 November 14, 2018 Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE | ||
IN THIS ISSUE
Practice really does help you get better, and weekly contests, such as the NCCC RTTY Sprint, NCCC CW Sprint, and Phone Fray, are great lower-stakes ways to get in practice before 'main events' occurring on the weekends. In the upcoming two-week interval two of the major contests include the ARRL Phone Sweepstakes, and the CQWW CW Contest. Even casual contesters try to work all 83 section Sweepstakes multipliers in the US and Canada, a "clean sweep." Operators looking for a particular DX entity should check websites listing DX "planned operations" and be on for the CQWW. One such website by NG3K provides a CQWW-specific page. Special prefixes or call signs are sometimes used in contests, and becoming familiar with them beforehand can save time in the contest. 14 Nov - 27 Nov 18 Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section November 14 November 15 November 16 November 17
November 18 November 19 November 20 November 21 November 22 November 23 November 24 November 28 Contests.arrl.org is the new place for everything about ARRL Radio Contests! The new website will organize the information by contest, with single click access to a particular event's rules, results, lists of logs received, and so on. According to The ARRL Letter, "... the previous Contest Results Articles web page, which offers current and historical results dating back some 20 or more years, will be known as the "legacy site" going forward." N1MM Logger+ users: Please upgrade to the latest version if you intend to use the program in the upcoming Phone ARRL Sweepstakes. According to Tom, N1MM: "There is a new version available with improved Sweepstakes parsing." See more information on using N1MM Logger+ in Sweepstakes in the Operating Tip below, and be aware that additional updates to N1MM Logger+ may occur between now and the contest. The Society of Midwest Contesters has announced the 2019 North American Collegiate Championship. In 2018, this contest-within-a-contest ran concurrently with the Phone North American QSO Party (NAQP Phone). New for 2019 is the addition of a RTTY contest, coincident with the 2019 NAQP RTTY. While only college and university stations can compete in the NACC, contacts with them are worth points to NAQP competitors. During the contest NACC competitors will be sending their scores to an online scoreboard, so you can cheer for your favorite. ICOM is the principal sponsor of NACC awards. Release Candidate "RC4" of WSJT-X is available, see the announcement here. The developers urge anyone upgrading to the new version to read the release notes thoroughly, since the upgrade requires operator settings changes and may not work "out of the box" when upgrading from previous versions. This latest version of WSJT-X removes compatibility with earlier versions of the software in certain circumstances. Coinciding with the release of WSJT-X RC4, the WSJT-X development team is having a practice session to help operators become familiar with the software and identify operational issues. From the release notes: "A one-hour FT8 mock contest will be held next week: November 20, 0200-0300 UTC (that's Monday evening, November 19, NA time). Watch for a separate announcement with more details." Jose, CT1BOH tweeted a block diagram of the station setup he'll be using for CQWW CW later this month. Operating as D41CV from the D4C contest station, Jose will be practicing his 2BSIQ (Two Band Synchronized Interleaved QSOs) technique in the contest. If conditions improve, could 3BSIQ be a possibility? Though this furniture is not targeted towards Amateur Radio Operators that build or repair things, when I saw these I thought that they could go a long way to keeping small parts organized. There are some good ideas here, pending some changes to incorporate tools and test equipment. Add a nice rug and it could really tie the ham shack together. Teletype machines, those oil-drinking, paper-breathing beasts of Baudot, originally had green-colored keys, and required occasional mechanical as well as electronic maintenance. Thirty years ago's computers mostly made the mechanical devices obsolete, but the sounds and smells of the old machines live on in some basements, and discussion of state-of-the-lost-art continues on the greenkeys email reflector. Now these oil-electric hybrids have a new yearly event as Jeff, WK6I, announces "Green Key Night" to run concurrently with Straight Key Night, January 1, 0000 to 2359 UTC. See the official announcement for more details. Well-known contester and CQ Contest Hall of Fame member Paul, W0AIH, passed away on October 31. NCJ Editor, Scott, K0MD, penned a tribute to Paul, describing his life and touching on why there's been such an outpouring of emotion from the Amateur Radio and contesting