Contester's Rate Sheet for March 8, 2006
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CONTESTER'S RATE SHEET
8 March 2006
Edited by Ward Silver N0AX
Published by the American Radio Relay League
Free to ARRL members!
(Subscription info at the end of newsletter)
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Happy Birthday Rate Sheet! Can this really be the FOURTH birthday of
the Rate Sheet. It seems like I was struggling to upload issue ---
--- o---- just yesterday. Simultaneously, we approach 14,000
subscribers around the world. Most excellent - spread the word!
SUMMARY
o Growing Fast - the Russian DX Contest
o WI, OK, ID, VA QSO Parties
o Dayton Doin's - Contest Dinner & QRP 4 Days In May
o Radio History of Marconi and Cell Phones
o 2005 California QSO Party Results
o Water Fun In the Back Yard
o A Handy Calculator Surprise
o Phone Contest Troubleshooting Guide
BULLETINS
o No bulletins this issue
BUSTED QSOS
o In case you were wondering what the one-two punch hit, the listing
for the ARRL DX SSB was accidentally omitted. I hope no one forgot
about it! (Thanks, Jim AD1C)
o Franki ON5ZO notifies us that the correct info for submitting UBA
Contest logs is 30 days after the contest to ubassb@uba.be in
Cabrillo format or UBA Contest, Marc Domen ON7SS, Ferdinand
Coosemansstraat 32, B-2600 Antwerpen, BELGIUM.
-oo --- -o - -- oo ooo ooo -o-- --- oo- o-o
LOG DUE DATES - 8 MARCH TO 21 MARCH 2006
o-oo --- --o -oo o o- -oo o-oo oo -o o ooo
March 8 - ARS Spartan Sprint, email logs to: hjohnc@core.com, post
log summary at: http://www.arsqrp.com/ars/ss_log.html, paper logs and
diskettes to: (none). Find rules at:
http://www.arsqrp.com/ars/pages/spartan_sprints/ss_rules_new.html
March 10 - Delaware QSO Party, email logs to: QSOparty@fsarc.org,
paper logs and diskettes to: Contest Chairman - FSARC, Inc., PO Box
1050, Newark, DE 19715, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.fsarc.org/qso.htm
March 10 - CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest, email logs to: wpxrtty@kkn.net,
paper logs and diskettes to: CQ RTTY WPX Contest, 25 Newbridge Road,
Hicksville, NY 11801, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/RTTY%20WPX%20Rules0512705USE.pdf
March 11 - North American QSO Party, RTTY, email logs to: (see rules,
web upload preferred), Upload log at:
http://www.ncjweb.com/naqplogsubmit.php, paper logs and diskettes to:
Shelby Summerville K4WW, 6506 Lantana Ct, Louisville, KY 40229-1544,
USA. Find rules at: http://www.ncjweb.com/naqprules.php
March 11 - Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, email logs to: ru2fm@rol.ru, paper
logs and diskettes to: Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, PO Box 229, Lipetsk
398043, Russia. Find rules at: http://ruqrp.narod.ru/sprint_e.htm
March 12 - British Columbia QSO Challenge, email logs to:
ve7ccy@rac.ca, paper logs and diskettes to: Delta Amateur Radio
Society, c/o Tsawwassen Community Police Station, 1108 56th Street,
Delta, BC V4L 2A3, Canada. Find rules at:
http://www.deltaamateurradio.com/BC%20QSO%20CONTEST.htm
March 13 - KCJ Topband Contest, email logs to: kcjlog@freeml.com,
paper logs and diskettes to: Yoshimasa Namba JA1FCY, 1420-55 Kibara,
Sambu-town, Sambu-gun, Chiba 289-1212, Japan. Find rules at:
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~kcj/e_toprule.htm
March 13 - FISTS Winter Sprint, email logs to: W8PIG@yahoo.com, paper
logs and diskettes to: Dan Shepherd N8IE, 1900 Pittsfield St,
Kettering, Oh 45420, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.fists.org/sprints.html
March 14 - YLRL YL-OM Contest, SSB, email logs to: kc4iyd@yahoo.com,
