Contester's Rate Sheet for September 5, 2007

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          CONTESTER'S RATE SHEET
               22 AUGUST 2007

        Edited by Ward Silver N0AX

Published by the American Radio Relay League
 Free to ARRL members - tell your friends!
(Subscription info at the end of newsletter)
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SUMMARY
o Take A Walk On The Wild Side - NA CW/SSB Sprints & 144 MHz Sprint
o WAE SSB, AR, TN, WA, SC QSO Parties
o ARRL VHF QSO Party & 10 GHz Contests
o New ARRL Contest Branch Manager and Sweepstakes Managers
o Geographic Gadgets and Giant Jets
o WRTC2010 Scoring Scoreboard by NS3T
o Switch From Relays
o Evaluating Choke Baluns
o New 23 cm Preamp from G4DDK
o One on One, Part Two

NEW HF OPERATORS - THINGS TO DO
o If HF conditions haven't been very good this summer, they often
improve dramatically as the vernal equinox approaches. Point your
antennas towards Europe and give the Worked All Europe (WAE) SSB
Contest or the Scandinavian Activity Contest (CW) a try.  Contests
focused on one region make it a little easier to work some DX and
learn about HF propagation to that part of the world.

BULLETINS
o No bulletins this issue.

BUSTED QSOS
o A golden issue last time!

CONTEST SUMMARY (Rules follow Commentary section)

September 8 - 9
- ARRL September VHF QSO Party
- NA Sprint, CW
- YLRL Howdy Days
- WAE DX Contest, SSB
- Second-Class Operators Sprint, CW
- Arkansas QSO Party
- Tennessee QSO Party
- G3ZQS Memorial Straight Key Contest
September 15 - 16
- ARRL 10 GHz Cumulative Contest
- NA Sprint, SSB
- Scandinavian Activity Contest, CW
- Washington State Salmon Run
- South Carolina QSO Party
- QCWA Fall QSO Party
- QRP Afield
- Feld-Hell Monthly Sprint
- 070 Club 80 Meter Autumn Sprint
- VHF Fall Sprint, 144 MHz

--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-

There are two big announcements from the ARRL Contest Branch this
time.  First is the hiring of a new Contest Branch Manager, Sean
Kutzko KX9X. Sean has lots of contest experience and will be joining
the ARRL staff in Newington on the first of October.  Browse to
http://tinyurl.com/252vqc to learn all about Sean on the ARRL Web.
The second is the announcement of Ken Adams K5KA as the Sweepstakes
Contest Manager.  Ken has been the custodian of the Sweepstakes
records for some time and if you haven't put his call in your log,
then you haven't worked Sweepstakes! The premier domestic contest
will reap big benefits from Ken's management abilities and
enthusiasm.  Congratulations to both of these guys and to Dave Patton
NN1N, ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager, for bringing
them on board!

Those of you receiving this bulletin already know about at least one
of the many ARRL bulletins and newsletters, but have you checked the
list lately?  The new emcomm E-Letter and the Club newsletters are
also available.  Log on to the ARRL's members-only services at
http://www.arrl.org/ and check the bottom of your Member Page.  Free
email delivery is available for the cost of a check mark.  Pass this
information along to your friends and club members that may be
unaware of these services!  Tell them the Contester's Rate Sheet sent
you.

Here's something fun to do while waiting for gray line propagation. 
If you're a member of Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/) test your
knowledge of geography with TravelPod's Facebook application,
Traveler IQ Challenge
(http://apps.facebook.com/travelpod-challenge/). It covers physical
geography and current events.  The popular Facebook is a free social
networking site. (Thanks, Dave K3ZJ)

QRZ.com is rolling out a new QRZ 2.0 application called GridFinder.
It can be used to determine the Grid and Lat/Lon coordinates for just
about any point on the planet (please don't be too picky about the
Arctic regions). Give it a try at http://www.qrz.com/gridfinder and
see what you can locate! (Thanks, Fred AA7BQ)

More on the subject of geography, Google Earth software has now added
the capability to view images of the sky.  Using the new "Sky in
Google Earth" feature you can zoom in on supernal Hubble telescope. 
Version 4.2 of the software at http://earth.google.com/ contains the
additional sky watching features. (Reprinted from the AMSAT News
Service Weekly Bulletin ANS-238, http://www.amsat.org/)

A new list of 160 meter beacons has been released at
http://topband.blog.cz/0611/160m-beacon-list just in time as the
Northern Hemisphere's propagation on Top Band begins to open up for
DX. (Thanks, Petr OK1RP)

If you have legal questions about topics such as ham radio, antennas,
CCRs and zoning rules, the Ham Law reflector is a good source for
information.  You can subscribe by sending a message to
listserver@mail.altlaw.com containing "subscribe
ham-law@mail.altlaw.com"; in the body of the message. (Thanks, Don
K4AC)

Hector XE2K sent a link to a neat keyer from 4S7AB
(http://www.bravosl.com/ham_gadgets) that has a nice menu display and
other interesting features.