community about his passing. Scott, KA9FOX, has spearheaded an effort to establish a W0AIH Memorial Scholarship fund (to be administered by the ARRL Foundation). According to the GoFundMe page: "On October 31, 2018, the amateur radio world lost one of its best ambassadors, Rev. Paul Bittner, WØAIH, at age 84. Licensed for nearly 70 years, Paul built one of the largest ham radio stations in the world, and for decades, opened it up for others to use and operate. Over the years, Paul also helped countless hams to get on the air, or to improve their stations, by installing their towers and antennas. Paul never passed up an opportunity to help a fellow ham. As a remembrance to this great, giving man, we would like to establish The Rev. Paul E. Bittner, WØAIH, Memorial Scholarship via the ARRL Foundation. This will be a permanent award, with a $1,000 scholarship awarded each year to a deserving young amateur radio operator pursuing higher education (to be used for tuition, books, fees and other educational expenses)." It's not necessary to use the GoFundMe website if you're interested in contributing, instructions are on the website for those that prefer to send a check. Jan, SM3CER is convalescing after a September accident. Consequently the SM3CER Contest Calendar is not current with contest information while Jan focuses on his recovery. Ronnie Bolton, WU4G, writes: "The Central Virginia Contest Club (CVCC) has obtained the club call of W4MYA to honor our long time member, friend, and contester extraordinaire - Bob Morris, who, as you may know, became a SK in August. We hope to continue his legacy of "Run 'em Dude". Bob and his station were instrumental in CVCC's Local Club category successes for many years. His contribution to contesting will be sorely missed." Ronnie is the CVCC President. Pareidolia - After a weekend RTTY contest, you might think you're still hearing RTTY signals in wind noise, random static, or while driving... but there's no RTTY there. This phenomenon is called Pareidolia. Your brain is trying to impose order on random sounds. You are "perceiving a familiar pattern where none exists." Scott, K0MD, Editor of NCJ, was interviewed on Episode 8 of the No Nonsense Amateur Radio Podcast. Pat, N9RV, past editor of NCJ, was interviewed back in March, 2018, by Tim, K3LR. The video was just posted to YouTube. Gerry, W1VE, operating VY1AAA in the ARRL CW Sweepstakes, tweeted how an operator at N0AX stood out from everyone else in the pileup. You can also hear the exchange for yourself. Paul, K9PG, made a video of a drive between a number of WRTC 2018 operating sites in the company of W0AIH, K9NW, and DM9EE. (via SMC and Contest reflectors) Someone at Apple (more likely, their ad agency) knows Morse Code, and isn't afraid to use it.
ARRL CW Sweepstakes is done for this year, and the log deadline has just passed. Many stations used "49" as the contest exchange check in honor of recent Silent Key Paul, W0AIH. From the 3830scores.com reports, the "VI" section appears to have been the rarest. A quick look at the claimed scores indicates that if you're aiming for the top-ten box as a single operator, SO2R is mandatory. Preliminary results for the October 2018 ARRL School Club Roundup have made their way to the web. K9SOU was happy with their score and preliminary win in the Senior High School category and tweeted about it. Raw scores before log checking for the 2018 CQWW SSB Contest have been posted. A contact form is provided to report discrepancies. Preliminary scores for the Scandinavian Activity Contest (SAC) CW 2018 contest are available on the SAC website. Tom, N1MM, CQ Contest Hall of Fame member and the N1MM in N1MM Logger+, provided some logging tips just before the now past ARRL CW Sweepstakes. With a few changes, they're also valid for the upcoming ARRL SSB Sweepstakes:
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are the new wires since more of how we process radio signals, or control equipment is about moving data from one application to another. In version 1.0.7336 of N1MM Logger+ a new feature, "UDP Broadcast for DXers" was added, described as: "... new XML broadcast for external call sign lookup that other applications can use to improve integration. Trigger point in N1MM+: Operator uses the TAB or space key when in the call sign box. The new DXLab N1MM to DXKeeper Gateway takes advantage of it by doing a call sign lookup in all appropriate applications." Besides the explicit use with DXLab, this feature could be used by a DXpedition and appropriate external program to thank donors as they are worked. By exposing integration points each application can concentrate on doing what it does best. N1MM Logger+ doesn't have to add features to support QSLing, award tracking, and QSO uploads, and DX Keeper doesn't have to handle contest features. When Ol' Sol