paper logs and diskettes to: Nancy Rabel Hall KC4IYD, PO Box 775,
North Olmsted, OH 44070, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.ylrl.org/ylcontests.html
March 15 - Minnesota QSO Party, email logs to: mnqp@isd.net, paper
logs and diskettes to: MNQP, 4745-170th Lane NE, Ham Lake, MN
55304-5233, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.w0aa.org/mnqp_2006_rules.htm
March 15 - Louisiana QSO Party, email logs to: laqso@w5yl.org, paper
logs and diskettes to: LAQSO Party, 508 Hache St, Houma, LA 70364,
USA. Find rules at: http://timmy.nicholls.edu/laqso/06laqsorules.pdf
March 15 - AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening, email logs to:
semiautomatic@agcw.de, paper logs and diskettes to: Manager:
Ulf-Dietmar Ernst DK9KR, Elbstrasse 60, D-28199 Bremen, Germany. Find
rules at: http://www.agcw.de/english/contest/sake_e.htm
March 15 - OMISS QSO Party, email logs to: (none), paper logs and
diskettes to: OMISS QSO Party, c/o Don Banta K5DB, 3407 Diana St,
Springdale, AR 72764, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.omiss.net/qso-2006.html
March 19 - ARRL School Club Roundup, email logs to: (none), paper
logs and diskettes to: School Club Roundup, c/o Lew Malchick N2RQ,
Brooklyn Technical HS, 29 Fort Greene Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217, USA.
Find rules at: http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/scr.html
March 20 - ARRL International DX Contest - CW, email logs to:
DXCW@arrl.org, paper logs and diskettes to: ARRL Intl DX Contest -
CW, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2006/intldx.html
-o-o --o- - o ooo - -o-o --o- - o ooo -
CONTESTS - 8 MARCH TO 21 MARCH 2006
-o-o --o- - o ooo - -o-o --o- - o ooo -
Note that the following abbreviations are used to condense the
contest rules summaries: SO - Single-Op; M2 - Multi-Op - 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 (>100 W); LP -
Low Power; QRP (5W or less)
HF CONTESTS
RSGB Commonwealth Contest--CW, sponsored by the RSGB from 1000Z Mar
11 -1000Z Mar 12. Open to British Commonwealth stations only, work
stations once per band outside your own call area. HQ stations may be
worked by everyone and count as a separate call area. Frequencies:
lower 30 kHz of 80-10 meters. Categories: SO--open (full-time),
--restricted (12 hrs max), Headquarters -- MO and SO, no spotting
assistance. Scoring: 5 pts/QSO, first 3 QSOs with a call area count
25 pts. For more information: http://www.rsgbhfcc.org/. Logs due April
10 to commonwealth.contest@rsgbhfcc.org.
Wisconsin QSO Party--Phone/CW, sponsored by the West Allis RAC from
1800Z Mar 12 - 0100Z Mar 13. Frequencies (MHz): CW 3.550,
3.705,7.050, 14.050, and 21 - 440, Phone 3.890, 7.230, 14.290,
21.350, 28.400, 50 - 440, no repeater QSOs. Categories: SO, MS, MM
and Mobile. No county line operations. Exchange: S/P/C or WI county.
QSO Points: Phone - 1 pt, CW - 2 pts. Score: Pwr mult x QSO pts x WI
counties (max 72), WI stations use QSO pts x WI counties + S/P/C, WI
mobiles/portables add 500 bonus points for county with 12 or more
QSOs. Power multiplier: x2 (QRP), x1.5 (<150 W), x1 (HP). For more
information: http://www.warac.org/. Logs due April 13 to
k9kr@arrl.net or Wisconsin QSO Party, West Allis RAC, PO Box 1072,
Milwaukee, WI 53201.
Oklahoma QSO Party--Phone/CW/Digital, sponsored by the Oklahoma DX
Association (OKDXA) from 1400Z Mar 11 - 0200Z Mar 12 and 1400Z -
2000Z Mar 12. Frequencies (MHz): SSB--3.860, 7.260, 14.260, 21.360,
28.360; CW--3.545, 7.045, 14.045, 21.045, 28.045. Categories:
SOHF-HP (>100W), -LP, -QRP (<5W), SO-VHF, MS, Rover (OK only).
