Contester's Rate Sheet for September 22, 2004
*********************** Contester's Rate Sheet 22 September 2004 *********************** Edited by Ward Silver N0AX SUMMARY o California Steamin' - CQP on Oct 2-3rd, plus Arkansas and Texas QSO Parties o 222 and 432 MHz Fall Sprints o Oceania DX and CQ WW RTTY Contests o BBC Documentary 'Unsung Heroes' o Sticky Bearings and Sticky Tape o On the Road Again BULLETINS o No bulletins this issue. BUSTED QSOS o A golden issue last time! ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICES FOR 22 SEPTEMBER TO 5 OCTOBER 2004 Logs are due for the following contests: September 26 - North American Sprint, SSB , email to: ssbsprint@ncjweb.com , paper logs and diskettes to: Jim Stevens, K4MA, 6609 Vardon Ct, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 USA September 27 - TOEC WW Grid Contest, CW , email to: TOEC.contest@pobox.com , paper logs and diskettes to: TOEC, Box 178, S-831 22 Ostersund, Sweden September 27 - YO DX HF Contest , email to: yodx_contest@hamradio.ro , paper logs and diskettes to: YO DX HF Contest, PO Box 22-50, R-71100 Bucharest, Romania September 27 - Ohio QSO Party , email to: logs@oqp.us , paper logs and diskettes to: Ohio QSO Party, c/o Jim Stahl, K8MR, 30499 Jackson Rd, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022-1730, USA September 30 - Keyman's Club of Japan Contest , email to: kcjlog@freeml.com , paper logs and diskettes to: Yasuo Taneda, JA1DD, 279-233 Mori, Sambu-town, Sambu, Chiba 289-1214, Japan September 30 - SEANET Contest , email to: seanet2004@rast.or.th , paper logs and diskettes to: Ray Gerrard HS0ZDZ, PO Box 69, Bangkok Airport Post Office 10212, Thailand September 30 - Hawaii QSO Party , email to: kh6j@karc.us , paper logs and diskettes to: Hawaii QSO Party, P.O. Box 8960788, Wahiawa, HI 96786-0788, USA September 30 - AGCW Straight Key Party , email to: htp@agcw.de , paper logs and diskettes to: Friedrich W. Fabri, DF1OY, Moselstrasse 17b, D-63322 Roedermark-Urberach, Germany October 3 - SARL VHF/UHF Contest , email to: admin@sarl.org.za , paper logs and diskettes to: VHF/UHF Contest, PO Box 1721, Strubensvallei 1735, South Africa October 4 - Russian RTTY WW Contest , email to: contest@radio.ru , paper logs and diskettes to: Russian RTTY WW Contest, Radio Magazine, Seliverstov per. 10, Moscow 107045, Russia October 4 - ARCI QRP SK Memorial Sprint , email to: wb5khc@2hams.net , paper logs and diskettes to: Tom Owens, WB5KHC, Attn: QRP SK Memorial Sprint, 1916 Addington St, Irving, TX 75062-3505, USA October 5 - DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest (Sep) , email to: df5bx@darc.de , paper logs and diskettes to: Werner Ludwig, DF5BX, PO Box 1270, 49110 Georgsmarienhuette, Germany 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 RTTY DX Contest--sponsored by CQ Magazine from 0000Z Sep 25 - 2400Z Sep 26. Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters. Categories: SOAB (LP, HP>150W), SOSB, Assisted (AB only), MS (LP, HP), M2, MM. Exchange: RST + CQ Zone (W/VE stations also send state/province). QSO Points: own country--1 pt, different country, same continent--2pts, diff. cont.--3pts. Score: QSO points x S/P/C (incl. WAE countries) + CQ Zones counted once per band. For more information: http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/. Logs due 29 Oct in Cabrillo format to rtty@cqww.com. Scandinavian Activity Contest-- SSB--sponsored by Sveriges Sändareamatörer (SSA) from 1200Z Sep 25 - 1200Z Sep 26. 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@ssa.se or to SACCW or SACSSB, Jan-Eric Rehn, SM3CER, Lisatået 18, SE-863 32 Sundsbruk, Sweden. Arkansas QSO Party--CW/SSB/PSK31--sponsored by K1ARK, from 1400Z Sep 25 - 0600Z Sep 26 and 1800Z Sep 26 - 0200Z Sep 27. Frequencies (MHz): CW--3.550, 7.050, 14.050, 21.050, 28.050; Phone--3.980, 7.260, 14.260, 21.360, 28.360, 145-147; PSK--3.580, 7.070, 14.070, 21.080, 28.120. Categories: SO, MS, Mobile, HP, LP, QRP, PSK. Exchange: RST, state or province or AR county, DX stations send "DX." QSO Points: PSK--3 pts, CW--2 pts, SSB--1 pt. Mobile stations may be worked each time the station changes counties. Score: QSO points x AR counties (AR station also count states and provinces) + bonuses for QSOs with W5YM (25 pts per band/mode) and AR ARRL-affiliated club stations (10 pts counted only once). For more information: http://www.arkan.us/. Logs due 30 days after the contest to k1ark@arrl.net or to Bill Smith, K1ARK, 3032 Strawberry Drive, Fayetteville, AR, 