Contester's Rate Sheet for October 22, 2003
*********************** Contester's Rate Sheet 22 October 2003 *********************** Edited by Ward Silver, N0AX SUMMARY o CQ WW SSB followed by CW Sweepstakes - Can the Ionosphere Take It? o New products from Array Solutions and KD9SV o WRTC-2006 in Brazil - Web sites for the host city o VHF/UHF DX records o Secrets of the SS Master o Pirate Names o You're Five by Nine, But What Did You Say? BULLETINS o I mentioned this last year and will do so again. Take the time (so to speak) to double-check your 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? Don't cause yourself and the log checkers headaches...it only takes a minute. (ahem...) BUSTED QSOS o A golden log last issue! ANNOUNCEMENT & NOTICES FOR 22 OCTOBER TO 5 NOVEMBER 2003 Logs are due for the following contests: October 26, 2003 EU Autumn Sprint, CW, email to: eusprint@kkn.net, paper logs to: Karel Karmasin, OK2FD, Gen. Svobody 636, 674 01 Trebic, Czech Republic October 27, 2003 Alabama QSO Party, email to: dxcc@dbtech.net, paper logs to: The Alabama QSO Party, 4525 Eastern Hills Lane, Cottondale, AL 35453, USA October 27, 2003 10-10 Day Sprint, email to: (none), paper logs to: Steve Rasmussen, N0WY, 312 N. 6th Street, Plattsmouth, NE 68048, USA October 31, 2003 ALARA Contest, email to: alaracontest@wia.org.au, paper logs to: Mrs. Marilyn Syme, VK3DMS, 99 Magnolia Avenue, Mildura 3500 VIC, Australia October 31, 2003 All Asian DX Contest, SSB, email to: aaph@jarl.or.jp, paper logs to: JARL, All Asian DX Contest, SSB, 170-8073, Japan October 31, 2003 Louisiana QSO Party, email to: laqp@tchams.org, paper logs to: TCHC Contest Committee, PO Box 1871, West Monroe, LA 71294, USA October 31, 2003 Scandinavian Activity Contest, CW, email to: sac@contesting.com, paper logs to: SACCW, SRAL, PL 44, FIN-00441 Helsinki, Finland October 31, 2003 Washington State Salmon Run, email to: salmonrun@wwdxc.org, paper logs to: Western Washington DX Club, P.O. Box 395, Mercer Island, WA 98040, USA October 31, 2003 CQ/RJ Worldwide DX Contest, RTTY, email to: rtty@cqww.com, paper logs to: (none) October 31, 2003 Scandinavian Activity Contest, SSB, email to: sac@contesting.com, paper logs to: SACSSB, SRAL, PL 44, FIN-00441 Helsinki, Finland October 31, 2003 Texas QSO Party, email to: k5cx@arrl.net, paper logs to: Texas QSO Party Committee, 16880 East Maglitto Circle, Tomball, TX 77377, USA November 1, 2003 TARA PSK31 Rumble, Post scores to: http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_rumble_score.html, paper logs to: Bill Smith, K1ARK, 2164 Magnolia Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72703, USA November 4, 2003 QCWA QSO Party, email to: (none), paper logs to: Dick Newsome, W0HXL, 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 HF CONTESTS CQ Worldwide DX Contest--SSB, sponsored by CQ Magazine, 0000Z Oct 25-2400Z Oct 26. (CW is 0000Z Nov 29-2400Z Nov 30). Frequencies: 160-10 meters. Categories: SOAB and SOSB (HP >100W, LP, QRP <5 W), MS, MM. MS have 10-minute rule. Exchange RS(T) and CQ zone. QSO Points: same cont--1 pt (NA stations count 2 pts), diff cont--3 pts. Stations in the same country may be worked for zone credit only. Score: QSO points × CQ Zones + DXCC entities and 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. 10-10 International CW/Digital Contest, 0001Z Oct 25-2400Z Oct 26. 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 1-0300Z Nov 3. Frequencies: 160 - 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. Logs due 3 Dec to sscw@arrl.org or to November SS CW, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. North American Collegiate ARC Championship--CW (Phone, Nov 15-17). This is a competition based on Sweepstakes results between club stations at institutions of higher education 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-1100Z and 1500Z-1700Z Nov 2. Frequencies: 80-10 meters, 10-30 kHz above band edge. Categories: SOAB-LP (<150 W), SOAB-QRP (<5 W), SWL. Exchange: RST + serial number + HSC member number (if available). QSO Points: own continent--1 pt, diff cont--3 pts. Score: QSO points × DXCC entities and WAE countries. For more information: http://www.hsc.de.cx/. Logs due 6 weeks after the contest to http://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-1000Z and 1400Z-1800Z Nov 1, Phone from 0600Z-1000Z and 1400Z-1800Z Nov 2. 