Exchange: signal report and OK county or S/P/C (DX sends "DX"). QSO
points: Phone--2 pts, CW/Digital--3 pts. Score: QSO points x OK
counties (OK stations use OK counties + S/P/C) counted only once. For
more information: http://www.okdxa.org/. Logs due April 30 to
logs@okdxa.org (ADIF or Cabrillo format preferred) or OKDXA, PO Box
2591, Claremore, OK 74018-2591 (<100 QSOs only).
Idaho QSO Party--CW/Phone/Digital, sponsored by the Voice of Idaho
(VOI) Amateur Radio Club, from 1300Z Mar 11 - 0100Z Mar 12 and 1300Z
Mar 12 to 0100Z Mar 13. Frequencies (MHz): CW - 35 kHz above band
edge, Phone - 7.260, 14.260, 21.335, 28.470 MHz, plus 50, 144, 440
MHz. Categories: SO, MS, MM, Mobile, School, Special Event, all may
be QRP/LP/HP (150 W or more) and Mixed/CW/Phone/Digital. QSO Points:
see Web site. Score: QSO Points x ID counties (non-ID stations use
S/C), all multipliers count once per mode. For more information:
http://www.voiceofidaho.org/. Logs due 30 days after the contest to
qsoparty@idahohamradio.net or as listed on the Web site.
North American RTTY Sprint, sponsored by NCJ from 0000Z-0400Z Mar 12.
Frequencies 80 -- 20 meters. North American stations work everyone;
others work NA stations only. Exchange both callsigns, serial number,
name, and S/P/C. The same station can be worked multiple times
provided 3 contacts separate the contact in both logs, regardless of
band. QSY rule: Stations calling CQ, QRZ, etc, may only work one
station in response to that call; they must then move at least 1 kHz
before working another station or 5 kHz before soliciting another
call. Once you are required to QSY, you may not make a new QSO on the
previous frequency until you have made a contact at least 1 or 5 kHz
(as required) away. For more information: http://www.ncjweb.com/. Logs
due 7 days after the contest via the contest Web site, to
rttysprint@ncjweb.com, or Douglas McDuff W4OX, 10380 SW 112th St,
Miami, FL 33176.
EA PSK31 Contest, sponsored by the Unión de Radioaficionados
Españoles (URE), from 1600Z Mar 11 -1600Z Mar 12. Frequencies: 80-10
meters. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, MO. Exchange: RST + serial number or
EA province. Scoring: own continent 1 pt on 20-10 meters, 2 pts on
80-40 meters, diff. cont. 3 pts on 20-10 and 6 pts on 80-40. Score:
QSO pts x EADX100 countries + EA provinces + US/VE/JA/VK call areas.
For more information:
http://www.ure.es/hf/concursos/eapsk31/baseseapsk31ingles.pdf. Logs
due Apr 12 to psk31@ure.es.
AGCW QRP Contest--CW, sponsored by the DL Activity Group CW
(AGCW-DL) from 1400Z - 2000Z Mar 11. Frequencies: 80 - 10-meters.
Categories: SO-VLP (<1 W), QRP (<5 W), MP (<25 W), QRO. Exchange:
RST, serial number, category, and AGCW member number or "nm" if
non-member. QSO Points: QRP-VLP, QRP-QRP, VLP-QRP and VLP-VLP - 3
pts, QRP-MP and QRO - 2 pts, QRO-QRO not allowed. Score: QSO points x
AGCW members counted once per band. For more information:
http://www.agcw.org/. Logs due Mar 31 to qrp-test@agcw.de or Edmund
Ramm DK3UZ, Anderheitsallee 24, Bramfeld, D-22175 Hamburg, Germany.
Russian DX Contest--CW/SSB, from 1200Z Mar 18 - 1200Z Mar 19.