One of the benefits of attending hamfests and conventions is learning
about useful vendors. I had a great time at the Huntsville hamfest
filling up a bag of adapters and gadgets from Tower Electronics
(http://www.pl-259.com/) to fill up holes in my "collection".
Elsewhere on the premises was EAE Sales (http://www.eaesales.com/)
with an extensive line of new and refurbished soldering and
electronic assembly equipment.  Just two of the many folks that
supply us with goodies and tools!

I also discovered MicroLog, a good-looking general-purpose logging
program from Jerry WA0H (http://www.wa0h.com/) that would be a good
way to get going on day-to-day computer logging.  The fully-featured
program is only $10, so it would be a great present for a ham new to
HF.  Or how about for a raffle prize at the next club meeting?

If you're interested in what's happening on the 136 kHz (2200 meter)
band, strolling through VA7SL's Web site
(http://www.imagenisp.ca/jsm) you'll encounter RLB (Really Low Band)
articles and design information.  Canadians have had access to this
band for some time and there seems to be plenty of experimental
activity.  Steve also stocks articles on receiving loops that look
interesting.

Sad news of a flood casualty in Findlay, Ohio - Kanga US. This note
appeared on the Kanga Web site (http://www.kangaus.com/) from owner
Bill N8ET. "Findlay Ohio was hit by massive flooding about a week
ago. We were one of the lucky ones - we only had water up to the
ceiling in the basement.  Others lost a lot more.  All the Kanga US
equipment and inventory (except the DK9SQ masts - they were in the
garage) has been lost. If anyone has submitted an order or is waiting
on a shipment, I will have to provide a refund - there is just
nothing available to ship.  It will be at least three weeks before I
will be able to take care of any issues."  I know all Rate Sheet
readers wish Bill the best in getting Kanga going again.

Tim K3LR is host to the latest Telnet spotting network connection at
dx.k3lr.com.  High speed, lots of CPU power, many links to other
spotting systems - what's not to like?

Scott N3FJP reports, "Since we have been working on WXSpots, the
response has been very enthusiastic and literally hundreds of hams
and weather enthusiasts joined the WXSpots development e-mail
reflector.  In fact, during the beta development period, we have
already had more than 850 users create login accounts! WXSpots
software is free.  For more information and a link to download the
software, please visit http://www.wxspots.com/"

Where's Chuck? Wonder no more because Chuck NO5W has just finished
putting up a Web site (http://www.no5w.com/) for the GPS-Enabled
Software for Mobile Contesting. Of particular interest is the Route
Plans section. The software has the capability of preparing a KML
file for Google Maps so that you can see your route from a
satellite's perspective. Chuck will be using that method to
distribute his route plan and possibly those of others in the
upcoming Texas QSO Party.

URL of the Week - One of the most exciting features of the SDR-14T
Software-Defined Receiver (http://www.rfspace.com/sdr14.html) is its
ability to record band segments of any band to hard drive in real
time. This consumes 67.8 Gbytes/day for a 190 kHz wide segment. The
stored file contains everything that happened in that segment of the
band for the duration of the recording with over 96dB of dynamic
range. The recording can be played back at any time with full
tunability and choice of demodulation modes. The recording can also
be analyzed for hidden signals and carriers. (Thanks, Tree N6TR)

oooo  o  -o--     -o-- o- o-oo o-oo
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
o-- o- - -o-o oooo    - oooo oo ooo

There's no word on whether these "Giant Jets" were synchronized with
CW from a contest station, but the films at
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070829.html are pretty neat!

David K1TTT has posted a Web page
(http://www.k1ttt.net/2007picnic.html) with pictures from his
open-house picnic last Saturday.  Nothing too embarrassing, but a
good group of calls and faces you know were in attendance!

You can watch Murray VE7HA/7J1AQH's new SteppIR antenna being
installed in this YouTube video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUm901jJzvk that captures the crew at
work on the rooftop tower.

Those of us that remember Bob W0DX's exploits will also recall the
name of the Smuggler's Inn.  Al K7NHV contributes this link
(http://www.escape-bvi.com/SmugglersCove.aspx) on its history from
the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.