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 × DXCC entities + US states counted once per band. Multipliers are only counted for QSOs with IPARC members. For more information: http://www.ipa-rc.de/. Logs due Dec 31 to dl8kcg@darc.de or Uwe Greggersen, DL8KCG, Hurststr 9, D-51645 Gummersbach, Germany. Ukrainian DX Contest--CW/SSB/RTTY, sponsored by the Ukrainian Amateur Radio League and the Ukrainian Contest Club from 1200Z Nov 1-1200Z Nov 2. Frequencies: 160-10 meters, with 10 minute band change rule. Categories: SOAB, SOAB-QRP (<5 W), SOAB-RTTY, SOSB, MS, MM, SWL. Exchange: RST + serial number (+ Ukrainian region). QSO Points: same country-- 1 pt, same continent--2 pts, different cont--3 pts, Ukrainian station--10 pts. Score: QSO points × DXCC entities + WAE countries + Ukrainian regions. For more information: http://www.qsl.net/ucc. Logs due 30 days after the contest to urdx@tav.kiev.ua 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-1700Z Nov 2. Frequencies (MHz): 28.050-28.150, work stations once per mode. Categories: SO, SWL. Exchange: RST + serial number. QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Score: QSO points × DXCC entities + WAE countries + JA/VE/W call districts (all counted only once). For more information: http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/cqdlcont/corona03.htm. Logs due 4 weeks after the contest to df5bx@darc.de or Werner Ludwig, DF5BX, PO Box 1270, D-49110 Georgsmarienhuette, Germany. VHF CONTESTS None scheduled, although 10 meters seems to be doing a pretty good imitation of a VHF band these days. NEWS & PRESS RELEASES Array Solutions (http://www.arraysolutions.com/) has nice new trio of products. First, a band decoder for the new Ten-Tec Orion available soon from Ten-Tec (http://www.ten-tec.com/) should help the lucky new radio owner integrate the radio with their stations. The second is a simpler (and wallet-friendly), two-antenna version of the well-known StackMatch. It has a new type of 180-degree phase shifter and covers 160 through 6 meters. Finally, if you need to consolidate some of the switching functions in the shack, check out the Universal Controller. One version works with the StackMaster, as well. Jay and the folks at Array Solutions have been busy this summer! The new KD9SV DX-Pedition is an antenna switchbox that swaps multiple receive antennas for radios without an external receive antenna, such as the TS-850 or IC-706. It supports full QSK keying as well as PTT or VOX modes and will integrate nicely with an amplifier. It's available from Radioware at http://www.radio-ware.com/. (Thanks, John K9UWA) Hamcalc users will be glad to know that Hamcalc68 has just been released (Oct 10) and can be downloaded from http://cq-amateur-radio.com/. The link is at the lower left-hand corner of the page. This is a great software package - very useful stuff. (Thanks, Murph VE3ERP) N3FJP's Illinois State QSO Party Log 1.0 and November Sweepstakes Contest Log 3.7 are now available. These programs can be downloaded from: http://www.n3fjp.com/. The November Sweepstakes Contest Log 3.7 has been updated for the new Northwest Territories abbreviation. This upgrade is free to registered users. From the bookshelf, I got a heads-up from Mike K0YO about a "nicely written book by Jill Jonnes about the race to electrify the world. Big money, super talent, and some great history on how we arrived with QRO AC power." Another recommendation came from Rick KC8AON about a book on Charles Steinmetz called, "The Man Who Tamed Lightning" by Floyd Miller. Steinmetz was the genius that led the way to effective transmission of power. Out of print, but possibly available through libraries or old bookstores, you can read these by candlelight during the next power outage