Teflon and Rich also uses a sheet of Teflon under the
plate. Rich reports that the series-fed tower is much less fussy than
the gamma-matched, shunt-fed version and has better bandwidth.
(Thanks, Tom W8JI and Rich KL7RA)

On the subject of reflectors, there are a number of good lists posted
on http://www.contesting.com/ and http://www.qth.net/. A microwave list
is maintained at http://www.wa1mba.org/. An EME list is available by
sending email to listserve@vm.stlawu.edu with a message of "subscribe
moon-net"  Direction-finding enthusiasts can be found on the ARDF list
at http://loja.kkn.net/mailman/listinfo/ardf. Many others are listed
on the comprehensive Web site http://www.ac6v.com/mail.htm. (Thanks,
George K5TR and others)

If you have greasy, oily metal parts to clean, Jerry K3BZ reports "I
use an automotive brake degreaser product called "Brakleen" followed
by a wash in rubbing alchohol and a short (15 minute) drying period.
If I then get finger oils on an otherwise clean piece, another wipe
with oil-free rubbing alchohol suffices. For large jobs, heavy grease,
etc, Brakleen can be expensive so I soak it in ordinary kerosene, then
brush the grease off. After the kerosene has it pretty clean, I finish
up with the Brakleen." Never use gasoline - kerosene is much less
flammable - and rubber gloves will save your skin.

If you've ever wondered about how the Butternut HF-2V actually works,
there is a good article at http://www.iol.ie/~bravo/80&40mVertic.htm.
It also discusses modifying the HF2V and using it on 160-meters.
(Thanks, John EI7BA)

Another great transmission line loss and attenuation calculator is
available on the Web at http://www.ocarc.ca/coax.htm. (Thanks, Dwight
N2FMC)

If you've been wondering about how to submit a single-band Cabrillo
log with QSOs on other bands, there's no need to submit a separate
log. In fact, since only the LAST log submitted is scored, submitting
more than one log may cause the loss of your intended log. Submit just
one log and be sure that your desired entry category is correct. The
log-checking software will score only those QSOs that count towards
the specified category and all others will be used for checking the
QSOs of other stations. (Thanks, Dick N6AA and Trey N5KO)

CONVERSATION

The Silver Lining

In the last issue, much ado was made about the inevitability of lower
solar flux and congestion and many unpleasant aspects of life at the
bottom of the solar cycle. Well, it's not all gloom and doom. Many
contesters (and DX-ers) live for those days when the frequencies below
10 MHz come alive. You can join them!

During the last solar trough, your author completed his 5BDXCC
(although a few 80-meter QSLs evade capture even today) and made some
fairly memorable QSOs. For example, a QRP 80-meter CW QSO with V51 is
pretty doggone unusual from the West Coast! This using just a
half-sloper to a 50-foot tower - no 3-element beams here, I'm afraid.
Instead of packing it in, you might want to give these bands a try.

There is one drawback. Voice modes on these bands can be quite a
challenge with allocations a worldwide hodge-podge and the tough
paths. It's true that this is where the Big Dogs run. So, the Medium
Gun and Little Pistol might just have to look around for some other
options. CW springs to mind.

Your chances of working some major DX on the low bands goes WAY up
when using CW just from the bandwidth considerations. Moving from a 2
kHz filter to a 500 Hz filter cuts noise power by an S-unit. DSP can
produce even more effective gain. As Judge K7GCO used to say at our
club meetings, "A dB is a dB is a dB", referring to the
signal-to-noise ratio in the headphones of the Other Guy. This might
just be a terrific time to dust off the key. Code speeds tend to be
slower - maybe that's just because it's night when the bands are open
and we're all sleepy.

A different option that wasn't really around in 1995 and 1996 is that
of the new digital modes. I plan on trying some of these myself - PSK
variants and other modes put a PC's sound card and software to work
for you, creating tons of "processing gain" and picking weak signals
out of the noise. Whether there will be a John Henry versus the Steam
Engine competition remains to be seen. At any rate, all that's
required is a simple audio interface to your rig and some free-ware
off the 'net. The coming years could see a flowering of these
newcomers to the amateur bands.

If I was just getting my first solar cycle under my belt, all this
talk of low sunspots would be making me nervous. But, as Tom Lehrer
once said, "Don't be flustered, don't be frightened, don't be
scared...Be Prepared!" Now's the time to pick up a book or two on the
low bands such as ON4UN's excellent "Antennas and Techniques for
Low-Band DXing". Contesters read it, too. Pick one of the national DX
contests such as the upcoming Oceania DX Contest (formerly known as
"VK/ZL") on Oct 4/5 (SSB) or Oct 11/12 (CW) and try a single-band
entry. Use a propagation program (MiniProp by W6EL is free at
http://www.qsl.net/w6elprop/) to make a band plan for the hours at
which your chosen band will open - then BE THERE!  You'll be surprised
at what even modest antennas can hear and work.

Pretty soon you'll be paying a lot closer attention to sunrise and
sunset times around the world. It's amazing what the student of
propagation can find. In fact, you may wind up being converted to a
low-band denizen!  Some of my acquaintances live for these times when
the ionosphere is quiet and the MUF drifts slowly down the dial at
night. Terms like "dawn enhancement" pepper their speech and a strange
light dances in their eyes. Hark! Is that organ music I hear from
NI6T's house?  "Come, Igor! (Or is it Jeeves?) To the shack!  It's
sunrise on the Skeleton Coast!"

73, Ward N0AX

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/