And here's something you don't hear everyday - a story and pictures
of a QRP operation from the caboose of a moving train. The Web page
at http://w1pid.freeshell.org/train/train.html was put together by
Jim W1PID.

oo-o oo -o -oo   -o-- --- oo- o-o
RESULTS AND RECORDS
-o-o o- o-oo o-oo    oooo o o-o o

The Oceania DX Contest Committee is pleased to announce that the full
results of the 2006 OCDX Contest are now available on-line at 
http://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/index.html  The on-line results
include soapbox comments, details of equipment and antenna used by
entrants, and some photos of the leading entrants. (Thanks, Brian
ZL1AZE)

Tree N6TR announces that the results for the 2006 Stew Perry Topband
Distance Challenge are ready.  You can view them at
http://www.kkn.net/~tree/2006_Stew.htm.  The usual jzap.com server is
temporarily off-line.

Jamie NS3T is tallying scores
(http://www.radio-sport.net/wrtc_ranks.htm) according to the
qualification rules for WRTC2010. There is also a downloadable
spreadsheet with results for all US amateurs who submitted a log in
the recent qualifying contests, plus the rules as issued by the
Russian 2010 WRTC sponsors.

Randy K5ZD encourages you to send him your contest logs from the
summer for input to the Super Check Partial database files
(http://www.k5zd.com/scp).  Now is the perfect time to submit your
logs from the summer contests (CQ WPX CW, IARU, and WAE CW). Please
send him the same Cabrillo format log that you submitted to the
contest sponsor as an attachment to email sent to
k5zd@contesting.com. The next update will be released in September.

oooo o -o--   -o-- --- oo-
OPERATING TIP
o-- o- -o- o      oo- o--o

While low band multipliers are precious for all contesters, they are
worth even more for Little Pistol and Medium Gun stations.  That also
means losing them to busted calls or exchanges is more painful!  It's
worth listening "one extra time" to confirm the information.  Don't
be too much in a hurry and risk the big hit on your score during log
checking!

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

One way to avoid the expense of special high-current relays in a
mobile or rover installation is to visit the local boat store. Marine
electronics systems use hefty rotary switches for controlling
batteries and generators. The switches are generally in the $15-$25
range. (Thanks, John W1RT)

Joe KC2TN recommends the Valmont Microflect 3-port panel
(http://tinyurl.com/37mvgv) as a professional cable entryway for the
home station. Each port is 4" in diameter and has a sealing grommet
through which you can pass various sizes of coax, rotor cable,
grounds, etc.  There are various configurations available to suit
your needs. Need to get to their main page to see if there is a cross
ref list

If you have to keep replacing indicator lamps in rotator control
boxes, rigs, and other devices, check out
http://superbrightleds.com/specs/ba9s.htm for drop-in replacements. 
These LED indicators cost more than incandescent bulbs, but will
probably last longer than the operator! (Thanks, Dennis N6KI)

To remove stuck-on Coax-Seal from connectors and cables, Carl KM1H
recommends Brake Clean if you're working on the tower.  On the
ground, use Lacquer Thinner or Acetone which are harder to use aloft.
Steve K7LXC also notes that professional grade vapor wraps leave much
less residue than Coax-Seal.

Contesting's walking encyclopedia, Frank W3LPL, answers the question
of why there are two kinds of Penetrox. "Penetrox-A uses a Vaseline
suspension.  Vaseline can be problematic with rubber and some other
materials. Penetrox-A13 and -E use a synthetic suspension. Types -A
and -A13 use aluminum particles, while -E uses copper particles." The
Burndy catalog description at http://tinyurl.com/32wv73 goes into
more detail.

There was lots of discussion on the QRP-L reflector
(http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/qrp-l) about keeping cables
and cords organized, but the hands-down consensus was zippered
plastic bags.  This is also the time of year that many of the "big
box" stores have sales on closet organizers and plastic containers.
Your editor's  favorite is the shoebox-sized clear boxes.

You can measure the effectiveness of a choke balun with an MFJ-259 
analyzer (possibly with others.)  Connect one end of the balun's
shield to the analyzer's ground post and the opposite end of the
shield to the center conductor of the analyzer input connector. 
Sweep the analyzer through the frequency range of interest and note
the impedances at various points.  This measures the balun's choking
impedance. (Thanks, Gene AD3F)

If you're having trouble working on surface-mount (SMT) circuit
boards, Dick K2RIW says that the trick is to use the proper
visualizing equipment.  His favorite is a stereo zoom microscope
(there are quite a few good brands) with the correct kind of lighting
equipment.  Dick recommends a dual fiber optic source, but the more
popular "fluorescent ring illuminator", or a "point source"
illuminator is sufficient.  He reports buying a used microscope for
$150 and is able to wear his bifocal glasses while using it. The
'scope magnifies the image 8.5x to 35x, but he uses minimum
magnification most of the time and warns prospective users against
buying "too much magnification".