while the BPL salesmen try to turn the lights back on. In case you missed it, WRTC2006 will be held in Brazil. The competition will be in Florianopolis, capital of the Santa Catarina State in Southern Brazil. Like other World Radiosport Team Championships, this is open to everyone, competitor and spectator alike. Talk to someone that's gone to one and you'll be convinced to start saving your pocket change for a mid-summer trip to South America. Congratulations to Oms PY5EG and all the Brazilian hams on taking up the WRTC banner. I wouldn't miss it! To check out Florianopolis, browse to http://www.uoregon.edu/~sergiok/brasil/florianopolis.html - in English or http://www.florianopolis.sc.gov.br/ - the official city Web site in Portuguese. Some nice photos of the city and surrounding area can be found at: http://www.abn.com.br/fotosflorianop.htm. (Thanks, Don W7NG) Get ready, get set, GO! CQ WW SSB is this weekend and new country files (current through 16 October) have been uploaded to http://www.k1ea.com/cty/. Please read RELEASE.TXT for installation instructions. (Thanks, Jim AD1C) While we're on the subject of WW SSB, with more congestion expected on 20-meters, please, please, please give the Maritime Mobile Service Net on 14.300 a wide berth, meaning keep your dial frequency outside of 14.297 to 14.303. The good manners exhibited last year were noticed and favorably commented upon by the net managers. Can we make it two years in a row? RESULTS AND RECORDS Look for the Field Day write up to be available on-line soon. DX contest and RTTY Roundup plaques are in shipping, as well, so watch for a big package in your mailboxes. (Thanks, Dan N1ND) Logs received for Washington State Salmon Run are posted at http://www.wwdxc.org/salmonrun. All electronic logs received through Oct 15th and paper logs through Oct 14th have been posted. For those of you active on VHF and up, Al Ward W5LUA keeps the DX Records up to date at http://www.ntms.org/DXRecords.htm. Even if you're not active on those bands, it's an interesting read and mind-blowing in some cases. (Thanks, Paul K7CW) TECHNICAL & TECHNIQUE Insulating a tower base is not a trivial job, but Max Gain Systems "Antenna Mart" webpage (http://www.mgs4u.com/catalog/) shows some insulating kits for Rohn 25 and 45G sections. (Thanks, Steve KZ9G) Secrets of the Dancing Sweepstakes Masters - far too voluminous to relay here - have been posted by Tree N6TR, promethean professor of post-prandial performances on certain November weekends. If you would like to improve your Sweepstakes scores (and who wouldn't) here's how to find these gems. Log on to http://www.contesting.com/ and click on "CQ-Contest" under "Contest List Archives". Select "2003-10" and then enter "Secrets N6TR" into the search window. Enjoy! Also on the subject of Sweepstakes, N6TR and K5TR have recently uncovered some audio files used by one of the old contest clubs to help improve their performance during the SS. Many great secrets are demonstrated in these recordings. They are required listening to anyone who is serious about competing. Browse on down to http://www.kkn.net/~k5tr/nccc-tapes.html. (Thanks, Tree N6TR and George K5TR) To submit contest logs to Logbook of the World, you may be looking to convert Cabrillo formatted files to ADIF. Try WLOGCONV by KA5WSS, a free log conversion utility available at http://www.qsl.net/ka5wss. The Windows version seems to work best. (Thanks, Zack W9SZ) VHF contesters - here is a beam heading and distance calculator between grids that runs on any Palm OS PDA - http://nlrs.dropboxone.net/W0JT/Palm_GridLocator/GridLocator.htm. (Thanks, Lynn N7CFO) Propagation over the polar paths can be affected by aurora. Perhaps it's more correctly said that the presence of aurora is an indicator for other processes that affect propagation. At any rate, the "Aurora Activity Level" can be observed here on the Web site http://sec.noaa.gov/pmap/index.html. Click "recent data plots" at http://sec.noaa.gov/pmap/Plots.html to see data for the recent past. (Thanks, Tom W8JI and Bill W4ZV) Here's