72703. Texas QSO Party--CW/Phone/Digital--sponsored by Northwest Amateur Radio Society (NARS), 1400Z Sep 25 - 0200Z Sep 26 and 1400Z - 2000Z Sep 26. Frequencies (MHz): CW--40 to 60 kHz above bottom of band, Phone--25 kHz above edge of General segments and 28.300 - 28.500, VHF--50.2, 144.2. Categories: Fixed Stns--SO-Mixed (HP and QRP <5W CW, <10W Phone), SO-CW, MO; Mobile (Texas Only)--SO-Mixed, SO-CW, MO. Exchange: RST + TX County or S/P/C or MM region. QSO Points: Phone--2 pts, CW/Digital--3 pts. Score: QSO points x TX counties (TX stations add S/P/C). Multipliers counted only once. Add 500 points for every 5 counties from which a specific TX Mobile is worked. Texas mobiles add one thousand (1000) points to final score for every county activated with five or more QSOs. For more information: http://www.txqp.org/. Logs due 31 Oct to k5cx@arrl.net or Texas QSO Party Committee, 16880 East Maglitto Cir, Tomball, TX 77377-8414. Alabama QSO Party--CW/Phone--sponsored by the Central Alabama HF/VHF Contesting Club, 1800Z - 2400Z Sep 27. Frequencies: 160 - 70 cm, SSB, CW, and FM contacts count separately. Categories: SO, MS, Rover, QRP(< 5W), LP (< 200 W), HP. Exchange: RST and S/P/C. Work Rover stations in each county. QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Scoring: AL stations--QSOs x states + AL counties + DXCC entities counted once per band. Non-AL stations--QSOs x AL counties counted once per band. For more information: http://web.dbtech.net/~dxcc/page0004.htm. Logs due 30 days after the contest to dxcc@dbtech.net or Alabama QSO Party, 4525 Eastern Hills Lane, Cottondale, AL 35453. Classic Exchange (CX), 1300Z Sep 26 - 0700Z Sep 27, concurrent with AM International AM Discovery Weekend whose QSOs count for CX score. 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: 3.870, 7.280, 14.270, 21.370, 28.490. Exchange RST, QTH, RX, TX, AMI number if available (AM only). QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Total Score: QSO's times (number of TX and RX worked + S/P/C counted once per band) times CX multiplier (Age of all RX TX and XCVR used for at least 3 QSOs.). For more information: http://qsl.asti.com/CX Send logs to wq8u@arrl.net or J.D. "Mac" Mac Aulay, WQ8U, 6235 Wooden Shoe Lane Centerville, OH 45459. Tesla Cup--CW/SSB--sponsored by the Tesla Contest Club from 0000Z Sep 25 - 2400Z Sep 25 (CW) and 0000Z Sep 26 - 2400Z Sep 26 (SSB). Frequencies: 160 - 10 meters. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, SO-Assisted, MS, MM, Club/Team, with QRP (<15 W), LO (<150 W), and HP in all categories. Exchange: 4-digit grid square. QSO Points: SSB--2 pts, CW--3 pts. Work stations once each 24-hour period. Total Score: QSO Points x number of different first three digits of grids (i.e. - FN2, CN8) counted once per band. For more information: http://www.computeradio.us/TeslaCup.htm. Logs due 14 days after the contest to k3bu@aol.com or Tesla Cup, Box 282, Pine Brook, NJ 07058. PSK Rumble (The Fall Classic)--sponsored by Troy ARA, 0000z - 2400z Oct 2. 80-6 meters. Exchange: name and S/P/C. Categories: Normal (>100 W), Great (<20 W), Super (<5 W), Novice, SWL. Score: QSO's x (W/VE/JA/VK call areas + DXCC entities counted once per band). For more information: http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_rumble_rules.html. Logs due 30 Oct via online score submission form at http://www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_rumble_score.html. Oceania DX Contest -- supported by the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) and New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART), PHONE 0800Z Oct 2 - 0800Z Oct 3 (CW is 0800Z Oct 9 - 0800Z Oct 10). Frequencies: 160-10 meters, work VK/ZL/Oceania stations only. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MS, MM, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) and serial number. QSO Points: 160--20 pts, 80--10 pts, 40--5 pts, 20--1 pt, 15--2 pts, 10--3 pts. Score: QSO points × WPX prefixes counted once per band. For more information: http://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/. Logs due Nov 7 in Cabrillo format to ph@oceaniadxcontest.com (CW to cw@oceaniadxcontest.com) or paper logs (if less than 50 QSOs) to Oceania DX Contest, c/o Wellington Amateur Radio Club Inc., PO Box 6464, Wellington 6030, New Zealand. EU Autumn Sprint--SSB, sponsored by the EU Sprint Gang, 1500Z - 1859Z Oct 2 (CW is 1500Z - 1859Z Oct 9). Frequencies: 80-20 meters, stations outside EU work EU stations only. SOAB