Clint W5BPT found a product to mount a Yaesu GS-065 rotator to a Rohn
tower standard rotator mounting plate. The JTBP1 bearing plate at R&L
Electronics (http://www.randl.com/) seems to do the job.

In the "who hasn't had this happen to them" category, Jim K5LAD has
constructed a spreadsheet program (http://tinyurl.com/2w49kb) to show
bearing corrections when there has been slippage between a beam, the
mast, and the rotator.  Of course, realigning the hardware is the
complete solution, but until you get the job done this will help keep
your RF headed in the right direction.

Just in time for a last-minute pre-September VHF contest project,
Paul K7CW reports that Sam G4DDK had published information
(http://www.g4ddk.com/) on his newest 1296 MHz preamp. It has a noise
figure of around .26dB and a gain of about 35dB. Sam also supplies
unpopulated circuit boards. Microwave guys may want to look at this
one.

TECHNICAL URL OF THE WEEK -- Knowledge of the intricacies of video
signals is occasionally useful around a ham's atelier (workshop or
studio) so a good technical reference such as
http://pdfserv.maxim-ic.com/en/an/AN734.pdf from Maxim Semiconductor
is really useful to have stashed on one's hard drive.

o- -o-o -o-o oo- o-o o- -o-o -o--   oo ooo   o--- --- -ooo
CONVERSATION
--- -o o   oo -o   -o-o --- -o - o ooo - oo -o --o

One on One, Part Two

In the last issue, I suggested ways to get new hams interested in
contesting.  As we all know, an interest in contesting usually leads
to improving one's skills and station capabilities.  An active ham is
one that often stays with amateur radio for a lifetime, as well.

But what about those folks that haven't yet taken the plunge?  Maybe
they're a little curious, maybe they're even a little interested, but
how do we get them to open up a license manual and start reading? 
This is one of the biggest challenges facing amateur radio, along
with modernizing our emergency communications structures and
protecting the quality and amount of our spectrum allocations.

It would be great to write that the ARRL is committing a huge amount
of resources to marketing ham radio and that everything is taken care
of...but that's simply not possible.  Even if the ARRL made this a
crash program, there simply aren't the huge piles of money and
legions of staff to do the job.  At most, there are a few dozen
League staffers.  There are 155,000 ARRL members and around 700,000
licensed amateurs in the US.  Which group do YOU think can have the
most impact?

Contesters have a great opportunity to publicize and recruit because
we do something lots of people understand.  We compete.  We build
stuff.  We work hard.  We try to be strong and go fast.  This
resonates with many people that do the same thing in other ways; by
foot, wing, or wheel.

Take a look in the paper and on Web sites in your own community. 
Browse through the do-it-yourself magazines like Make
(http://www.makezine.com/) and Web sites like Instructables
(http://www.instructables.com/).  I am positive that there are
sporting events, fairs, expositions, conventions, and gatherings of
all sorts with something happening just about every weekend. These
events are often in need of more participation and would welcome your
volunteered presence.

For starters, why not set up a booth at a race track or football
game?  Make sure to put up a big banner that says "Contest Club" or
"Extreme Wireless" or "Radiosport" - not just "Amateur Radio".  Your
audience is there because they are interested in competition!  Use
that interest to attract them to you.  They probably won't be all
that interested in radio contesting, specifically, but they will
certainly take a free brochure or handout about contesting and ham
radio. While they're there, look to see how many of them are toting
the FRS/GMRS handheld UHF radios or scanners.  They're already radio
users, but just don't think of themselves as such!

What if your contest club did a Field Day style operation from one of
the weekend long events? I'm not talking about a low-key "special
event" style operation or "send a message" operation.  I'm talking
about competitive radio with all the gadgets, gear, computers, and
hot operating that makes contesting fun!  

While one person is busy operating, have another available to explain
the action and hand out flyers.  Most contest logging programs are
easy to network, so set up a second computer with the biggest display
you can manage.  Show the audience how each contact is entered, where
the other station is located, how scoring works, etc.  Keep a big
whiteboard showing states or countries worked, what the record is and
how close you're getting, best DX, and so forth.  You might be
surprised at how many people stop back by just to "see how you're
doing."  They get it!