erupts with CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections), there can be real consequences. Power grids can be disrupted, satellites become unreliable or damaged, GPS can degrade. During the Vietnam War in the 1970s, CMEs were likely responsible for the premature detonation of sea mines. The CMEs influenced the Earth's magnetic field to the extent that the munitions were fooled into thinking a ship was passing near. "Antenna Fire" is not something you'd expect at US Amateur power levels, but here near Seattle an FM antenna shared by a number of local stations caught fire last week. One local radio station tweeted a picture of the antenna burning at about the 200 foot level. Troubleshooting is a Process Last week, while getting ready for Phone Sweepstakes, I was reminded in a good way of the importance of having a repeatable process for getting to the root of problems. Members of our team had just assembled and installed a newer model SteppIR antenna to replace one that had been removed from the tower a few months ago. After assembling the beam on the ground, hoisting it to the side-arm rotator, and getting it installed, we found that one element was inoperative, usually indicating a break in the wiring to the antenna. So we started troubleshooting the cable at the shack and worked our way to the tower. We identified an issue with one of the circuits, which culminated with finding a broken wire at a connector in a junction box on the tower. After fixing it and putting it back, we found that the element still didn't work. At this point, we could have assumed that the wiring was all good since we'd just worked on it, and the next step was to bring the antenna back to the ground. Instead, we did the boring, patient thing, and started the troubleshooting process all over again. We found another break in a different wire to the same element. A climb up the tower to inspect the same connector revealed we'd broken an adjacent wire while fixing the first. Had we gone with our gut and removed the antenna, we'd have wasted a bunch of time removing a working antenna from the tower. As we were cleaning up, while we were verbally patting ourselves on the back over our good fortune and diligence, we noticed an internal part of the new antenna that we'd set aside during the construction phase. It was still on the ground, while the rest of the antenna was in the air. So, that antenna is coming down again before the contest after all. That's all for this time. Remember to send contesting related stories, book reviews, tips, techniques, press releases, errata, schematics, club information, pictures, stories, blog links, and predictions to contest-update@arrl.org 73, Brian N9ADG 14 Nov - 27 Nov 2018 An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral is available as a PDF. Check the sponsor's Web site for information on operating time restrictions and other instructions. HF CONTESTS AWA Bruce Kelley 1929 QSO Party, Nov 10, 2300z to Nov 11, 2300z, Nov 17, 2300z to Nov 18, 2300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40m; RST + Name + QTH + Eqpt Year + Transmitter Type (see rules for format) + Input Power(W); Logs due: see rules. VHF+ CONTESTS ARRL EME Contest, Nov 24, 0000z to Nov 25, 2359z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 50-1296 MHz; Signal report; Logs due: December 25. 14 Nov - 27 Nov 2018 November 15, 2018 November 16, 2018 November 17, 2018 November 18, 2018
November 19, 2018 November 20, 2018 November 21, 2018 November 22, 2018 November 23, 2018 November 24, 2018 November 25, 2018 November 26, 2018 November 28, 2018 ARRL Information Click here to advertise in this newsletter, space subject to availability. Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information ARRL membership includes QST, Amateur Radio's most popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month. Subscribe to NCJ - the National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO Parties. Subscribe to QEX - A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects, columns and other items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals. Free of charge to ARRL members: Subscribe to The ARRL Letter (weekly digest of news and information), the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news), Division and Section news -- and much more! ARRL offers a wide array of products to enhance your enjoyment of Amateur Radio. Visit the site often for new publications, specials and sales. Donate to the fund of your choice -- support programs not funded by member dues! Reprint permission can be obtained by sending email to permission@arrl.org with a description of the material and the reprint publication. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest Calendar and SM3CER's Contest Calendar. | ||
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