category only. Exchange: your call, serial number, name, other station's call. Special QSY rule--see Web site. Score is number of QSOs. For more information: http://www.qsl.net/eusprint. Logs due 15 days after the contest to eusprint@kkn.net or Paolo Cortese, I2UIY, PO Box 14, I-27043 Broni (PV), Italy (CW logs to Karel Karmasin, OK2FD, Gen Svobody 636, CZ-674 01 Trebic, Czech Republic). California QSO Party--CW/SSB, sponsored by the Northern California Contest Club, 1600Z Oct 2- 2200Z Oct 3. Frequencies: 160-2 meters. Categories: SOAB (HP >200W, LP, QRP <5W), MS, MM, CA County Expedition, Mobile, Novice/Tech, Club, School. SO work 24 hours only. New 10-minute rule for MS allows unlimited band changes. CW QSOs in CW subbands, except 160. Work CA stations in each county. Stations on a county line count as a single contact for QSO points, but both counties can be claimed as mulitpliers. Exchange: serial number and S/P/C or CA county. QSO Points: CW--3 pts, Phone--2 pts. Score: QSO points × CA counties (max 58) or CA stations multiply by states and VE call areas (max 58). For more information: http://www.cqp.org/. Logs due by Nov 15 to cqp@contesting.com or to Alan Maenchen, AD6E, 3330 Farthing Way, San Jose, CA 95132. RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest--SSB, sponsored by the RSGB, 0700Z - 1900Z Oct 3 (CW is 0700Z - 1900Z Oct 17). Frequencies: 15 and 10 meters (see Web site for band plan), work UK stations only. Categories: UK and DX SO or MS (Open, Restricted, QRP <10W) and SWL (Open and Restricted). Exchange: serial number and UK district. QSO Points: 3 pts/QSO. Score QSO points x UK districts (UK stations use DXCC entities plus JA, W, VE, VK, ZL and ZS call areas) counted once per band. For more information: http://www.rsgbhfcc.org/. Logs due Nov 17 to 2128ssb.logs@rsgbhfcc.org (2128cw.logs@rsgbhfcc.org for CW logs) or to RSGB--G3UFY, 77 Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 7AF, England. VHF CONTESTS VHF Fall Sprints--CW/Phone/Digital--sponsored by the Southeastern VHF Society 222 MHz--7-11 PM Sep 28; 432 MHz--7-11 PM Oct 6. Fixed and Rover categories. Exchange: Grid Square. QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Score is QSO Points x Grid Squares, score each sprint separately. Rovers all grids worked from each grid. For more information: http://svhfs.org/fall_sprint_rules.htm. Logs must be emailed or postmarked within four weeks of the contest. 222 MHz logs to k4sz@arrl.net or Bob Lear K4SZ, PO Box 1269, Dahlonega, GA 30533. 432 MHz logs to w4kxy@arrl.net or Jim Worsham W4KXY, 1915 Oak Wind Lane, Buford, GA 30519-6766. NEWS AND PRESS RELEASES The VP5X team has picked another young ham to join them for CQWW SSB in October. This year's winner is Filipe CT1ILT. Details are on the team's home page at http://www.vp5x.com/. (Thanks, David KY1V) Why gear up for the California QSO Party (Oct 2 and 3)? The large turn-out and fun for everyone! The "goodies" such as signed certificates for everyone who makes 100+ QSOs, the most plaques of any contest, and the t-shirts! Maybe it's the club competition? The CQP sponsor NCCC will host contest practice sessions on Sept 30 and Oct 1. All of the CQP records are available at http://www.cqp.org/Records.html, as well. (Thanks, Marc W6ZZZ) CW Sprint Manager, Tree N6TR provides some guidance on using that second radio in the NA Sprints and the Special QSY Rule. The part of the rule we're interested in states,"If any station solicits a call (by sending CQ, QRZ?, "going up 5 kHz," or any other means of soliciting a response, including completion of a QSO where the frequency was inherited), they are permitted to work only one station in response to that solicitation. They must thereafter move at least 1 kHz before calling another station, or at least 5 kHz before soliciting other calls." So, let's say you call CQ on 14035 and worked W1AW. After that QSO is completed, you call CQ on 7035 and N6TR comes back. It's possible to call CQ on 20 with the second radio BEFORE your QSO with N6TR is complete, while you are receiving the exchange from N6TR. Tree notes that you are NOT permitted to call CQ on the second band until the current QSO is completed - meaning that both exchanges are received and acknowledged. A fine point, but with quite a few SO2R stations reporting more than 100 band changes, it is an issue. If you're wondering which software to use for the EU Sprints, DL2NBU's program has been written specially for this contest. It is very much like