 February 3, 2021 Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE | |||
IN THIS ISSUE
NEW HF OPERATORS -- THINGS TO DO During the February 6-7 weekend, QSO parties include Vermont, Minnesota, and British Columbia. Participation in these also qualify for the State QSO Party Challenge. For the digitally minded, there's the Mexico International RTTY Contest. New this year is the 36-hour contest period. On Saturday evening in the US, the North American Sprint will provide 4 hours of fast-paced fun. If you're a first-time sprinter, make sure you read the rules and understand the flow of the contest, because it's much different than other contest formats. For DX opportunities, try the EU-DX contest. See their announcement of a distributed multi-multi category in the News section of this newsletter. During the weekdays of February 8-12, look for participants in the ARRL School Club Roundup on phone and CW. The weekend of February 13, the CQ WPX RTTY Contest will be the big deal on the air. New this year is a "distributed multi-multi" category. Don't forget the Thursday evening (US time) NCCC RTTY Sprints to make sure your RTTY configuration is in order. The normally-in-person Orlando Hamcation is the weekend of February 13, and all sessions are available online. There are multiple tracks to suit varied interests, including a Contesting track. 4 Feb - 17 Feb 2021 Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section February 4 February 5 February 6
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Results for the CW Sprint will be published on an accelerated schedule with preliminary line scores available approximately 2 weeks after the contest and the full online results published about one month after the preliminary scores. A condensed version of the full results will then be published in the magazine version of NCJ. The NCJ-sponsored North American Sprint web page with all results, rules, team registration, and other information is at ncjweb.com/north-american-sprint. A new how-to article by N3BB is available as well - look under "Tips" at the lower right of the Sprint web page. 73, Ward N0AX -- NA CW Sprint Manager" Scott, K0MD, writes: "The last hour of the Minnesota QSO Party and the first hour of the NA CW Sprint will overlap this year. We are asking all Minnesota stations to give out a Sprint friendly exchange the last hour, which will be name, three-letter county abbreviation (required by Mn QSP), and a sequential number for the Sprint participants. We hope we can work one another in high numbers!" Minnesota stations in the QSO Party will be calling "CQ MNQP," which indicates to the Sprint participants that these stations are in Minnesota. Ward, N0AX, chimed in (yes, it's true, my email alert is set to a chime): "The members-only First-Class Operators (FOC) contest also overlaps with the MnQP and Sprint. In case anybody gets confused about who is calling which contest." The Amplitude Modulation (AM) mode may seem outdated to most on the ham bands, but the sponsors of the AM Rally on February 6 through February 8 celebrate the traditional and acknowledge and embrace new technology with a variety of entry classes, including one for SDR radios. AM transmitting has certainly gone high-tech in the past few years with the adoption of class E amplifiers and class H modulators. Transformer iron has been traded for silicon. The AM Classic also provides for award certificates for interesting situations such as "most clip leads," and "highest weight to power." There's also the AWA Amplitude Modulation QSO Party on the weekend of February 13. Sponsored by the Antique Wireless Association, the contest scoring favors the use of lower power by assigning more points per contact. Chris, N6WM, reminds that the CQ WPX RTTY Contest is just around the corner on February 13-14, and that there have been some rule changes including the addition of a new operating category: Multi-Transmitter Distributed. "We have a new entry category, and we think it will be interesting and exciting. It is called Multi-Transmitter Distributed. First a disclaimer for the hardcore Multi-multi gang, fret not, this new category is a separate one. Originally conceived to accommodate pandemic restrictions, this implementation if felt to be something that may stick beyond that. With a maximum of five transmitted signals, one per band, and keeping these groups within the same DXCC entity and Zone, it opens new possibilities of fun, team contesting as well as use of stations that otherwise may not be on for the contest. It encourages new strategies as far as communication and planning. Of course, all the traditional categories remain. If this is something that may interest you and some of your friends, check it out!" For those using N1MM Logger+ that want to try the new category, it will pay to read the N1MM Logger+ document entitled "Multi-Computer and Multi-Op Contesting" especially section 4.2 "Distributed Multi-Ops". The N1MM Logger+ team announced in early December, 2020, that Microsoft Windows XP would no longer be supported as of February 1. On January 18, Andy, KU7T reiterated that as of February 1, Windows XP would no longer be supported. An experimental version of N1MM Logger+ was made available on January 29, breaking Windows XP compatibility. By the time you read this, the first weekly build of N1MM Logger+ containing more modern libraries, and removing support for Windows XP, will be mainstream. "Due to the world coronavirus situation, the EUDX Contest Committee has decided to consider, for this first edition, the Multi Multi category as Multi-Transmitter Distributed category. Stations operating in this category may have a maximum of six transmitted signals, one per band at any one time, from stations in different locations (each station = one person). All equipment, including remotely controlled equipment, must be located:
Six bands may be activated simultaneously. Please visit https://eudxcc.altervista.org/eu-dx-contest/ for more information." Efflorescence According to Wikipedia, Efflorescence is the "migration of a salt to the surface of a porous material, where it forms a coating." "Primary efflorescence" in concrete is a normal for concrete subject to moist conditions. When concrete absorbs external salt-laden liquids (such as where salt is used for ice melting), it can start to degrade, with the liquid re-appearing on the surface as "secondary efflorescence." For poured concrete structures (such as tower bases), extensive "secondary efflorescence" may indicate "internal structural weakness" brought on by the "migration or degradation of component materials."
