 August 2, 2023 Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE | |
In this Issue:
Upcoming Contests - Things to Do ARRL 222 and Up Distance Contest The ARRL 222 and Up Distance Contest is this weekend, starting at 1800 UTC on Saturday, August 5, and concluding at 1759 UTC on Sunday, August 6. Stations may be contacted on any authorized mode on the 222 MHz through 241 GHz amateur bands. Full rules and contest details are available at www.arrl.org/222-mhz-and-up-distance-contest. Ten Ten International Summer QSO Party
The yearlong ARRL Volunteers On the Air event, recognizing the support and contributions of ARRL volunteers, continues. 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 Rules Changes Announced for ARRL VHF Contests Starting with the 2023 ARRL September VHF Contest, participants in the FM Only category can now count contacts on 902 MHz and 1.2 GHz toward their scores. Previously, only contacts on the 4 lowest VHF bands (50, 144, 222, and 432 MHz) counted toward the scores of participants in this category. These new rules will also become effective for the January and June VHF contests in 2024. See www.arrl.org/september-vhf for rules, entry forms and a complete list of entry categories. Tennessee Contest Group Celebrates 30th Anniversary
To help TCG celebrate their 30th anniversary, participants are encouraged to make 30 contacts with TCG members during the August CW and SSB NAQPs. After the contest, send your logs to k0ej@arrl.net to receive a special certificate. In addition, the highest-scoring participant located outside of Tennessee will win a special prize. - Thanks to Kirk Pickering, K4RO Updates to Popular Contest Software Support ARRL 10GHz and Up Contest Rule Changes To support the recently announced rule changes in the ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest, updates to two popular contest logging software programs have been announced. Version 1.0.9937 of N1MM Logger+ and version 6.6.5 of N3FJP's VHF Contest Log now include support for the rule changes. Participants are encouraged to upgrade their software before the start of the contest. N1MM Logger+ can be downloaded at https://n1mmwp.hamdocs.com/ VHF Contest Log can be downloaded at http://www.n3fjp.com/links-contestlogs.html Contest Summary See the "Contests" section below for complete contest information. August 3 August 4 August 5
August 6 August 7 August 8
August 9
August 10 August 11 August 12
August 13 August 14
August 15 August 16 Sights and Sounds Kevin Thomas, W1DED, posted an interview with Randy Thompson, K5ZD, on his YouTube channel "W1DED in Maine." They discussed Randy's experiences while completing in the 2022 World Radiosport Team Championship, held last month in Bologna, Italy. The interview is available at https://youtu.be/jXLeFusiruY. Jeff Kabel, AA6XA, put together a YouTube video documenting his portable operation in the 2023 ARRL June VHF Contest. The video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/ys1drqUqITY. Results and Records 2023 ARRL January VHF Contest Results The results for the 2023 ARRL January VHF Contest are available at https://contests.arrl.org/janvhf/. The full results article by James Duffey, KK6MC, line scores, and log checking reports are available onthe website. Click on Articles/Line Scores on the left side of the page to view results. Downloadable certificates are available by clicking on Certificates at the top of the page. The North American QSO Party (NAQP) RTTY Contest Manager, Mark Aaker, K6UFO, reports that the preliminary results for the 2023 July NAQP RTTY are now available at http://www.ncjweb.com/current-naqp-rtty-results/. If participants wish to send in photos or stories for the final results, they should send them to him via email at k6ufo at arrl.net. 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 August 3, 2023 - August 16, 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 Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Aug 3, 0000z to Aug 4, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Aug 10. CWops Test (CWT), Aug 3, 0300z to Aug 3, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 5. CWops Test (CWT), Aug 3, 0700z to Aug 3, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 5. NRAU 10m Activity Contest, Aug 3, 1700z to Aug 3, 2100z; CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10; RS(T) + 6-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 17. SKCC Sprint Europe, Aug 3, 2000z to Aug 3, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Aug 10. QRP Fox Hunt, Aug 4, 0100z to Aug 4, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Aug 5. NCCC FT4 Sprint, Aug 4, 0100z to Aug 4, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 6. NCCC RTTY Sprint, Aug 4, 0145z to Aug 4, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Aug 6. NCCC Sprint, Aug 4, 0230z to Aug 4, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Aug 6. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Aug 4, 2000z to Aug 4, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 6. Batavia FT8 Contest, Aug 5, 0000z to Aug 6, 2359z; FT8; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 20. HARC Anniversary QSO Party, Aug 5, 0000z to Aug 6, 2359z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: Any, excluding WARC; RS(T) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 13. 10-10 Int. Summer Contest, SSB, Aug 5, 0001z to Aug 6, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 10; 10-10 Member: Name + 10-10 number + (state/province/country), Non-Member: Name + 0 + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 14. European HF Championship, Aug 5, 1200z to Aug 5, 2359z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + 2-digit year first licensed; Logs due: Aug 7. North American QSO Party, CW, Aug 5, 1800z to Aug 6, 0559z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; NA: Name + (state/DC/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Aug 13. SARL HF Phone Contest, Aug 6, 1400z to Aug 6, 1700z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 11. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Aug 7, 0000z to Aug 7, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 9. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 7, 1300z to Aug 7, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 10. OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Aug 7, 1630z to Aug 7, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 11. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 7, 1900z to Aug 7, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 10. ARS Spartan Sprint, Aug 8, 0100z to Aug 8, 0300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: Aug 10. Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Aug 8, 0100z to Aug 8, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Aug 9. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 8, 0300z to Aug 8, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 10. ZL Sprint, Aug 8, 0800z to Aug 8, 0859z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80; RS(T) + Outside Temperature (C); Logs due: Aug 9. DARC FT4 Contest, Aug 8, 1900z to Aug 8, 2000z; FT4; Bands: 80; DL: RST + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 15. NAQCC CW Sprint, Aug 9, 0030z to Aug 9, 0230z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: Aug 12. Phone Weekly Test, Aug 9, 0230z to Aug 9, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Aug 11. A1Club AWT, Aug 9, 1200z to Aug 9, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Aug 14. CWops Test (CWT), Aug 9, 1300z to Aug 9, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 12. Mini-Test 40, Aug 9, 1700z to Aug 9, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 11. Mini-Test 80, Aug 9, 1800z to Aug 9, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 11. CWops Test (CWT), Aug 9, 1900z to Aug 9, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 12. CWops Test (CWT), Aug 10, 0300z to Aug 10, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 12. CWops Test (CWT), Aug 10, 0700z to Aug 10, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 12. EACW Meeting, Aug 10, 1900z to Aug 10, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; EACW Member: RST + Member No. + Nickname, EA non-Member: RST + Nickname + EA province, non-EA: RST + Nickname + DXCC prefix; Logs due: Aug 12. QRP Fox Hunt, Aug 11, 0100z to Aug 11, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Aug 12. NCCC FT4 Sprint, Aug 11, 0100z to Aug 11, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 13. NCCC RTTY Sprint, Aug 11, 0145z to Aug 11, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Aug 13. NCCC Sprint, Aug 11, 0230z to Aug 11, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Aug 13. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Aug 11, 2000z to Aug 11, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 13. WAE DX Contest, CW, Aug 12, 0000z to Aug 13, 2359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 22. FISTS Saturday Sprint, Aug 12, 0000z to Aug 12, 2359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; FISTS: RST + first name + FISTS No. + (state/province/country), non-FISTS: RST + first name + "0" + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 19. SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Aug 12, 1200z to Aug 13, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Aug 20. SARL Youth QSO Party, Aug 12, 1200z to Aug 12, 1300z; SSB; Bands: 40; RS + age; Logs due: Aug 17. Maryland-DC QSO Party, Aug 12, 1400z to Aug 13, 0400z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2, 432; MDC: entry class + county, non-MDC: entry class + (state/province/country), FT4/8: (see rules); Logs due: Sep 12. Kentucky State Parks on the Air, Aug 12, 1400z to Aug 12, 2200z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; KY Park: park abbreviation, W/VE: (state/province), DX: "DX"; Logs due: Aug 26. SARL HF Digital Contest, Aug 13, 1400z to Aug 13, 1700z; RTTY, PSK31; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 18. 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, Aug 14, 0000z to Aug 14, 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: Aug 16. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Aug 14, 0000z to Aug 14, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 16. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 14, 1300z to Aug 14, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 17. OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Aug 14, 1630z to Aug 14, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 18. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 14, 1900z to Aug 14, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 17. Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Aug 15, 0100z to Aug 15, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Aug 16. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Aug 15, 0300z to Aug 15, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Aug 17. ZL Sprint, Aug 15, 0800z to Aug 15, 0859z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80; RS(T) + Outside Temperature (C); Logs due: Aug 16. Phone Weekly Test, Aug 16, 0230z to Aug 16, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Aug 18. A1Club AWT, Aug 16, 1200z to Aug 16, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Aug 21. CWops Test (CWT), Aug 16, 1300z to Aug 16, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 19. Mini-Test 40, Aug 16, 1700z to Aug 16, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 18. Mini-Test 80, Aug 16, 1800z to Aug 16, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Aug 18. CWops Test (CWT), Aug 16, 1900z to Aug 16, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Aug 19. VHF+ CONTESTS ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest, Aug 5, 1800z to Aug 6, 1800z; Any; Bands: 222 MHz and up; 6-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 20. VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Aug 9, 1700z to Aug 9, 2100z; FT8; Bands: 432 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 14. ARRL EME Contest, Aug 12, 0000z to Aug 13, 2359z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 50 MHz and up; Signal report; Logs due: Dec 26. MMMonVHF/DUBUS 144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest, Aug 12, 0400z to Aug 14, 0359z; Any; Bands: 2; Signal report; Logs due: Sep 15. VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Aug 16, 1700z to Aug 16, 2100z; FT8; Bands: 1.2G; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Aug 21. See also: SKCC Sprint Europe, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Maryland-DC QSO Party Log Due Dates August 3 August 4 August 5 August 6 August 7 August 8 August 9 August 10 August 11 August 12 August 13
August 14 August 15 August 16
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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The Ten Ten (10-10) International QSO Party is this weekend, beginning at 0000 UTC on Saturday, August 5, and concluding at 2359 UTC on Sunday, August 6. The 10-10 QSO parties are a great way for anyone interested in operating on 10 meters to get on the air. All amateurs with operating privileges on the 10-meter band may participate. For rules and other information about Ten Ten International, visit
This year's August North American QSO Parties (NAQPs) mark the 30th