K1EA's CT, and it is FREE for download from the new Eu Sprint web site http://www.qsl.net/eusprint. SD by EI5DI, TRLog by N6TR, WriteLog, N1MM Contest Logger (and many others) all support the Eu Sprint, and if you prefer to log on paper, that's fine as well. The sponsors accept any fixed column ASCII file, too. (Thanks, EU Sprint Committee) The BBC's documentary on Amateur Radio's involvement in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, "Unsung Heroes", is available on the BBC's archives until October 11th. "Through moving interviews, sensitive use of ham radio transmissions and some harrowing accounts, 'Unsung Heroes' reveals the little-known story of the 9/11 ham radio operators who provided vital communication networks for the rescue agencies," the BBC program listing says. "Hams, often mocked for their obsessive hobby, believe that September 11th became Amateur Radio's finest hour. Stephen Evans, the BBC's North American Business Correspondent, witnessed the attacks that day and meets with ham operators who witnessed the terrorist attacks or lost friends and relatives on September 11th and still helped to support the search-and-rescue operation." Mark Phillips, KC2ENI/G7LTT, says the program, produced by Kate Bissell, features N2NOV, KF2EO, KE2UN, AB2IZ, "and a whole host of others," including himself. It was recorded during the last week of June. The program is also available in MP3 format on Phillips' Web site http://www.g7ltt.com/audio-files/911r4.mp3. (Thanks, Jim W6EU) Luc PY8AZT corrects my miniscule Portuguese. "In good Portuguese, 'Please QSY' should be 'Por favor, QSY'. Luc contributed this issue's vocabulary lesson: Water = Agua ("ah-gwa") Food = Comida ("coh-MI-da") Beer = Cerveja ("cer-VAY-zha") RESULTS AND RECORDS Certificates for the 2003 EME and 2004 RTTY contests have been mailed. The log handling robot for the September VHF QSO Party was set and tested, with a date problem being detected and corrected. (Thanks, Dan N1ND) WAEDC CW Claimed Scores have now been published on http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/fedcw4c.htm. The list of Received Logs for SSB is also available at: http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/fedcw4s.htm. If you have any problems, contact Ben DL6RAI directly at dl6rai@dxhf.darc.de. Final results of the OK-OM DX Contest 2003 are available at http://www.okomcc.radioamater.cz/?page=results&action=contest_detail&id=3. In case of any questions, please email ASAP to OKOMDX@CRK.cz. Rules of the OK-OM DX Contest 2004 are not changed and are on http://okomdx.crk.cz/. When you send your log, please check that the data contains SENT EXCHANGE. (Thanks, Martin OK1FUA) TECHNICAL With most new radios going "full digital" as much as possible, the new technology is something we all need to follow. If you're really interested in Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS), the latest issue of Analog Devices' "Analog Dialogue" is on DDS and can be read at http://www.analog.com/library/analogDialogue/index.html. While you're there, browse through the archives and the "Potpourri" assortment of links. Analog aficionados should have this site bookmarked. Mounting antennas on crank-up towers is not easy, except at the top. However, Rick N6RK notes that, "you can get ring rotators that mount via pegs that insert into the top of an intermediate section since the vertical tubes of most crankups are hollow." You can also homebrew a swinging-arm version for lighter antennas. The key it to take advantage of the hollow tower legs. Sticky bearings in tuning capacitors, switches, and other electronic controls can be vexing. Dale WC7S says that Lubriplate (used in all sorts of consumer electronics and sporting goods) works well if the environment isn't dusty and graphite is OK in the presence of dust. David N0YMV suggests some of the products at http://www.nyelubricants.com/lubenotes.htm. Stuart K5KVH also notes that bearings on any machine must be lubricated immediately after cleaning to avoid scratching or damaging the unlubricated surfaces. It's a wrap! Jerry K3BZ reports that Waytek (http://www.waytekwire.com/) has a number of Self-Fusing Silicone Tape products in different colors. Cost appears to be under $10 per roll and should be available at your local home improvement store. Other possible vendors include Gardner and Tommy Tape. This is a good way to seal those connectors and cables against the coming winter weather. Ever wondered where key clicks REALLY