something fun for Halloween - find out yer pirate name at http://www.fidius.org/quiz/pirate.php. Arrrrgh, matey! CONVERSATION "You're Five by Nine, But What Did You Say?" What got me thinking about this is last week's announcement that the 2006 World Radiosport Contest will be held in Brazil. At the past two WRTC's, held in Slovenia and Finland, it made the event a lot more fun to learn a few words of the host language. It also made it a lot easier to order beer (Cerveja in Brazil), always a necessary survival skill while abroad. It's time to start brushing up on my skimpy Portuguese! Eric K3NA points out that by learning just two words a day, you'll have over 2000 by the time you head south. But why just for WRTC? We rack up DX contacts all the time. With our powerful transmitters, razor-sharp beams, and exquisitely sensitive receivers, world-wide communications has never been easier. Just load the current ionospheric data into the propagation prediction program, spin the dial to the indicated frequencies, aim the antenna and bingo! You're Q-5 in the far-flung Isles of Langerhan or Tierra del Fuego! Making the contact is one thing, but making a connection is another. English is a popular second language around the world, but conversational English capability is not as widespread as a North American might hope. Such capabilities on our part in languages other than English is even more uncommon. I spreche ein bisschen Deutsch, but not enough to have much of an actual discussion. Hams are great makers of contacts and, I believe, would like to be better communicators, so what can you do, short of ordering the latest educational package from Berlitz? It would certainly be nice to have a "ham radio" phrasebook. Only recently I discovered, thanks to Bob N7XY, just such a gem and free for the downloading. It is the "Radio Amateur's Conversation Guide," by OH1BR and OH2BAD. Written in the 1980's and currently out of print, it contains various phrases common to ham radio communications in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish Portuguese, Russian, phonetic Russian and Japanese. There is an electronic version to download from http://www.qsl.net/k8zt/racg/racg.html. I understand that Joe K3CHP has also published a small book with ham sentences in 54 languages, all the way from Afrikaans to Zulu each in its own alphabet. Over 2500 copies have been sold world-wide. A few are still available from the author at k3chp@erols.com. Having a handy phrase book near the radio means that you can try communicating in a language not your own. This certainly makes for a more memorable QSO. While you're at it, pick up one of the excellent small desk atlases and add a few tabs to the various continents and countries. It's easy to learn the words for "river" or "lake" or "mountain" in a number of languages and everyone enjoys hearing, "I see just where you are!" from the other end. Now - here's a proposal. Most of us have a computer running when we're at the rig. The computer can change bands for us, point the antenna, log the QSO, and print the QSL. Why not use the computer to help us actually do some communicating, instead of just contacting? Since from the prefix of the call sign we know the country, the prefix also gives us a pretty good idea of what the primary language is in that part of the world. If we can automatically display our contact's sunrise and sunset times to the minute, how about using the same table lookup software to indicate the language? Even better, since we have books and Web sites that tell us what typical ham sentences are in different languages, why not create a "pop-up" window that would show us those sentences? This would be an excellent addition to the logging program we use in the shack all the time. If the sentences could be edited with a text editor, then we could be adding to our store of sentences all the time! With a little pop-up travel guide on our screens, it can only help us to open wider our privileged window on the world. 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/