Frequencies: 160 - 10 meters. Categories: SOAB -HP, -LP, -QRP (Mixed
only), SOSB, MS (10-min rule), M2, SWL, SO may enter Mixed Mode, CW,
or SSB, MS,M2 and SWL are Mixed only. Exchange: RS(T) + serial
number, RU stations--RS(T) + Oblast designator. QSO points: own
entity - 2 pts, different entity, same continent - 3 pts, diff. cont.
- 5 pts, with Russians - 10 pts. Score: QSO points x DXCC entity +
Oblasts, counted once per band. For more information:
http://www.rdxc.org/. Logs due 45 days after the contest to
rusdxc@contesting.com or to Russian DX Contest, PO Box 88, 119311
Moscow, Russia.
Virginia QSO Party--Phone/CW/Digital, sponsored by the Sterling Park
ARC from 1800Z Mar 18-0200Z Mar 20. Frequencies (MHz): CW 1.805 and
50 kHz above band edge, Phone 1.845, 3.860, 7.260, 14.270, 21.370,
28.370, Novice/Tech 28.370, VHF/UHF 50.130, 144.200, 146.58, 223.50,
446.00, Digital on common frequencies. No repeater or crossmode QSOs.
Categories: SO, MS, MM and Mobile. Exchange: serial number and VA
county/city or S/P/C. QSO points: Phone-- 1 pt, CW or Digital--2 pts,
VA Mobile--3 pts. Score: QSO points × VA city/counties + S/P/C
(counted only once). VA mobiles add 100 pts per VA city/county
activated. Add 500 pts for QSO with K4NVA. For more information:
http://www.qsl.net/sterling/VA_QSO_Party/QSOParty.htm. Logs due Apr
15 to nq4k@arrl.net or Virginia QSO Party, Call Box 599, Sterling, VA
20167.
10-10 Mobile Contest--any mode, sponsored by 10-10 International from
0000Z-2359Z Mar 18. Frequencies: 10-meters only. Categories: Fixed,
Mobile. Exchange: Call, Name, S/P/C, county (US, Canada, and England)
and 10-10 membership number, if any. QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Score:
Fixed--QSO Points x counties, Mobiles--QSO Points x counties worked +
counties activated. For more information: http://www.ten-ten.org/.
Logs due Apr 4 to tentencontest@alltel.net or Steve Rasmussen N0WY,
312 N 6th Street, Plattsmouth, NE 68048.
CLARA and Family HF Contest--Phone/CW--sponsored by the Canadian
Ladies ARA, from 1700Z Mar 18-1700Z Mar 19. Frequencies (MHz): CW
14.033, 21.033, 7.033, 3.688, Phone 28.300, 21.225, 14.120 14.285,
7.033, 7.200, 3.750, 3.900, work CLARA and YL stations once per
band/mode. Crossmode contacts count as phone for both stations.
Categories: SO only, no time limit. Exchange: RS(T), name, QTH, and
whether CLARA member, Family member, non-member YL, or OM. QSO
Points: 5 pts for CLARA-members, 2 pts for CLARA family members, 3
pts for non-CLARA YLs, 1 pt for OMs. Multipliers are VE provinces and
DXCC entities (only if QSO with YL) counted only once. Score: QSO
points x multipliers. For more information:
http://www.clara.comm.sfu.ca/. Logs due April 24 to ve7vpe@rac.ca or
Paulette Schouten, VE7VPE, c/o VECTOR, 3301 East Pender Street,
Vancouver, BC V5K 5J3, Canada.
9KCC Contest--CW/SSB, sponsored by the 9K Contest Club (Kuwait) from
1200Z -- 1600Z Mar 19. Frequencies: 15-meters only, work stations
only once. Categories: SO, SSB or CW for 9K or non-9K. Exchange:
RS(T) and serial number. QSO Points: 1 pt/QSO. Score: QSO points x
DXCC entities + number of different 9K stations. For more
information: http://www.qsl.net/9kcc/9KCCRule.htm. Logs due 30 days
after the contest to 9k2rr@9kcc.com or Faisal N Al-Ajmi (9K2RR) PO
Box 1124, Alfarwanya 80000 Kuwait
BARTG Spring RTTY Contest--sponsored by the British Amateur Radio
Teledata Group from 0200Z Mar 18 - 0200Z Mar 20. Frequencies: 80 --
10 meters. Categories: SO-Expert, SOSB, SOAB (one band change per 5
min), SOAB-6 hour, MS, MM, and SWL. SO operate 30 hours max. SOAB-6
first six hours. Operators with a Top Ten log during the past three
years must enter as an Expert. Exchange: three-digit serial number
and four-digit time. Multipliers: DXCC entities + W/VE/JA/VK call
areas, counted once per band. Score: QSOs x multiplier x continents
(count only once). For more information:
http://www.bartg.demon.co.uk/. Logs via email only in Cabrillo format
due May 1 to ska@bartg.demon.co.uk (with the call and entry class in
the subject line and the log included as an attachment).