Come to think of it - a "spectator" program would be a wonderful
thing to develop.  Software could sit on the network as a
participating "station", grab all the necessary information, and link
the operation to maps and statistics.  This would be a terrific
window into the contest for the non-participant.  How about it, you
software developers out there?

If you give this a try, be sure to tell us about your successes and
not-so-successes.  Post the story on your Web site and send the Rate
Sheet a note with the URL.  I'll be happy to publicize it!  We are
all ambassadors for amateur radio, one way or the other.  Why not
show off what we do?

73, Ward N0AX

-o-o  --o-  - o ooo - -o-o  --o-  - o ooo -
CONTESTS -- 5 SEPTEMBER THROUGH 18 SEPTEMBER 2007
-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

North American Sprint--CW, sponsored by the National Contest Journal
from 0000Z - 0400Z Sep 9. Frequencies (MHz): 3.540, 7.040, 14.040.
Work stations once per band. North American stations work everyone,
others work NA stations only. Exchange: other station's call, your
call, serial number, name, S/P/C. 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. (see
http://www.contesting.com/articles/198 for beginner's guide)  Score:
QSOs X S/P/C (count each only once). For more information:
http://www.ncjweb.com/. Logs due 7 days after the contest via
http://www.ncjweb.com/sprintlogsubmit.php or cwsprint@ncjweb.com or
Boring ARC, 15125 Bartell Road, Boring, OR 97009.

YLRL Howdy Days--CW/SSB, sponsored by the YL Radio League from 1400Z
Sep 11 - 0200Z Sep 13, work 24 out of the 36 hour period. Try
frequencies ending in 33 or 88, such as 7.233, 14.288, etc. Exchange:
YLRL Member or not. QSO Points: non-YLRL member--1 pt, YLRL
members--2 pts. Score is total points. For more information:
http://www.ylrl.org/. Logs due 30 days after the contest to
kc4iyd@yahoo.com or Nancy Rabel Hall, KC4IYD, PO Box 775, North
Olmsted, OH 44070 

WAE DX Contest--SSB, sponsored by the Deutscher ARC from 0000Z Sep 8
- 2359Z Sep 9. Frequencies: 80-10 meters according to Region I band
plan. Categories: SOHP, SOLP, MS, SWL. Spotting assistance allowed in
all categories. SO operate 36 hrs max., up to three off periods of 1
hour min. Non-EU work EU only. Exchange: RS(T) and serial number.
Score 1 pt/QSO and 1 pt/QTC. Final score is QSOs + QTCs x weighted
multipliers. Multipliers: non-EU use WAE countries, EU use DXCC
entities plus call districts in W, VE, VK, ZL, ZS, JA, PY and
RA8/9/0. Mults on 80 meters count x4, on 40m x3, otherwise x2. A QTC
is a report sent from a non-EU station back to an EU station of QSOs
that took place earlier in the contest. A QTC contains the time, call
sign, and QSO number of the station being reported (e.g.
1307/DL1AA/346). A QSO may only be reported once and not back to the
originating station. A maximum of 10 QTCs can be sent to a single
station. The same station can be worked several times to complete
this quota, but only the original QSO has QSO point value. Keep a
list of QTCs sent. For example, QTC 3/7 would indicate that this is
the third series of QTCs sent, and seven QSOs are reported. For more
information: http://www.waedc.de/ or waedc-info@dxhf.darc.de. Logs due
by Oct 15 to waessb@dxhf.darc.de.  Please use your call sign as the
subject of the email.

Second-Class Operators Club (SOC) Marathon Sprint--CW, from 1800Z to
2400Z Sep 8. (Most sprints run four hours, but since we're Second
Class Op's, we need more time!)  Frequencies: 160 - 10 meter QRP
calling frequencies. Categories: SOAB. Exchange: RST + S/P/C + SOC
number or power output. QSO Points: SOC member--5 pts, non-member
same continent--2 pts, diff. cont--4 pts. Score: QSO points x S/P/C
counted once per band x Power Multiplier (<250 mW x 15, <1 W x 10, <5
W x 7, >5 W x 1).  Multiply by 1.5 if using a homebrew paddle. For
more information: http://www.qsl.net/soc. Logs due 30 days after the
contest to n4bp@arrl.net or Bob Patten, N4BP, 2841 NW 112 Terrace,
Plantation, FL 33323, USA.

