 March 29, 2023 Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE | |
In this Issue:
Upcoming Contests - Things to Do Upcoming State QSO Parties For those of you who enjoy state QSO parties, here are some upcoming events that might be of interest to you. You can also find more details in the Contests section. April 1 - 2: April 8 - 9: SP DX Contest The biggest operating event of the year in Poland, the SP DX Contest begins at 1500 UTC on Saturday, April 1, 2023 and concludes at 1459 UTC on Sunday, April 2. Over 1,000 Polish stations will be on the air operating both CW and SSB. For current rules and to upload your log after the contest, visit https://spdxcontest.pzk.org.pl. Please note that logs can no longer be submitted via email. Logs are due by April 16, 2023, 2359 UTC. Florida State Parks on the Air The Florida State Parks on the Air event begins at 1400 UTC on Saturday, April 1 and concludes at 2200 UTC on Sunday, April 1. The event runs for 8 hours each day, for a total of 16 hours. Most Florida State Parks open at 0800 local time, and close at sunset. Stations will be operating from as many of Florida's 172 state parks, trails, and historic sites as possible, with an emphasis on park-to-park contacts. Stations outside of Florida may work only Florida stations located in a Florida State Park; Florida stations not located within a state park may only contact stations that are operating from inside a Florida state park. For full rules and details, visit http://flspota.org/.
The year-long ARRL Volunteers on the Air event continues, recognizing the support and contributions of ARRL volunteers. Get on the air and make contacts with as many ARRL volunteers or members as possible. There will be week-long activations of portable W1AW/# stations in all 50 states, and in several US possessions/territories. For a schedule of W1AW/# portable operations, see the W1AW Portable Activations Schedule. Be sure to upload your logs to LoTW and check your score online. Check out the full details at http://vota.arrl.org. Bulletins The Missouri QSO Party (MOQP) is coming up the weekend of April 1st and 2nd. This year, be on the lookout for 1x1 special event call signs to spell out SHOWME or MISSOURI for a special certificate. The MOQP is also part of the State QSO Party Challenge, so participants can count their score towards the challenge as well. For more info visit the MOQP home page at https://www.w0ma.org/index.php/missouri-qso-party. Tom Haavisto, VE3CX, reminds us that the 26th annual Ontario QSO Party will be held April 15 - 16. Be on the lookout this year for 4 bonus stations- VA3CCO, VE3CCO, VA3RAC, and VE3ODX. See http://va3cco.com/oqp/index.htm for complete rules. Contest Summary See the "Contests" section below for complete contest information. March 30 March 31 NCCC Sprint April 1
April 3 April 4 April 5
April 6
April 7 April 8
April 9 April 10
April 11 April 12
News, Press Releases, and Special Interest The Steele Vintage Broadcast Microphone Collection at the University of Georgia's Special Collections Library might be of interest to some hams. James U. Steele collected 226 microphones and subsequently donated them to the University's collection. The virtual exhibit can be viewed at https://digilab.libs.uga.edu/scl/exhibits/show/steel_vintage_mics. Sights and Sounds Kevin Thomas, W1DED, posted an interview with CQ Contest Hall-of-Fame inductee and world-class contester, Randy Thompson, K5ZD, on his YouTube channel. You can view the video at https://youtu.be/f27us2HVAgI. Operating Tip After submitting your contest log, it's a good idea to check the event's "logs received" page to make sure that your log has been accepted. Most contest sponsors will send a confirmation email when submitting a log electronically- its a good idea to retain those for future reference. When the contest's "raw scores" are posted, you can also verify that your log was submitted in the correct category. I often receive emails and calls here at ARRL HQ from participants who notice their logs have either not been received or that they are entered in the wrong category. 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. Contests March 30, 2023 - April 12, 2023 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 Test (CWT), Mar 30, 0300z to Mar 30, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 1. CWops Test (CWT), Mar 30, 0700z to Mar 30, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 1. QRP Fox Hunt, Mar 31, 0100z to Mar 31, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Apr 1. NCCC RTTY Sprint, Mar 31, 0145z to Mar 31, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Apr 2. NCCC Sprint, Mar 31, 0230z to Mar 31, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Apr 2. Sasquatch Stomp, Mar 31, 1900z to Apr 1, 0300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + (Sasquatch number/zip code) + name; Logs due: Apr 14. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Mar 31, 2000z to Mar 31, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 2. RSGB FT4 International Activity Day, Apr 1, 0800z to Apr 1, 2000z; FT4; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Signal report + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 2. PODXS 070 Club PSK 31 Flavors Contest, Apr 1, 1000z to Apr 2, 0400z; BPSK31, QPSK31, BPSK63, QPSK63, BPSK125, QPSK125; Bands: 20; 070 members: (state/province/country) + member no., Non-members: (state/province/country) + name; Logs due: Apr 9. EA RTTY Contest, Apr 1, 1200z to Apr 2, 1200z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; EA: RSQ + province, non-EA: RSQ + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 17. Louisiana QSO Party, Apr 1, 1400z to Apr 2, 0200z; CW/Digital, Phone; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; LA: RS(T) + Parish, non-LA: RS(T) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 12. Mississippi QSO Party, Apr 1, 1400z to Apr 2, 0200z; CW, SSB, RTTY, FT4/8; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; MS: RS(T) + county, non-MS: RS(T) + (state/province/country), FT4/8: Signal report + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 30. Missouri QSO Party, Apr 1, 1400z to Apr 2, 2000z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, VHF/UHF; MO: RS(T) + county, non-MO W/VE: RS(T) + (state/province/territory), DX: RS(T) + "DX"; Logs due: May 2. Florida State Parks on the Air, Apr 1, 1400z to Apr 2, 2200z; Any; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; FL Park: park ID, non-FL Park: (state/province), DX: RS(T) + "DX"; Logs due: Apr 16. SP DX Contest, Apr 1, 1500z to Apr 2, 1500z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; SP: RS(T) + 1-character province, non-SP: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 16. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Apr 3, 0000z to Apr 3, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 5. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 3, 1300z to Apr 3, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 6. OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Apr 3, 1630z to Apr 3, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 7. RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW, Apr 3, 1900z to Apr 3, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 4. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 3, 1900z to Apr 3, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 6. ARS Spartan Sprint, Apr 4, 0100z to Apr 4, 0300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: Apr 6. Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Apr 4, 0100z to Apr 4, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Apr 5. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 4, 0300z to Apr 4, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 6. ZL Sprint, Apr 4, 0800z to Apr 4, 0859z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80; RS(T) + Outside Temperature (C); Logs due: Apr 5. Phone Weekly Test, Apr 5, 0230z to Apr 5, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Apr 7. A1Club AWT, Apr 5, 1200z to Apr 5, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Apr 10. CWops Test (CWT), Apr 5, 1300z to Apr 5, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 8. Mini-Test 40, Apr 5, 1700z to Apr 5, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 7. Mini-Test 80, Apr 5, 1800z to Apr 5, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 7. CWops Test (CWT), Apr 5, 1900z to Apr 5, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 8. UKEICC 80m Contest, Apr 5, 2000z to Apr 5, 2100z; SSB; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Apr 5. Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Apr 6, 0000z to Apr 7, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Apr 13. CWops Test (CWT), Apr 6, 0300z to Apr 6, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 8. CWops Test (CWT), Apr 6, 0700z to Apr 6, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 8. SARL 80m QSO Party, Apr 6, 1700z to Apr 6, 1900z; SSB; Bands: 80; RS + Serial No. + Grid Locator or QTH; Logs due: Apr 11. NRAU 10m Activity Contest, Apr 6, 1800z to Apr 6, 2200z; CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10; RS(T) + 6-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 20. SKCC Sprint Europe, Apr 6, 2000z to Apr 6, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Apr 13. NCCC RTTY Sprint, Apr 7, 0145z to Apr 7, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Apr 9. NCCC Sprint, Apr 7, 0230z to Apr 7, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Apr 9. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Apr 7, 2000z to Apr 7, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 9. QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party, Apr 8, 0000z to Apr 8, 0600z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + (state/province/country) + (ARCI number/power); Logs due: Apr 27. JIDX CW Contest, Apr 8, 0700z to Apr 9, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; JA: RST + Prefecture No., non-JA: RST + CQ Zone No.; Logs due: May 9. SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Apr 8, 1200z to Apr 9, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Apr 16. OK/OM DX Contest, SSB, Apr 8, 1200z to Apr 9, 1200z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; OK/OM: RS + 3-letter county code, non-OK/OM: RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 16. IG-RY World Wide RTTY Contest, Apr 8, 1200z to Apr 9, 1800z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + 4-digit year license first issued; Logs due: Apr 14. DIG QSO Party, CW, Apr 8, 1200z to Apr 9, 1100z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; DIG Member: RST + Member No., non-Member: RST; Logs due: May 31. New Mexico QSO Party, Apr 8, 1400z to Apr 9, 0200z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; NM: RS(T) + county, non-NM: RS(T) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 22. EU Sprint, SSB, Apr 8, 1500z to Apr 8, 1859z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name]; Logs due: Apr 23. Georgia QSO Party, Apr 8, 1800z to Apr 9, 2359z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; GA: RST + county, non-GA: RST + (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Apr 24. Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest, Apr 8, 2100z to Apr 9, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, Satellites; RST + ITU Zone No.; Logs due: May 4. WAB 3.5/7/14 MHz Data Modes, Apr 9, 1000z to Apr 9, 2100z; RTTY, PSK31; Bands: 80, 40, 20; British Isles: RS + serial no. + WAB square, Other: RS + serial no. + country; Logs due: Apr 19. Hungarian Straight Key Contest, Apr 9, 1500z to Apr 9, 1600z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No. + Power Code; Logs due: Apr 24. 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, Apr 10, 0000z to Apr 10, 0200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RS(T) + (State/Province/Country) + Member No., Non-member: RS(T) + (State/Province/Country) + Power; Logs due: Apr 12. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Apr 10, 0000z to Apr 10, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 12. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 10, 1300z to Apr 10, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 13. DARC Easter Contest, Apr 10, 1500z to Apr 10, 1730z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40; DL: RS(T) + DOK (or "NM" if not a DARC member), non-DL: RS(T) + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 17. OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Apr 10, 1630z to Apr 10, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 14. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 10, 1900z to Apr 10, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 13. Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Apr 11, 0100z to Apr 11, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Apr 12. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 11, 0300z to Apr 11, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 13. ZL Sprint, Apr 11, 0800z to Apr 11, 0859z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80; RS(T) + Outside Temperature (C); Logs due: Apr 12. NAQCC CW Sprint, Apr 12, 0030z to Apr 12, 0230z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: Apr 15. Phone Weekly Test, Apr 12, 0230z to Apr 12, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Apr 14. A1Club AWT, Apr 12, 1200z to Apr 12, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Apr 17. CWops Test (CWT), Apr 12, 1300z to Apr 12, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 15. Mini-Test 40, Apr 12, 1700z to Apr 12, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 14. Mini-Test 80, Apr 12, 1800z to Apr 12, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 14. CWops Test (CWT), Apr 12, 1900z to Apr 12, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 15. VHF+ CONTESTS VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Apr 5, 1700z to Apr 5, 2100z; FT8; Bands: 144 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 10. 144 MHz Spring Sprint, Apr 10, 1900z to Apr 10, 2300z; Any; Bands: 2; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 24. VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Apr 12, 1700z to Apr 12, 2100z; FT8; Bands: 432 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 17. SEE ALSO: Georgia QSO Party, New Mexico QSO Party, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Missouri QSO Party, Mississippi QSO Party, Louisiana QSO Party, SKCC Weekend Sprintathon. Log Due Dates March 30 March 31
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, it features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint, and QSO Parties. Subscribe to QEX - A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bimonthly, it 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 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 emailing 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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