Konstantin RU3AA asks that we note the correct rules Web URL for the
Yuri Gargarin contest sponsored by Patriot magazine (April 8th and
9th) is www.srr.su/contest/GC/gc2006re.htm.
VHF+ CONTESTS
EU EME Contest--CW/SSB, 0000Z March 11 - 2400Z March 12. Frequencies:
432 MHz, 5.7 GHz & up. Categories: Single and Multi-band, QRP and
QRO--based on EIRP, Pro, CW, Mixed, Assisted. Exchange: callsigns
TMO/RST and "R". QSO Points: 432--100 pts for random, 10 pts for
scheduled QSO, 5.7 GHz and higher--100 pts/QSO. Score: QSO Points (x2
for QSOs at 5.7 GHz and above) x S/P/C from random QSOs (or any QSOs
at 5.7 GHz and above). For more information: http://www.dubus.org/ or
info@dubus.de. Logs due Jun 7 to f6hye@ref-union.org or Patrick
Magnin, F6HYE, Marcorens, F-74140 Ballaison, France.
--o- ooo - --o- ooo - --o- ooo - -oo o
NEWS, PRESS RELEASES, AND GENERAL INTEREST
- oooo o o-o o- - o ooo oooo o o - -o-
ARRL CONTEST NEWS -
The expected move of W1AW's 160-meter frequency from 1817.5 kHz has
been postponed until later this year in order to find a frequency
that will not conflict with an established calling or activity
frequency.
The 2006 Field Day packet (available at http://
www.arrl.org/contests.forms) contains an FAQ on the new Get On The
Air(GOTA) station rules. The basic idea is that 50 Bonus points are
awarded when a specific GOTA operator completes 50 QSOs and another
50 when they hit 100. Bonus points are doubled if there is a
full-time GOTA coach present and mentoring. (No "pooling" of QSOs to
reach a bonus level.) And there is a limit of 500 QSOs for the GOTA
station. (Thanks, Dan N1ND)
- - -
The North Coast Contesters are pleased to announce the 14th Annual
Dayton Contest Dinner on Saturday night, May 20, 2006 at 6:30. MC'ed
by John K1AR, Contest Hall of Fame Inductions will be announced by
Mr. CQ Worldwide, Bob K3EST. The dinner is held in the Van Cleve
Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 5th and Jefferson Streets, next
to the Convention Center in downtown Dayton. Price is $34.00 per
person and seating is limited to 300. Tickets may be ordered until
May 7th from Craig Clark K1QX at:
Radioware and Radio Bookstore
PO Box 209
Rindge, NH 03461
http://www.radio-ware.com/
Credit card orders can be placed Monday through Friday from 10 AM to
6 PM eastern USA time at 1-800-457-7373 (1-603-899-6957 for
international calls) or by fax at 1-603-899-6826 any time. Email is
accepted at jcclark@wildblue.net. Along with your card number,
include your call sign and return address. (No COD orders!) Tickets
will be mailed by First Class mail by May 10th, so leave plenty of
time!
QRP ARCI will host its 11th Four Days In May event in conjunction
with the Dayton Hamvention. It's at the Holiday Inn in Fairborn on
Dayton's NE corner. There will be a full day of technical seminars on
Thursday, a construction contest with some amazing entries, vendor
night on Friday at 8PM, and a banquet on Saturday night at 7PM. More
details can be found at http://fdim.qrparci.org.(Thanks/, Jim W4QO)
We all know about Marconi's adventures in spanning the Atlantic, but
where did he really invent radio? Why, in Salvan, the Cradle of
Wireless, of course! Read all about it from his young assistant of
the time in the February 2006 issue of Microwave Journal.