Arkansas QSO Party--CW/SSB/PSK31, sponsored by K1ARK from 1400Z Sep 8
to 0600Z Sep 9 and 1500Z - 2400Z Sep 9.  Frequencies (MHz):
CW--3.550, 7.050, 14.050, 21.050, 28.050; Phone--3.980, 7.260,
14.260, 21.360, 28.360, 145-147; PSK--3580, 7070; 14.070; 21.080;
28.120.  Categories: SO, MS, Mobile (HP, LP, QRP), PSK.  Exchange:
RST, state or province, DX stations send "DX." (AR stations send
county) QSO Points: PSK--3 pts, CW--2 pts, SSB--1 pt. Score: QSO
points × AR counties (AR station count S/P, AR counties and DX). 
Mobile stations may be worked again in each county.  See Web site for
bonus points.  For more information: http://www.arkan.us/.   Logs due
30 days after the contest to k1ark@arrl.net or Bill Smith, K1ARK,
3032 Strawberry Drive, Fayetteville, AR, 72703.

Tennessee QSO Party--CW/Phone/Digital, sponsored by the Tennessee
Contest Group from 1800Z Sep 9 - 0300Z Sep 10. Frequencies (MHz):
CW--1.815, 3.540, 7.040, 14.040, 21.040, 28.040; SSB--1.855, 3.900,
7.240, 14.280, 21.390, 28.390; Digital--3.585, 7.085, 14.085, 21.085,
28.085; VHF/UHF--50.195, 144.195, 146.55, 223.5, 446.0. No repeater
or digipeater QSOs. Exchange: RS(T) and TN county or S/P/C. QSO
Points: Phone--2 pts, CW--3 pts, Digital--3 pts. Score: QSO points x
TN counties per band (TN stations add S/P/C per band). One bonus
multiplier for every five additional QSOs with the same county. Bonus
points: add 100 pts. for each QSO with K4TCG.  TN mobiles may claim
as a multiplier any TN county from which they complete at least 10
QSOs. For more information visit: http://www.tnqp.org/.  Logs due Oct
11 to logs@tnqp.org or TN QSO Party, c/o Doug Smith W9WI, 1389 Old
Clarksville Pike, Pleasant View, TN 37146-8098 USA.

G3ZQS Memorial Straight Key Contest--CW, sponsored by FISTS, from
2300Z Sep 8 - 2300Z Sep 10. Use straight keys to be eligible for
awards. Frequencies: 80 -- 10 meters.  Categories: QRO, QRP, Club.
Exchange: RST, S/P/C, name, FISTS number or power. QSO Points: FISTS
member--5 pts, non-member--2 pts. Score: QSO points x S/P/C counted
once only. For more information: http://www.fists.org/. Logs
indicating type of key due 30 days after the contest to
HALLINL@lanecc.edu (ADIF, Excel or ASCII format) or Lee Hallin N7NU,
3413 Walton Ln, Eugene OR 97408.

North American Sprint--SSB, 0000Z - 0400Z Sep 16 (See Sep 9, logs due
7 days after the contest via the Web site via
http://www.ncjweb.com/sprintlogsubmit.php or ssbsprint@ncjweb.com or
Jim Stevens, K4MA, 6609 Vardon Ct., Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526.)

Scandinavian Activity Contest--CW, sponsored by Suomen
Radioamatooriliitto ry (SRAL) from 1200Z Sep 15 - 1200Z Sep 16
(Phone, 1200Z Sep 22 - 1200Z Sep 23). Frequencies: 80 - 10 meters.
Categories: SOAB (QRP <5W, LP <100W, HP), MS, SWL. Exchange: RS(T) +
serial number. QSO Points: EU stations--1 pt, Non-EU--1 pt on 20--10,
3 pts on 80 - 40. Score: QSO pts × Scandinavian call areas counted
once per band. For more information:
http://www.sk3bg.se/contest/sacnsc.htm. Logs due Oct 31 to
saccw2007@sral.fi (SSB to sacssb2007@sral.fi) or to SACCW (SSB to
SACSSB), Jussi-Pekka Sampola, OH6RX, Tölbyn niittytie 238, FIN-65460
Tölby, Finland

Washington State Salmon Run--CW/SSB/Digital, sponsored by the Western
Washington DX Club from 1600Z Sep 15 - 0700Z Sep 16 and 1600Z - 2400Z
Sep 16. Frequencies: 160 - 6 meters. Categories: SO (CW, SSB, Digital
or Mixed Mode; QRP, LP, HP >200W), MO-ST (WA Club, WA Non-club,
Non-WA), Mobile (SO, MO), WA County Expedition. Exchange: RS(T) and
S/P/C or county (for WA stations). QSO Points: SSB--2 pts,
CW/Digital--4 pts. Work Expeditions and Mobiles from each county, log
county line QSOs as 2 separate QSOs. Score: QSO points x WA counties
(WA stations use S/P/C + WA counties) counted once only. QSOs with
W7DX add 500 bonus points for each mode--up to 1500 points. For more
information: http://www.wwdxc.org/. Logs due Oct 31 to
salmonrun@wwdxc.org (Cabrillo encouraged) or Western Washington DX
Club, PO Box 395, Mercer Island, WA 98040, USA.