The 2021 Propagation Summit sessions are already available on YouTube. Dave, KE0OG, recently assembled a QCX-Mini transceiver from QRP labs. He's created a video on how he adjusted toroids in the output circtuit to achieve a full 5 watts output. Perhaps he'll be using it in one of the many QCX Monthly QSO parties. Dave, WO2X, put together a YouTube presentation on using Node-RED for ham radio. It "covers getting started with Node-RED and shows how to load new nodes, flows and customization of the dashboard."
Contest sponsors - make sure you're sending announcements of contests and contest results to contest-update@arrl.org! State QSO Parties QSO parties are popular events appealing to a wide spectrum of amateurs, from the most casual operators to those out to "win it all" in their category. There are state QSO parties for nearly every state, with California's CQP proclaiming itself the largest. In addition to, or sometimes instead of their own state-specific events, some states team up for a regional event: the New England QSO Party covers Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and the 7QP covers the traditional geographic area of the seventh call area. Some state QSO parties don't even call themselves the state QSO party: Washington's Salmon Run is a state QSO party in all but the name. For most QSO parties, stations inside the state give out a signal report and county. Stations outside the state supply signal report, and their state. QSO party rules specify what is and is not a multiplier, and there may be special "bonus" stations, and special multiplier stations. Make sure both you and your logging program are up to date with the current QSO party rules if you're at all serious about this. Participants that are beyond casual usually have the list of the state's counties printed out, because counties will be logged using abbreviations. For those that don't live here in Washington, it's a common mistake to mix-up WAH and WHA for WAHKIAKUM and WHATCOM counties. Having a county list at hand makes it much easier. CQing: The call district number in a US call sign doesn't mean the station is actually located in that area, so there's a general "protocol" for calling CQ that's different for in-state versus out-of-state stations. In-state stations calling CQ in a QSO party usually use a message including the event, like "CQ Vermont QSO Party" (CW: "CQ VQP"), while out-of-state stations in a QSO party use a directed message including the state, e.g. "CQ Vermont" (CQ: "CQ VT"). A specific QSO party's rules may have specific suggestions for CQing. For those that enter multiple QSO parties over the year, there's the State QSO Party Challenge in which "each call sign's cumulative score is calculated by totaling up his/her number of reported contacts and multiplying by the number of State QSO Parties (SQP) entered year-to-date. The use of the number of SQPs entered as a multiplier is to encourage radio amateurs to enter more state/province QSO parties." Tucked away on page 17 of the January/February 2021 issue of QEX is an article entitled "Using Plastics for Dielectrics" by Bob, W7SX. Bob provides an overview of the information provided by Dr. David Knight, G3YNH, on his website. If there's one thing that stands out, it's that PVC, fiberglass (GRP), and wood have poor Q characteristics (high loss tangents) at our RF frequencies. Bob suggests that PVC is not a good material to use for coil forms if low loss is a goal. "The wrapping IS the speaker," "Tear and Hear," "It's the roll paper that talks to you!" - if the researchers at the Chemnitz University of Technology need some marketing help for their "lightweight roll-to-roll printed loudspeaker paper" I'm sure we can all help. Seriously though, the researchers took the fabrication of their piezo and polymer single-sheet speakers, and have adopted it to roll paper production. They envision all manner of applications for the lightweight and unconventional sound transducers. Looking for a better way to hold up my tree-supported 80-meter dipole in Pacific Northwest winter storms, I came across these "stainless steel rope clips" from KF7P. Using a thimble and a compression clamp to hold the rope, it looks like it might extend the life of my braided rope ends.