(http://www.mwjournal.com/Journal/article.asp?HH_ID=AR_468)
The word 'cell' in cell phone which is short for 'cellular.' The term
was coined for the early mobile phone system known as AMPS in the
telecommunications industry (Advanced Mobile Phone System) in
contrast to the several predecessor mobile phone systems such as IMTS
(Improved Mobile Telephone Service) previously fielded by Bell and
other private carriers known as RCCs (Radio Common Carriers. If you
are interested in Radio Common Carrier history, take a look at
http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA153848.html?spacedesc=News.
(Thanks, Jim WB5WPA)
Radio Wave Propagation - Volume 2 by M.H. De Canck ON5AU of Belgium
is now released. The author's unique presentation on the subject is
not only interesting, but actually makes it a fun learning process -
something not often said about this complex subject. For example,
plot your destination and "see" your signal travel in animation using
the author's unique Presentation Form Wizards. For more information,
browse to: http://www.antennex.com/news/index.html (Thanks, Steve
K7LXC)
AC Log 3.0 now supports the newly developed Who's On The Air (WOTA)
database! You'll find more information about WOTA by visiting
http://www.wotadb.org/. To implement WOTA, click Settings > DX
Spotting > WOTA, complete the form that appears and click the
Participate check box. (Thanks, Scott N3FJP)
Good advice! Just because someone knows Morse Code doesn't mean
they're familiar with CW net operating procedures. There is a whole
set of QN* signals and prosigns that are used in CW traffic nets not
encountered anywhere else in Amateur Radio. A good description of how
they work can be found on the Web at:
http://www.qsl.net/n5lf/cw-nts.html There is a list of CW nets at:
http://www.qsl.net/ki8du/netsked_5.htm. If you want to know a whole
bunch of Q-signals, including those used in aviation, try
http://www.wemsi.org/qsigs.html (Thanks, Scott W5ESE)
Dick W7ZR has added a feature on his Web site (http://www.w7zr.com/)
for anyone to list for FREE any radio item(s) that have been stolen.
(Thanks, Dick W7ZR)
New Contest Country Files (CTY files) are available. You can
download them from http://www.k1ea.com/cty/history.htm#CTY-1602.
(Thanks, Jim AD1C)
KA2RTD Mohamed, station manager of the United Nations' station has
stated that no one was at 4U1UN for ARRL DX CW so it was a pirate!
(Thanks, Bernie W3UR and Tim K3LR)
You should all be pretty fluent in Portuguese by now! Heaven forbid
that you might lose something on your way to or from Brazil, but if
you do, here are some helpful phrases from the Lonely Planet
phrasebook:
- I've lost... - Perdi - p'r-DEE
- my bags - as malas - ash MAH-lash
- my money - o dinheiro - u dee-NYEY-ru
- my passport - o passaporte - u pah-a-POHR-t'
- my ticket - o bilhete - bee-LYE-t'
URL OF THE WEEK - A hugely informative Web site on Maritime
Communications is hosted by the US Coast Guard at
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/default.htm. You learn something
new every day!
oo-o oo -o -oo -o-- --- oo- -o-
RESULTS AND RECORDS
-o-o o- o-oo o-oo oooo o o-o o
ARRL CONTEST RESULTS NEWS - Mode breakdowns are now included for
entries in the 2005 EME Contest, whose on-line writeup has been
opened to ARRL members. (Non-members later!) The QST version of the
2005 November SS CW results article is in production. Log Checking
reports and results databases for 2005 November Sweepstakes are being
prepared for release by the Web services team. The Web databases have
been created for both 2005 Phone and CW Sweepstakes and sent to Web
services for processing for online access.
The complete list of Logs Received for the 2006 ARRL January VHF
Sweepstakes has been posted at http://www.arrl.org/contests/claimed.