South Carolina QSO Party--Phone/CW/Digital, sponsored by the Columbia
Amateur Radio Club (CARC) from 1300Z Sep 15 - 2100Z Sep 16.
Frequencies (MHz): CW--1.805 and 50 kHz from band edge, Phone--1.845,
3.860, 7.260, 14.270, 21.370, 28.370, 50.125, 144.200, 146.58,
223.50, 446.00. No repeater or cross-band QSO's, work mobiles again
from each county. Categories: SOAB, SC Mobile. Exchange: serial
number and SC county or S/P/C. QSO Points: Phone--1 pt, CW--2 pts,
Digital--3 pts. Score: Total QSO points x power multiplier (<5 W x5,
<150 W x2, >150 W x1) x SC counties (counted only once) x SC counties
activated (SC Mobile only). 300 bonus points for QSO with N2ZZ or
KF4GHC. For more information: http://carc.ham-radio-op.net/. Logs due
Oct 17 to scqp@kf4ghc.net or CARC SCQP Entry, PO Box 595, Columbia,
SC 29202. 

QCWA Fall QSO Party--Phone/CW/Digital, sponsored by the Quarter
Century Wireless Association from 1800Z Sep 15 - 1800Z Sep 16.
Frequencies (MHz):  CW--1.810, 3.540, 7.035, 14.040, 21.050, 28.050;
Phone--1.845, 3.890, 7.244, 14.262, 21.365, 28.325, all VHF/UHF
bands, no crossband or repeater QSOs. Categories: Mixed, Phone,
CW/Digital. 15 QSOs with each station maximum and only one QSO with
stations in home QCWA chapter. Exchange: Last two digits of year
licensed and QCWA chapter or S/P/C. QSO Points: Phone--1 pt,
CW/Digital--2 pts. Score: QSO Points x QCWA chapters + S/P/C counted
only once regardless of band. W2MM counts as a 3-point multiplier on
each band. For more information:
http://qcwa.org/2007-qso-party-rules.htm. Send logs to W2od@aol.com
or Robert Buus W2OD, 8 Donner St, Holmdel NJ  07733-2004.

QRP Afield--CW/Phone/Digital, sponsored by the New England QRP Club,
1500Z - 2100Z Sep 15. Frequencies: 160 - 10 meters, QRP calling
frequencies. Categories: SOAB, MS. Exchange: RS(T), S/P/C, and NE-QRP
number or power. QSO Points: HP (>5W) fixed station - 1 pt, HP mobile
or portable - 2 pts, QRP fixed - 5 pts, QRP mobile or portable - 10
pts. Score: QSO points x S/P/C (counted once only). For more
information: http://www.qsl.net/wq1rp/main.htm. Logs due Oct 14 to
k1cl@arrl.net or Chuck Ludinsky, K1CL, 6 Prancing Rd, Chelmsford, MA
01824-1922.

Feld-Hell Monthly Sprint--sponsored by the Feld-Hell Club, 1500Z -
1700Z Sep 15 (and every third Saturday). Frequencies: 160-10 meters.
Exchange: RST, S/P/C, and Feld-Hell club number or age (YLs may send
00). QSO Points: Member - 3 pts, non-member - 1 pt. Score: QSO Points
x S/P/C counted only once + bonus points (see Web site). For more
information and log due date: http://www.wa6l.com/contests. Submit
logs via Web site.

070 Club 80 Meter Autumn Sprint--sponsored by the Penn-Ohio DX
Society (PODXS) from 2000 on 14 Sept 2007 to 0200 15 Sept 2007 local
time (not zulu). Mode: PSK31 only. Frequencies: 80 meters only.
Categories: QRP, LP <50 W, MP <100 W). Exchange: RST and S/P/C. QSO
points: 1 pt/QSO. Score: QSO points × S/P/C. For more information:
http://www.podxs.com/html/80_meter_sprint.html. Logs due Oct 17 to
sprints@podxs.com or Steve Dominguez N6YIH, 11700 Fairlawn Ct, Boise
Idaho 83709.