Catching Up Remotely With Lee, WW2DX, Part 2 This is the conclusion of an interview I had with Lee, WW2DX, one of the founders of Remote Ham Radio. The first part was published in the January 20, 2021 issue of the Contest Update. In the first part of the interview, topics included the RHR footprint, the youth program, live streaming, future plans, and DXpeditions. Brian, N9ADG: Is RHR facing competition for land in good radio locations? I've heard of a few people considering property in Maine. Lee, WW2DX: I grew up in the state of Maine. I was licensed at 12, and have fond memories my early radio years in Maine. I didn't know until coming south how awesome propagation is from there. When RHR started and we were just getting our feet wet with locations in the Catskills, I realized that we really need to go to Maine. My mom still lives in Maine. I have a camp up there, which is how it all started in Maine. We found the place in Eastport and that was the beginning. When it comes to Maine and building a station there, A: it's a long way away. And B: the weather can be brutal. If you're willing to travel and you're willing to deal with the maintenance, have at it. It is absolutely work to maintain and keep those stations up there running. But it's awesome operating from there. Brian, N9ADG: Where do you want to be in five years with RHR? Five years ago, would you have known you were going to be here? Lee, WW2DX: It's still exciting, we're still pushing things forward. There's still so much to do and to experiment with and to test. I'm not sure if that'll ever stop. Five years from now? We're moving more towards providing experiences. There will be more outside the US. Brian, N9ADG: RHR as "work" hasn't diminished your interest or your passion for radio -- you seem super energized! Lee, WW2DX: I remember being a kid in Maine, 12 or 13 years old in '87 and I remember I couldn't wait until the weekends when school was out. I had a Drake TR4 and I couldn't wait to turn it on the first thing in the morning, because you couldn't find a clear frequency on 10 meters. It was so awesome. I remember spending my days working the world with a wire in a tree in Maine. I remember thinking, "what if I could figure out a way to make a living doing this?" Fast forward 30 years... I still have that passion, and being able to help others have that same passion is awesome. My interest in the hobby has even gotten stronger. I enjoy the DXpeditions and the technology pieces -- they're right in my wheelhouse. COVID is a bummer for everybody, but we'll get through it, and before you know it we'll be traveling again and going to weird places and setting up antennas and getting strange looks from people! When I was younger I looked up to ON4UN -- I always thought he a real beacon, a true operator. He was always doing the right thing on the air, operating with a high standard. I thought as hams, we should all be that way. It's called amateur, but there are very professional operators out there. It's great to see people make things happen. That's what drives us here -- we just enjoy making it happen. 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 4 Feb - 17 Feb 2021 An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral is available as a PDF. Check the sponsors' website for information on operating time restrictions and other instructions. HF CONTESTS CWops Mini-CWT Test, Feb 4, 0300z to Feb 4, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: February 6. VHF+ CONTESTS See SKCC Sprint Europe, NCCC Sprint Ladder, Vermont QSO Party, F9AA Cup, CW, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, above. 4 Feb - 17 Feb 2021 February 4, 2021 February 5, 2021 February 6, 2021 February 7, 2021 February 8, 2021 February 9, 2021 February 10, 2021 February 11, 2021
February 12, 2021 February 13, 2021 February 14, 2021
February 15, 2021 February 16, 2021 February 17, 2021 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 a choice of one print magazine: QST, the monthly membership journal, or On the Air, ARRL's new bimonthly publication for beginner and intermediate hams. All ARRL members can access all four ARRL magazines -- QST, On the Air, NCJ, and QEX - digitally. 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, | |||
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"The CW (February 6) and RTTY North American Sprint (March 13) will begin ONE HOUR EARLIER at 2300 UTC instead of 0000 UTC! The contests are still 4 hours long, so they will end at 0259 UTC. This change recognizes that 20 meters has been closing at the start of the winter contests. Moving the start earlier by one hour will give contesters in the north and east a much bigger window for 20 meter activity, making the contest more fun for everybody. The new start times in February and March are an experiment and will be evaluated after the contests to see if we want to continue with it. Also note: The September contest start times will not change. The log submission deadline is still 7 days from the end of the contest. All logs must be submitted via the 
Inexpensive power breakout boards are available to match inexpensive server power supplies mentioned a few issues ago. These boards are designed to power crypto-currency mining "rigs", and support a wide range of power supplies up to 1600 watts. The breakout board shown here was available with 2-day delivery from Amazon, and has 12 PCI-E power connectors, power supply on/off, and a voltmeter feature, for under $20. Those PCI-E connectors could be unsoldered, and replaced with Anderson Powerpole-type connectors. Don't forget fusing, since these supplies are capable of many 10s of amperes of current.