The list includes both the electronic and paper submissions. If you
find an error in your listing or your entry is missing please contact
N1ND at n1nd@arrl.org or by phone at 860-594-0232. If you submitted
electronically please have your receipt number available. (Thanks,
Dan N1ND)
- - -
Results of the 2005 California QSO Party (CQP) are finished and you
can read all about it in the March 2006 Northern California Contest
Club JUG newsletter by Kevin N6RCE at
http://www.nccc.cc/newsletter.html. (Thanks, Marc W6ZZZ)
Preliminary SSB Sprint results are now posted at
http://www.ncjweb.com/sprintssbresultsfeb2006.txt. If you note
any errors, please let contest manager K4MA know at k4ma@nc.rr.com.
(Thanks, Jim K4MA)
Results of the 2006 UK DX RTTY Contest 2006 are ready and can be
found at http://www.ukdx.srars.org/. (Thanks, Jurij MM0DFV)
oo oo-o oo - ooo -o --- - -ooo o-o --- -o- o
TECHNICAL TIPS AND INFORMATION
-o-- --- oo- o-o o -o --- - - o-o -o-- oo -o --o
And you think you have noise problems?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/060221084628.htm
(Thanks, Jim KR1S)
Here's a good way to power a handheld VHF radio, a portable QRP rig,
or an accessory from lower-voltage batteries. Digi-Key
(http://www.digikey.com/) sells a little switching supply module (part
number PT5041A-ND) made by TI that puts out 12V @ 1A from an input
voltage of 4.75 to 11V for $15.85. It only requires a 100 ufd output
capacitor. You could run a set of D-cells dry and still get a
regulated 12 V out. (Thanks, Steve KD1JV)
Putting up some wire antennas? K2ZR says, "For whatever antenna
applications that require a "pulley", I strongly recommend a
'sheet/bullet block.' (http://tinyurl.com/q4fm5) These are used on
sailboats and go way beyond the quality of anything you'll find in a
hardware store. There are many sizes and styles. I find the #083
(with a becket - to provide a pull down loop ) works great with just
about any wire antenna installation." You *do* know what a 'becket'
is, don't you?
Here's another helpful set of directions, this one for getting
multiple open-wire feed lines through a wall and easily switched.
1) Terminate each parallel feedline with a 5-ft section of shielded
parallel line (see ARRL Antenna Book) made from 2 5-ft lengths of
RG-8X or RG-213, each terminated with a PL-259.
2) At a grounded entrance panel or grounding strip, install four UHF
bulkhead connectors and connect the shielded parallel feed lines to
them outside.
3) Manufacture another shielded parallel feedline jumper long enough
to reach from your tuner to the entrance panel. Connect it
permanently to the tuner and terminate the other end with
quick-disconnect, push-on PL-259's.
4) When ready to operate, plug the shielded parallel jumper from the
tuner into the bulkhead connectors for whichever antenna you desire
to use.
5) When not operating, disconnect the tuner from the entrance panel,
and short the UHF bulkhead terminals to ground using PL-259 push-on
plugs that have been converted with short circuits inside them.
(Thanks, Mark N1LO)
For heavy-handed operators (you know who you are) who can't keep a
keyer paddle still, check out the Radio Shack "Jelly Sticky Pad"
(part number 25-2516). At 4" W x 7.25" deep, it's the perfect fit
under just about any paddle. (Thanks, Bob N6TV)
Whoops! You've got to get coax or a radial wire or ??? across a
concrete walkway in your yard? How about a little water fun from Bob
W9GE? "Build a water drill out of a piece of plastic pipe a bit
bigger than what you want to bury. Use some fittings to connect a
water hose to one end. Turn on the water and work your way under the
walkway. When you reach the other side just disconnect the water and
run the coax or wire through the pipe that is now under the walk."
Other contributors note that special nozzles are available for
installing irrigation or sprinkler pipes in just this way. You'll
also need to dig out a small sump pit on each end.