VHF+ CONTESTS

ARRL September VHF QSO Party, 1800Z Sep 8 - 0300Z Sep 10.
Frequencies: all bands above 50 MHz. Categories: SOHP, SOLP,
SO-Portable, Rover, MO, Limited MO. Exchange: Grid Locator. QSO
Points: 50 and 144 MHz - 1 pt, 222 and 440 MHz - 2 pts, 902 and 1296
MHz - 3 pts, 2.3 GHz and higher - 4 pts. Score: QSO points x Grids
counted once per band. For more information:
http://www.arrl.org/contests  Logs due Oct 10 to
septembervhf@arrl.org or Sep VHF QSO Party, ARRL Contest Branch, 225
Main St, Newington, CT 06111, USA.

ARRL 10 GHz Cumulative Contest, 0600 local - 2400 local Sep 15-16.
Categories: 10 GHz only and 10 GHz and up. Exchange: Six-digit
Maidenhead Locator. Distance Points equals distance in km between
stations. QSO Points: 100 pts for each unique call worked. Score:
Distance points + QSO points. For more information:
http://www.arrl.org/contests  Logs due Oct 16 to 10GHz@arrl.org or
ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main St., Newington, CT, 06111, USA.

VHF Fall Sprint--CW/Phone/Digital, sponsored by the Southeastern VHF
Society from 7 - 11 PM local Sep 17. Frequencies: 144 MHz.
Categories: Fixed and Rover. Exchange: Grid Square. QSO Points: 1
pt/QSO. Score is QSO Points x Grid Squares, score each sprint
separately. Rovers add all grids worked from each grid. For more
information: http://www.svhfs.org/. Logs must be emailed or postmarked
within four weeks of the contest to svhfs-beacons@svhfs.org or Ottmar
Fiebel W4WSR, PO Box 957, Hayesville, NC 28904.

-oo  --- -o - -- oo ooo ooo   -o-- --- oo- o-o
LOG DUE DATES - 5 SEPTEMBER THROUGH 18 SEPTEMBER 2007
o-oo  --- --o     -oo o o- -oo o-oo oo -o o ooo

September 6, ARRL UHF Contest, email logs to: AugustUHF@arrl.org,
paper logs and diskettes to: August UHF Contest, ARRL Contest Branch,
225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111, USA. Find rules at:
http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2007/uhf.html 

September 8, Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, email logs to: ru2fm@rambler.ru,
paper logs and diskettes to: Valentin Kovalchuk, Internatsionalnaya
str 29 kv 39, Kaliningrad, 236011, Russia. Find rules at:
http://www.qrp.ru/sprint_e.htm

September 9, SARL HF CW Contest, email logs to:
hfcontests@netactive.co.za, paper logs and diskettes to: Bloemfontein
Radio Amateur Club, Box 12104, Brandhof, 9324, South Africa. Find
rules at: http://www.sarl.org.za/SARL%20Contest%20Manual%202007.pdf 

September 15, Maryland-DC QSO Party, email logs to:
mdc.logs@verizon.net, paper logs and diskettes to: Antietam Radio
Association, PO Box 52, Hagerstown, MD 21741-0052, USA. Find rules
at: http://www.w3cwc.org/rules.html 

September 15, New Jersey QSO Party, email logs to: w2rj@arrl.net,
paper logs and diskettes to: Englewood ARA, PO Box 528, Englewood, NJ
07631-0528, USA. Find rules at: http://www.qsl.net/w2rj/index.html 

September 15, SCC RTTY Championship, email logs to: rtty@hamradio.si,
paper logs and diskettes to: Slovenia Contest Club, Saveljska 50,
1113 Ljubljana, Slovenia. Find rules at:
http://lea.hamradio.si/~scc/rtty/htmlrules.htm 

September 15, WAE DX Contest, CW, email logs to: waecw@dxhf.darc.de,
paper logs and diskettes to: (none). Find rules at:
http://www.darc.de/referate/dx/xedcwr.htm 

September 18, RSGB SSB Field Day, email logs to:
ssbfd.logs@rsgbhfcc.org, paper logs and diskettes to: RSGB G3UFY, 77
Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 7AF, England. Find
rules at: http://www.contesting.co.uk/hfcc/rules/rssbfd.shtml 

September 18, ARCI Silent Key Memorial Sprint, email logs to:
contest@qrparci.org, paper logs and diskettes to: ARCI Silent Key
Memorial Sprint, c/o Jeff Hetherington, VA3JFF, 139 Elizabeth St W.,
Welland, Ontario L3C 4M3, Canada. Find rules at:
http://www.qrparci.org/component/option,com_extcalendar/Itemid,/extmode,view/extid,53/lang,en/

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

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>

ARRL members may subscribe at no cost by editing their Member Data
Page as described at <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rate-sheet>.