come from? Well, gird your mathematical loins and download W9CF's paper from http://fermi.la.asu.edu/w9cf/articles/click/index.html. It clearly points out the origin of signal bandwidth with rise and fall times. Also, the difference between the bandwidth of a dit with an exponential rise and one with an error function rise is shown. For those who prefer simpler discussions, W8JI's page (http://www.w8ji.com/) has a nice discussion with recordings of various transceivers click and clickless keying. (Thanks, Jim KK6MC/5) CONVERSATION On the Road Again This past weekend, I swapped plans for a Salmon Run (WA QSO Party) camping trip to remote Ferry and Stevens Counties for another mobile adventure around the state. The weather forecast made sitting at an abandoned campground in the cold rain sound rather unappealing. A warm, dry car full of radios seemed ever so much more attractive. Since I was already planning on taking KD7DQO back to college in Grant County on Friday, it was an easy call. After checking into a suitably cheesy hotel in Ephrata, WA that Friday afternoon, I moseyed up to a nearby county line (Douglas/Grant) and surveyed my starting location for Saturday, perched on a ridge overlooking, well, everything as far as the western slope of the Rockies a couple hundred miles distant. Thunderstorms were blowing through to the NE, but I could tell this would be a good QTH in the morning. I spent the rest of the evening getting the car ready, checking the Hamstick tuning, and plotting my route. If you've never done a mobile run in your state's QSO Party, I heartily recommend it! You will see things you've never seen and go places you've never, ever been. We're all so busy rushing back and forth on the Interstates that the byways of state and county roads are too frequently ignored. What better reason than a miniature DX-pedition could you have for a backroads ramble? First, get yourself a book of the state's topographic maps. My favorite is the DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer series (http://www.delorme.com/atlasgaz/default.asp) that give you a closeup look at the state's topography. This is not your basic gas-station map. These are detailed, high-resolution maps that show everything down to nearly jeep trail size. (The Washington maps are 30 min of latitude by 30 min of longitude at a scale of 1:150,000.) They show county lines, campgrounds, points of interest like radio facilities, and other stuff guaranteed to get you counting the miles. Second, set up your gear for safe and reliable operation. If you have a radio already installed in the car, truck, or RV, you probably are a veteran. (So take a new operator along!) If you don't, you can do a temporary installation, but be SURE that your gear won't go flying when you hit that cow path pothole or discover that the warning arrow on that curve really does mean "30 mph". There are a number of good books on mobile operation worth an evening's read. Keep it simple on your first couple of times out and don't cut the odds in Murphy's favor any more than they already are! Third, plan to have fun. If you haven't done this before, go with a friend to share the driving chores and navigation. Plan your route, get your logging supplies ready, pack your kit bag and hit the trail! State QSO parties encourage mobiles and the fixed-station participants love to follow your progress. The County Hunters love to put a new county or county line in the log on their nets. Every time you cross over the line, you're fresh meat and have a whole new pileup waiting. Check the sponsor's Web site to see if there are any in-state round table times, activity hours, or other fun-enhancing tips. Did I have fun this past weekend? You bet I did! 900+ miles later, I had activated 17 counties and made over 700 QSOs with a 100-watt FT-847 and a batch of Hamsticks. I got marvelously hosed in the very-rural SW corner of Whitman County when I discovered that the Little Goose Dam crossing of the Snake River was closed to automobile traffic. I drove the entire length of the Columbia River Gorge and slept in the parking lot of the Stonehenge replica. I went through some wonderfully sleepy little towns in the wheat country of the Palouse and discovered why "Hammer Grade Road" got its name. At what cost? Four tanks of gas and coffee, a ferry ticket home, one night in a cheap hotel, and a cooler full of road grub. I'm already plotting next year's run. 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