Care to download a great electronics book about op-amps?
http://www.analog.com/library/analogDialogue/archives/39-05/op_amp_applications_handbook.html
(Thanks, Bob W9YA)
Check out this website if you are looking for older technical info,
even older Handbooks
http://www.pmillett.com/tecnical_books_online.htm
There are a lot of good old books. They are good for research on tube
subjects, and for tube data, like Sylvania, GE, and RCA tube manuals,
see the tube data page of this site. (Thanks, Curt W4QBU)
TECHNICAL LINK OF THE WEEK - While doing a Google search on a
constant (number) to try to discover its name, I found out that
Google (http://www.google.com/) does calculations if you type the
expression into the search field. The Google calculator does
conversions as well as calculations, recognizes pi and e, and does
trig and complex numbers. To give examples of what it's capable of,
try some of these "search" expressions:
sin(45 degrees)
pi in degrees
2m^3 in gallons
2PI*4.7E-6*7.04E6
5*5/2
e^-1
250 ml as tablespoons
SQRT(-4)
Arcsin(.5)
Arcsin(.5) in degrees
(1+2i)*(1-2i)
20Log(50/7)
(Thanks, Nick WA5BDU)
o- -o -oo o- oooo o- o--o o--o -o-- ooo -
CONVERSATION
o--o o- - ooo -oo o- -o-- - ooo o- o-oo o-oo
PHONE CONTEST TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
SYMPTOM
- CAUSE
- CORRECTIVE ACTION
Band unusually quiet, can't see rig
- You have headphones on sideways
- Remove boom mike from your ear and rotate headphones ninety degrees
Opposite wall covered with fluorescent lights
- You have fallen over backward
- Have yourself duct taped to operating desk
Mouth contains peanuts, back of head covered with peanut shells
- You have fallen forward
- Have yourself duct taped to operating chair
Coffee tasteless, front of your shirt is wet
a. - Mouth not open
- Unlikely since this is a phone contest
b. - Cup applied to wrong part of face
- Take a restroom break, practice in mirror
Your transmit audio is garbled and indistinct
- Boom mike immersed in your coffee cup
- Hide headset and swipe the one from the dead band's radio
Rhythmic crackling QRM wiping out the entire band
- You are eating potato chips
- Suck on them instead
Sharp pain in one arm
- Multiplier operator is trying to get you to stand by
- Talk faster and stomp on footswitch
Sharp pain in one foot
- You and the multiplier operator are both trying to use the same
footswitch
- Kick wildly in all directions and run him off!
Rig Blurred
- Relief operator is trying to get you out of the chair
- Yell, "I'm running Europe!" and grab onto chair arms
Floor moving
- You are being carried away
- Find out if you are being taken to a different operating chair
Room seems unusually dark
a. - You are asleep under the operating desk
- Stand up without hitting your head and reclaim operating chair
b. - You are asleep with old QST over your face
- Act like you were just reading without your glasses
Radio suddenly takes on colorful aspect and textures
- You are asleep in the M&M's dish
- Eat M&Ms
Bottom cold and clammy
- You forgot to put on pants after last sleep break
- Reinstall pants without losing run frequency
Bottom warm and clammy
- Improper bladder control
- Complain about previous operator's lack of shack etiquette
Other operators are looking at you and smiling
- You fell asleep and empty soda cans are now stacked on your head
- Don't swallow or move!
Heavy weight pressing on one side
- Mult operator fell asleep and is leaning on you
- Stack soda cans on his head
Station you're working is using unfamiliar procedures
- You are operating on MARS net outside of band
- Remove one letter from the prefix and log it!
Caller has the best audio you've ever heard
- You are attempting to work shortwave broadcast station news program
- Add a number somewhere in the call sign and log it!
Callers only send one letter at a time
- You are attempting to make a QSO with intermodulation products
- Accumulate enough characters and log it!
Ears ringing, mind unusually clear, station owner yelling
- You just blew up the amplifier
- Point at the youngest operator and keep operating barefoot
Hiram Percy Maxim tries to correct the call sign you just entered
- Personal sleep deprivation limitation exceeded
- Enter random call from Super Check Partial and drink a Mountain Dew
Don't recognize anyone or the room you're in
- You showed up at the wrong station
- See if they have an available operating position
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
SM3CER's Web site - http://www.sk3bg.se/contest
